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WIFF Mumbai · Second Edition · 2026

Where Stories
Find Their Shore.

Mumbai gets ready to celebrate the creators shaping the future of storytelling.

Dates
30 Nov — 6 Dec 2026
Venues
Third Bell Studios · Silk Road Cafe · Versova Social · PVR INOX, Andheri West
Festival Director
Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri
Register HERE → Explore the Programme → Partner

01 — About the Festival

A meeting ground for independent cinema, cinematic legacies and the literary imagination.

Rooted in The Daily Eye's commitment to Culture. Cinema. Community. Waterfront Indie Film Festival is a platform celebrating independent cinema and the people who shape it.

Now in its second edition, WIFF brings together artistic discovery, cinematic legacies, literature and professional engagement to build a lasting ecosystem for independent filmmaking.

WIFF Mumbai celebrates bold storytelling, discovers emerging talent, honours cinematic legends and brings filmmakers, actors, writers, audiences and the wider film industry together.

Discover Films. Meet Talent. Build Possibilities.

Days of cinema
7
Venues
4
Edition
2nd

I · The Ocean

Every wave
brings a story.

Waterfront Indie Film Festival is a platform celebrating independent cinema and the people who shape it.

II · The Lighthouse

A light for
bold voices.

We champion bold voices and films that challenge conventions, while celebrating mainstream cinema's achievements and honouring its legends.

III · Film Frames

Every story
becomes a film.

Discover distinctive voices and celebrate cinematic legacies.

Guests holding Waterfront magazines at the WIFF Official Curtain Raiser

IV · Independent Filmmakers

Meet the people
behind the frame.

Showcase your work, engage with audiences, exchange ideas and connect with fellow filmmakers and industry professionals.

Official Curtain Raiser, WIFF 2025

V · Cinema

Every film
leaves an impression.

Through screenings, filmmaker interactions, workshops and critical engagement, we nurture discovery, diversity and dialogue.

VI · The Festival

30 Nov — 6 Dec
Mumbai, 2026.

Seven days of films, conversations, workshops, masterclasses and opportunities to connect, create and collaborate.

Third Bell Studios · Silk Road Cafe · Versova Social · PVR INOX, Andheri West

Register HERE →
Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, Festival Director

Festival Director · Mumbai 2026

02 — Vision & Mission

Cinema that discovers. Culture that connects.

From the Festival Director

IWaterfront Indie Film Festival is a meeting ground for independent cinema, cinematic legacies and the literary imagination. We champion bold voices and films that challenge conventions, while celebrating mainstream cinema's achievements and honouring its legends through retrospectives and centenary tributes.

IIThrough screenings, filmmaker interactions, workshops and critical engagement, we nurture discovery, diversity and dialogue. Our literature programme explores the intersections of books and cinema, bringing filmmakers, writers, readers and cinephiles together.

IIIOur ambition extends beyond a week of screenings. We seek to build a creative community that encourages artistic courage, nurtures talent, creates opportunities and sustains independent cinema.

Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri

03 — Official Selections

Special Programmes

The full WIFF 2026 film catalogue is coming soon. Until then, step into this year's special programmes. Select a poster for details.

04 — Film Categories

Four shores of the festival

05 — Festival Programme & Screenings

The reel is rolling.

Opening night, 30 November 2026. The detailed screening schedule and catalogue are coming soon.

--Days
--Hours
--Minutes
--Seconds

Until opening night · 30 November 2026 · IST

Venue 01

Third Bell Studios

Mumbai

Venue 02

Silk Road Cafe

Mumbai

Venue 03

Versova Social

Mumbai

Venue 04

PVR INOX

Andheri West · City Mall

Schedule

Coming soon

30.11 — 06.12

Catalogue

Coming soon

WIFF 2026

06 — Filmmakers, Mentors & Advisors

The people behind the frame

The team, the leadership and the advisory board of WIFF Mumbai 2026.

The Team

Vani Tripathi Tikoo, Chief Mentor
Vani Tripathi TikooChief Mentor
Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, Festival Director
Shantanu Ray ChaudhuriFestival Director
Vinta Nanda, Executive Director
Vinta NandaExecutive Director
Varsha Jain, Deputy Director
Varsha JainDeputy Director
Anupama Bose, Programming Director
Anupama BoseProgramming Director
Sonya Jain
Sonya Jain

The Leadership

Pramod Gaikwad
Pramod Gaikwad
Sushma Gaikwad
Sushma Gaikwad
Rekha Rao
Rekha Rao
Raja Rajeev Kumar
Raja Rajeev Kumar

