This year's festival will showcase 67 films from 18 countries, spanning nearly 20 languages, with Hungary as the focus country. The curated selection includes contemporary award-winning films, landmark retrospectives, major international festival winners, NETPAC selections, and a strong presence of women directors, with 24 films helmed by women filmmakers.

Prof KG Suresh, director, India Habitat Centre, says, "Cinema has long served as a profound bridge across cultures - a powerful medium for fostering dialogue, mutual exchange, and deeper understanding. Through its lens, we learn, unlearn, and continually evolve as individuals and societies. Yet cinema's influence reaches far beyond mere storytelling: it stands as an immense archive of collective memory, historical truth, and the full spectrum of human experience, rendering it one of the most enduring and impactful art forms of our era. It is with immense pride that the India Habitat Centre presents the 7th edition of the Habitat International Film Festival 2026, a vibrant celebration of cinema in all its rich diversity and artistic depth."

Spotlight on Hungary

Hungary, with over 130 years of cinematic history, takes centre stage at HIFF 2026. The festival presents 21 Hungarian films, including 11 contemporary features and 10 retrospective classics honouring two of Hungary's most celebrated post-war masters: István Szabó and Zoltán Fábri.

István Szabó, whose 'Mephisto' won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, is known for his psychologically rich explorations of ambition, power, and moral compromise. Zoltán Fábri's morally engaged dramas, including 'The Boys of Paul Street' (Academy Award nominee) and 'The Fifth Seal', established Hungarian cinema as a force on the global stage.

Together, these retrospectives trace Hungarian cinema's engagement with war memory, totalitarian regimes, national identity, and moral crisis - themes that continue to resonate powerfully today.

Andrzej Wajda@100

Marking the centenary of legendary Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda, recipient of the Honorary Oscar, HIFF 2026 presents a special six-film retrospective celebrating his monumental contribution to world cinema.

Award-winning global cinema

HIFF 2026 brings to audiences some of the most talked-about films from the international festival circuit, including:

● Cannes 2025 Palme d'Or Winner - 'It Was Just an Accident' (dir. Jafar Panahi)

● Cannes Jury Prize 2025 Winners - 'Sirat' (dir. Oliver Laxe) and 'The Sound of Falling' (dir. Mascha Schilinski)

● Berlinale 2025 Grand Prix Winner - 'The Botanist'

● Venice 2025 Orizzonti Award Winner - 'Heidra/IVY'

● BAFTA Scotland 2025 Winner - 'Four Mothers'

The festival also features major selections from Venice, Locarno, Toronto, Annecy, and other leading international platforms.

Opening film

The festival opens with 'Manch' (2026), directed by Tanuja Shankar Khan, a moving documentary chronicling a theatre workshop conducted with children from Delhi's MIMA NGO, adapting Hungarian folk tales into Hindi stage performances. The film serves as a symbolic cultural bridge between Hungary and India.

Closing film

HIFF 2026 will conclude with 'Chopin, A Sonata in Paris' (2025), directed by Michał Kwieciński. This sweeping Polish-language biographical drama revisits the life and artistic exile of legendary composer Frédéric Chopin, tracing his years in Paris against the backdrop of 19th-century European political upheaval. Rich in music, memory, and historical atmosphere, the film serves as a fitting finale to a festival deeply engaged with themes of art, identity, exile, and cultural history.

Screenings will take place at The Stein Auditorium at IHC, equipped with a 4K projection system and Dolby Atmos sound, offering audiences an immersive big-screen experience in an era dominated by streaming platforms.

Beyond screenings, the festival will feature curated discussions and special presentations aligned with the festival's international focus.

(Entry to HIFF 2026 is free)