Connect with us

Movie Channels

MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

Published

on

NEW DELHI: A total of 385 documentaries, short and animation films will be screened during the 14th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for Documentary, Short and Animation Films commencing on 28 January.

 

The biennial event, organised by the Films Division of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry and supported by the Maharashtra Government, will conclude with the awards ceremony on 3 February.

 

MIFF will feature 30 films in the International Competition, including 12 from India, and 27 films in National Competition vying for the Golden Conch Award.

 

The screenings will be held at the Films Division theatres, Russian Culture Centre and Sophia College theatres at Pedder Road, Mumbai. Screenings will also be held at the Mumbai University auditorium Kalina, Mumbai and Doordashan Kendra (Worli). 

 

Addressing the curtain-raiser press conference in Mumbai, Festival director Mukesh Sharma said, ‘MIFF is the oldest and the largest festival of non-feature films in South Asia as it started in 1990.”

 

He added, “MIFF brings together a talent pool of documentary film makers from the across the world with their works featuring in international, national, animation and new media competition sections. We received a record number of 831 entries from 25 countries.”

 

The inauguration of the Festival from Mumbai will be covered live by DD Bharati from 4.30 pm

 

Additionally, Sharma also informed that for the first time, MIFF had roped in a brand ambassador in Jackie Shroff. “He who regards documentaries as catalysts for social change and is planning to make short films to spread awareness about dreaded diseases and on social issues,” Sharma added.

 

Highlighting the importance of documentaries that deal with real life challenges, veteran filmmaker Mike Pandey stressed the need for a dedicated documentary channel in the country. 

 

Sharma said in order to increase the outreach of documentary films, the Films Division has signed an agreement with Prasar Bharati, under which Films Division’s documentaries will be shown on the DD Bharati channel.

 

The inauguration and closing functions will be held at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai at 5 pm on 28 January and 3 February respectively. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be chief guest for the opening ceremony and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore will preside. 

 

Maharashtra Culture Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde, filmmaker Shyam Benegal, I&B Secretary Sunil Arora, Films Division DG Mukesh Sharma, and Shroff will be present.

 

“Apart from International and National competition, the screening of films in MIFF Prism, Indian Premieres, Jury retrospectives, Animation and award winning films from different countries, Children’s documentary films, North East package, FD and PSBT (Public Service Broadcasting Trust) films, homages etc, will make it a wholesome viewing experience for the delegates of MIFF 2016,”Sharma said. 

 

The festival will also present special packages from leading international documentary film festivals like Berlin, Dresden, DokLeipzig  from Germany and Leiria from Portugal.

 

Some of the best documentaries of 2015, among them Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi’sAmong the Believers –  about the roots of religious extremism in Pakistan and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence – a Danish documentary about Indonesian killings of 1965-66 and Rinku Kalsy’s For the Love of a Man – a documentary about the cult of adulation for Rajanikant in South India are among the top draws.

 

The International Jury for the Festival comprises documentary makers Don Askarian from Germany, Jesper Andersen from Denmark, Mathiue Roy of Canada, Siddharth Kak and Gitanjali Rao.  

 

Pandey, who is president of the Indian Documentary Films Association, Uma DaCunha, Biju Dhanapalan, Audrius Stonys (Lithuania) and Jane Yu (Taiwan) are the members of the National Jury.

 

The festival will also have Master classes by Jury and eminent filmmakers, Camera and Digital workshops, Producers’ Forum, Panel discussions, Seminar and Open Forum by IDPA, under the MIFF Hub.

 

Cash prizes worth Rs 60 lakh will be distributed for the winners in various categories along with Golden Conch Awards.

 

In addition the festival will honour a veteran personality from the Indian documentary fraternity with the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award that carries a cash component of Rs 5 lakh, trophy and a citation.

 

Buoyed by the warm reception to the MIFF Zone, screening of films in National competition will be held simultaneously in New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Lucknow, Nagpur and Thrissur. MIFF Zone is aimed at taking select competition films to film lovers who are unable to travel to Mumbai for the MIFF.

 

 

Movie Channels

Laughs meet chills as ‘Jhamkudi’ hits TV screens

Published

on

MUMBAI: Get ready for a hauntingly good time as Jhamkudi, the Gujarati blockbuster that cast a spell on cinema-goers, makes its world television premiere on Shemaroo Josh this 14 November at 7 PM.

Directed by Umang Vyas, the film takes viewers to the eerie village of Raniwada, where Navratri celebrations are overshadowed by the curse of a vengeful witch. Enter Bablo, a quirky real estate agent, and Kumud, a royal heir, whose fates collide in a hilarious and spooky chain of events that’s equal parts chaos and charm.