Advisory Board

The names on the credits

Joshy Joseph, Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker, Author
Joshy JosephAward-Winning Documentary Filmmaker, Author
Parthajit Baruah, Film Historian, Author, Filmmaker
Parthajit BaruahFilm Historian, Author, Filmmaker
Anjali Monteiro, Filmmaker, Media Educator, Researcher
Anjali MonteiroFilmmaker, Media Educator, Researcher
Bina Paul, Editor, Former Artistic Director (IFFK), Film Festival Curator
Bina PaulEditor, Former Artistic Director (IFFK), Film Festival Curator
Sandra De Castro Buffington, Media Innovator, Change-maker
Sandra De Castro BuffingtonMedia Innovator, Change-maker
Rashmi Lamba, Producer, Curator, Gender advocate, inclusivity.
Rashmi LambaProducer, Curator, Gender advocate, inclusivity.
Jamshed Mistry, Lawyer, Founder (International Legal Alliance)
Jamshed MistryLawyer, Founder (International Legal Alliance)
Nandita Om Puri, Journalist, Author, chairperson Om Puri Foundation.
Nandita Om PuriJournalist, Author, chairperson Om Puri Foundation.
Anupama Mandloi, Producer, Consultant, Former MD (Fremantle India)
Anupama MandloiProducer, Consultant, Former MD (Fremantle India)
Kabeer Khurana, Filmmaker, Founder (Indie Film Circuit), TEDx Speaker
Kabeer KhuranaFilmmaker, Founder (Indie Film Circuit), TEDx Speaker
Prema Govindan, Literary Mentor, Entrepreneur: Books, Publishing.
Prema GovindanLiterary Mentor, Entrepreneur: Books, Publishing.
Satya Saran, Author, Columnist, Former Editor, Literary Writing & Biographies.
Satya SaranAuthor, Columnist, Former Editor, Literary Writing & Biographies.
Christopher Dalton, Film critic, Editor, Advancing cinema’s critical discourse.
Christopher DaltonFilm critic, Editor, Advancing cinema’s critical discourse.
Amitava Nag, Author, Film Critic, Editor (Silhouette)
Amitava NagAuthor, Film Critic, Editor (Silhouette)
Amit Behl, Actor, Former CINTAA General Secretary
Amit BehlActor, Former CINTAA General Secretary
SMM Ausaja, Cinema Author, Archivist, Historian, Curator, Collector
SMM AusajaCinema Author, Archivist, Historian, Curator, Collector
Janhavi Samant, Journalist, Marketing, Media Relations, Digital Engagement.
Janhavi SamantJournalist, Marketing, Media Relations, Digital Engagement.

07 — Workshops & Special Events

Learn, pitch, take part.

  • Screenings
  • Work Shops
  • Master Classes
  • Scene GPT
  • Panels
  • Industry Sessions
  • Make a Pitch →

Join the community

Filmmakers

Showcase your work, engage with audiences, exchange ideas and connect with fellow filmmakers and industry professionals.

Discover

Studios, OTT Players

Discover independent films, emerging talent and stories with potential for acquisition, collaboration or co-production.

Finance

Investors

Meet creators, explore projects and participate in conversations around production, financing and collaboration.

Perform

Actors

Showcase your talent through SceneGPT and other performance initiatives, and connect with the creative community.

Page to screen

Writers, Readers

Explore the intersections of literature and cinema through films, conversations and cultural programming.

Collaborate

Creative Community

Learn, collaborate and build relationships through screenings, workshops, masterclasses and industry engagement.

08 — News & Festival Updates

The Art of Independent Cinema

Official Curtain Raiser · 25 September 2025

Moderated by Richa Chadda, with Sudhir Mishra, Bobby Bedi, Shoojit Sircar, Rajat Kapoor, Deepa Gahlot and Sridhar Rangayan.

Festival team and guests holding Waterfront magazines at the WIFF Official Curtain Raiser
Official Curtain RaiserThe Art of Independent Cinema
Richa Chadda
LineupRicha Chadda
Rajat Kapoor
LineupRajat Kapoor
Guest at the WIFF 2025 Curtain Raiser
Curtain Raiser 2025Mumbai
Speaker at the WIFF 2025 Curtain Raiser
Curtain Raiser 202525 September 2025

Photographs: Richa Chadda by Suresh Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rajat Kapoor by Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0.

Update

WIFF 2026 catalogue coming soon

→

Update

Screening schedule coming soon

→

Early bird

Register HERE

→

09 — Sponsors & Partners

Be a part of the journey

WIFF welcomes partnerships with brands, cultural institutions, educational organisations, technology companies, studios, distributors, OTT platforms and investors who believe in the power of cinema and storytelling.

Partner with us to support emerging talent, encourage innovation, strengthen independent cinema and engage with a vibrant creative community.

Early Bird Discount →

Partnership Opportunities

  1. 01Festival and programme partnerships
  2. 02Film showcases and special screenings
  3. 03Workshops, masterclasses and talent development
  4. 04Technology and innovation initiatives
  5. 05Pitch sessions and industry engagement
  6. 06Waterfront Literature Festival
  7. 07Brand collaborations and audience engagement

Build the Future of Independent Cinema

Together, we can create opportunities for new voices, foster meaningful collaborations and build a stronger ecosystem for cinema and storytelling.

Partner with Us → Request Partnership Deck

10 — Early bird

Register HERE

30th November to 6th December · Third Bell Studios · Silk Road Cafe · Versova Social · PVR INOX, Andheri West (City Mall)

Register HERE →

Partners

Partner with WIFF Mumbai

WIFF welcomes partnerships with brands, cultural institutions, educational organisations, technology companies, studios, distributors, OTT platforms and investors who believe in the power of cinema and storytelling.

See opportunities → Partner with Us
01

Category

Title

Description

Dates
30 Nov – 6 Dec 2026
City
Mumbai
Venues
Third Bell Studios · Silk Road Cafe · Versova Social · PVR INOX, Andheri West
Screening times
Schedule coming soon
Register HERE → Dates & Venues