The 24th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) is set to celebrate the luminaries of Indian cinema and music, with veteran actors Biswajit Chatterjee, Farida Jalal, and Asha Kale, alongside violinist and composer Amar Haldipur, receiving top honours. Festival president Dr Jabbar Patel made the announcement in Pune, highlighting the festival's commitment to bridging cinematic generations.
Prestigious Awards for Cinematic Icons
Actors Biswajit Chatterjee, Farida Jalal, and Asha Kale will be presented with the PIFF Distinguished Award in recognition of their lasting impact on Indian film. In a parallel celebration of musical excellence, violinist and music composer Amar Haldipur will receive the S D Burman International Award for his exceptional contributions. The awards ceremony is scheduled for the festival's closing night on January 22 at the Balgandharva Rangmandir.
"The winners this year represent the golden era of Indian cinema and the creative vitality of music that continues to inspire new generations," Dr Patel told reporters. The festival itself, a joint initiative of the Pune Film Foundation, the Maharashtra Government's Department of Cultural Affairs, and Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, will run from January 15 to January 22. It will kick off with an opening at the E-Square Theatre, with screenings spread across ten different venues in the city.
Spotlight on Marathi Cinema and Global Discourse
A major focus of PIFF 2026 will be its competitive segment for Marathi films, 'Marathi Cinema Today'. Trustee Satish Alekar revealed that from over 100 submissions, seven films have been shortlisted for the final round. The finalists are:
- Adishesh by Ramesh More
- Toh Ti Ani Fuji by Mohit Takalkar
- Tighee by Jeejivisha Kale
- Jeev by Ravindra Jadhav
- Gondhal by Santosh Dawkhar
- Gaman by Manoj Naiksatam
- Bappya by Sameer Tewari
The winning film, chosen by an international jury, will be awarded the Marathi Best International Film Award and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, sponsored by the state government. The non-competitive section will also showcase notable Marathi works like Sohla, Mukkampost Bombilwadi, Maya, and Dwidha.
Workshops, Retrospectives, and How to Attend
Beyond screenings, workshops and panel discussions featuring international and Indian scholars and filmmakers will be a key highlight. Notable sessions include the Vijay Tendulkar Memorial Lecture by writer B Jeyamohan on novel-to-screenplay adaptation, and talks by Serbian filmmaker Goran Radovanovic and Iranian director Alireza Shahrokhi.
The festival will also pay tribute to cinematic masters with a retrospective dedicated to Guru Dutt, V Shantaram, and V Damle. Political dignitaries, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, have been invited to the opening and closing ceremonies.
Dr Patel encapsulated the spirit of the event, stating, "This year’s PIFF celebrates cinema’s power to elevate culture and bridge generations, from the classics of Asha Kale and Biswajit Chatterjee to the fresh perspectives of new Marathi filmmakers."
Interested attendees can register online at the official festival website, piffindia.com, or via on-site counters starting January 5.
