New Delhi, Jun 22 (PTI) The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, registered a remarkable presence at the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026, as its students and alumni secured several of the festival’s most coveted honours. The awards were announced at the closing ceremony of MIFF 2026 held in Mumbai on Sunday in presence of Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, filmmakers, industry leaders and distinguished guests.
The FTII filmmakers secured four of the six honours presented under the national competition at MIFF 2026, a statement issued by the FTII said.
The FTII students and alumni were also recognised through the IDPA best student film award, the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari award for best debut director, the best short film award on ‘Viksit Bharat / 150 Years of Vande Mataram / Bharat@2047’, and a project grant at the 2nd WAVES Doc Bazaar.
The FTII-produced short fiction film “Small Clouds”, directed by Shubham Sumit, won the Silver Conch for best Indian short fiction film along with a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh.
The award was received by FTII vice chancellor Dhiraj Singh and the filmmaker at the closing ceremony.
The film further strengthened its winning run with student Ranadhir Biswas receiving the best cinematographer award under the national competition category for his work on “Small Clouds”.
The IDPA award for best student film was conferred upon Milan Kumar for his film The Old Bull Knows, or Once Knew.
At the 2nd WAVES Doc Bazaar, held alongside MIFF 2026, FTII student filmmaker Madhurima Maiti received a grant of Rs one lakh for her documentary project “The Girl Beneath”.
“The Sun” was among three projects selected for grant support under the ‘Recommends’ section. Expressing happiness on the impressive haul at MIFF, Singh said, “MIFF is one of the most respected platform in the documentary and short film space and doing well in this space of authenticity is a matter of pride. It bears testimony to FTII’s commitment to deep craft and art and openness to new avenues”.
The Silver Conch for best Indian documentary film was awarded to “Waai”, directed by alumni Sainath S. Uskaikar. The Best Sound Design Award under the National Competition category went to Bigyna Dahal, alumnus of FTII’s Sound Recording and Sound Design Department, for the film “Kovarty”.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari Award for best debut director was presented to Pooja Tolani, alumna of FTII’s Screenwriting course, for her film “Raaza”. The Best Short Film Award on “Viksit Bharat / 150 Years of Vande Mataram / Bharat@2047” was awarded to “The Last Shelter”. The award was received by Rajesh Bhatia, an FTII alumnus, along with Bharat Arora. PTI ACB BK BK
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