IFFI sets dates, muddles deadlines
PIB says Indian Panorama entries closed online on August 10 with hard copies due August 17. IFFI’s own rules pages now also display August 24/31 in places. Telugu creators are eligible — the calendar, less so.
IFFI’s 2026 entry rules agree on eligibility, but not on the deadline.
The 57th International Film Festival of India will run in Goa from November 20–28, 2026, organised by NFDC under the Union I&B Ministry with the Goa government and the Entertainment Society of Goa. The festival director named for this edition is Ashutosh Gowariker. According to the Union government’s release, entries were invited across Indian Panorama, Best Debut Director, Best Web Series (OTT) and international competitions, with Indian Panorama slated to showcase 25 features and 20 non-features.
For filmmakers and OTT teams in Telangana: the rules say entries in any Indian language — including Telugu — are eligible, with Indian directors and Indian producers (or co-productions under the stated terms). Indian Panorama eligibility covers films completed between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026, and all submissions need English subtitles and the listed materials. The Best Web Series award requires a season released between the same dates, with all episodes publicly available on an OTT platform.
Now the part where Delhi’s paperwork trips Delhi’s festival: PIB set the online deadline at August 10, 2026, and hard copies at August 17. The IFFI site’s own rules pages currently also carry August 24 for online and August 31 for hard copies in sections for Indian Panorama and Web Series. Until NFDC or IFFI says which clock everyone is meant to follow, treat the dates as conflicting — the rules are clear on eligibility; the calendar isn’t.