The film stars national award-winning actress Manasi Parekh, who shines once again with her trademark depth and grace, alongside Viraj Ghelani, the digital sensation whose comic timing is as sharp as ever. The stellar ensemble also includes Ojas Rawal, Sanjay Goradia, Jayesh More, Krunal Pandit, Chetan Daiya, and Bhavini Jani.

Blending goosebumps with giggles, Jhamkudi proves that even horror can have heart. With its sharp writing, witty dialogues, and a dash of desi masala, the film promises an evening of family fun that’s both thrilling and thoroughly entertaining.

So mark your calendars, grab some popcorn, and tune in to Shemaroo Josh on 14 November at 7 PM for the perfect mix of fright and delight, because this witch tale is all about wicked fun!
 

 
 
Continue Reading

Movie Channels

Zee reels in record highs with a blockbuster show of movie magic

Published

on

MUMBAI: In a cinematic twist worthy of its own premiere, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) has pulled off a blockbuster of its own recording a three-year high share of 28.7 per cent in the Hindi movie cluster in Q2FY26. Proving that great storytelling never goes out of style, the content and technology powerhouse has reaffirmed its dominance in India’s ever-competitive movie broadcast landscape.

Leading the charge is Zee Cinema, which reclaimed its position as the No. 1 Hindi movie channel (15 plus HSM Urban) this quarter. Its line-up of premieres from the rural rumbler Jaat to the slick actioner Game Changer pulled in massive audiences. But it was Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 that truly stole the show, delivering the highest-rated movie premiere of FY26 so far. The last film to achieve a similar feat? Gadar 2, also a Zee Cinema triumph from November 2023.

Meanwhile, Zee’s Free-to-Air dynamos Anmol Cinema and Zee Action flexed their reach muscle, becoming the most-watched channels across all languages and genres. Each channel drew in more than 116 million viewers, proving that free TV still holds unbeatable sway in Indian households.

The story doesn’t end in Hindi. Zee’s regional clusters continue to script their own success stories. In Marathi, Zee Talkies, Zee Yuva, and Zee Chitramandir maintained their near-50 per cent market share, with the world television premiere of Phullwanti delivering the highest ratings of the quarter. Down south, Zee Thirai (Tamil) and Zee Cinemalu (Telugu) kept their leadership intact, while Zee Biskope in the Bhojpuri belt ranked among the top three in its market, a cinematic sweep across regions.

“The growth of our movies cluster across languages is a strong reflection of our content strategy focusing on new super-hit premieres, classic titles from our library and data-driven curation,” said a company spokesperson. “The genre’s unmatched reach and strong resonance amongst male viewers and the youth also enable it to deliver scale and strategic value to advertisers across markets.”

And those advertisers are clearly tuning in. The genre’s steady viewership and distinct audience base make Hindi movie channels a mainstay in media mixes for India’s top ten advertisers. In September 2025 alone, Zee’s 22 movie channels across six languages reached over 550 million viewers, a testament to the scale and staying power of its cinematic empire.

From Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Karan Arjun to RRR and Bobby, Zee’s vast film library continues to bridge nostalgia and novelty. Some titles have reached iconic status Hum Aapke Hain Koun, for instance, has been watched by a staggering 250 million people over the past five years, roughly equal to the population of the world’s fifth most populous country.

As Zee continues to blend data with drama and strategy with storytelling, it’s clear the brand isn’t just broadcasting films, it’s curating a cultural phenomenon. For millions of viewers across India, the show must go on and with Zee, it most certainly will

Continue Reading

Movie Channels

Lights, camera, boo! &pictures turns full on spooky

Published

on

MUMBAI: Trick or treat, but make it filmi! This Halloween, &pictures is turning up the spook-o-meter with ‘Full On Halloween’, a fun-horror movie marathon airing all day on 31 October 2025. Promising goosebumps, giggles and ghostly surprises, the channel is set to deliver a perfect mix of fright and fun.

From eerie small-town tales to supernatural showdowns, the line-up packs in something for everyone. The chills kick off at 8:45 am with Kakuda, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Riteish Deshmukh, followed by the mischievous The Bhootni at 3:15 pm, featuring Sanjay Dutt, Palak Tiwari and Mouni Roy. At 5:30 pm, Phone Bhoot dials up laughs and scares with Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi, before the visually rich folklore fantasy Tumbbad closes the night at 10:40 pm.

Adding to the fun are K3 Kaali Ka Karishma, Om Bheem Bush, and Bhaagmathi, keeping the thrills fresh and spooky spirits high. With a blend of humour, horror, and high-energy storytelling, Full On Halloween promises a day where jump scares meet joyrides.

So this 31 October, grab your popcorn and your courage, because Halloween on &pictures isn’t just on… it’s Full On! 

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 Indian Television Dot Com PVT LTD