Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF) 2026: India's Only Oscar Qualifying Short Film Festival

If you love discovering films that challenge ideas, experiment with storytelling, and introduce new voices long before they reach mainstream audiences, Bengaluru International Short Film Festival should be on your calendar this August.

Returning for its 16th edition, the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF) takes place across Bengaluru from August 14 to 16, 2026. An online edition also runs from August 6 to 16, 2026 available for audiences across India.

This year's festival is its biggest yet.

BISFF has received a record 3,340 submissions from more than 100 countries. This year also introduces two brand new competition categories. It is also launching its first-ever film market and film school conference. Across nine venues in Bengaluru, the festival will bring together thousands of filmmakers, students, industry professionals, and cinema lovers.

More importantly, it remains India's only Oscar qualifying short film festival for short fiction, making it one of the country's most significant platforms for independent filmmakers.

Why BISFF matters more than most film festivals

Hundreds of film festivals take place every year but very few have the ability to change a filmmaker's career. BISFF belongs to that small group.

The festival is officially recognised by the Academy Awards for short fiction, meaning winners in selected categories become eligible for Oscar consideration. That distinction places Bengaluru International Short Film Festival alongside internationally recognised Academy qualifying festivals across the world.

For Indian short filmmakers, it is the most important festival dedicated to short fiction.

Winning here doesn't automatically guarantee an Oscar nomination, but it opens a pathway that very few festivals in India can offer.

Currently, the Oscar qualifying categories include:

• International Competition
• Indian Competition
• Animation Competition

For anyone interested in independent cinema, this means you're watching films that may eventually appear on the global awards circuit.

A record breaking 2026 edition

The scale of this year's festival reflects how much BISFF has grown.

Organisers received 3,340 submissions, the highest number in the festival's history. The entries arrived from more than 100 countries, demonstrating the event's growing international reputation.

The submission breakdown includes:

• 1,726 international entries
• 756 Indian entries
• 306 Karnataka entries
• 284 animation films
• 118 AI generated films
• 118 screendance submissions

These numbers also explain why selection itself has become increasingly competitive. For many filmmakers, simply being part of the official programme represents a significant achievement.

Every competition category explained

BISFF 2026 features eleven sections covering international, Indian and experimental cinema.

The Oscar qualifying competitions remain the headline attractions, but several thematic categories ensure a much broader range of voices and perspectives.

Alongside International, Indian and Animation, the festival also includes:

• Karnataka Competition
• Asian Eye
• Queer Qorner
• Let's Include
• Women's Cinema Collective

Each category focuses on different communities, regions or storytelling approaches. This helps in creating a programme that extends well beyond mainstream short filmmaking.

Two new competition categories debut in 2026

One of the biggest developments this year is the introduction of two entirely new competition sections.

AI: Machine Made Movies

This category explores films created either entirely or partially with artificial intelligence tools.

With AI becoming one of cinema's fastest evolving technologies, BISFF becomes one of the first major Indian festivals to dedicate a competitive section specifically to this emerging form of filmmaking.

Dancing Lens

Dedicated entirely to screendance, this section focuses on films where choreography and cinematography work together as equal storytelling tools.

Both categories received 118 submissions in their inaugural year, demonstrating immediate interest from filmmakers.

More than 20 Indian premieres will screen at BISFF 2026

One of the biggest reasons to attend BISFF is the opportunity to watch films before they become widely available.

This year's programme features more than 20 Indian premieres, giving you the chance to watch some of the country's newest short films before they begin their wider festival journeys.

Among the headline titles is 'Aasmani', marking actor Sayani Gupta's directorial debut. Best known for performances in 'Sacred Games' and 'Four More Shots Please!', Sayani now steps behind the camera with a short film making its Indian premiere at BISFF.

Another major highlight is 'Shadows of the Moonless Nights' by Mehar Malhotra, a film that was selected for La Cinef at the Cannes Film Festival in 2026. Watching a Cannes-selected short in Bengaluru before it reaches wider audiences is exactly the kind of opportunity festivals like BISFF are known for.

Other notable Indian premieres include:

• Hudke Ki Pyaang Pyaang, Dhol Ki Ghamaika by Arun N. Fulara
• Small Clouds by Shubham Sumit
• Bandini by Deepti Chawla
• Mehta & Co. by Rohit Sen

Alongside these premieres, the programme also includes films such as 'BARE', 'Coming Out With My Driver', 'Medicine', and 'Sthir', offering a wide range of storytelling styles and perspectives.

Discovery film market makes its debut

One of the most important additions to BISFF this year isn't a screening. It's the Discovery Film Market.

For the first time, the festival is creating a dedicated professional space where filmmakers can connect directly with producers, distributors, OTT platforms, sales agents, and festival programmers.

For independent filmmakers, this could become one of the most valuable parts of the festival.

Alongside screening a film and hoping the right people notice it, filmmakers now have an organised platform to present projects, build relationships, and explore future collaborations.

If you're working in film production or looking to enter the industry, this is one of the strongest reasons to attend beyond the screenings themselves.

Echoes Film School Conference brings students and industry together

Another first for BISFF 2026 is the Echoes Film School Conference.

Designed specifically for film students and emerging creators, the conference creates opportunities to interact with filmmakers, educators, and industry professionals through discussions, presentations, and networking sessions.

Partner institutions include:

• RV University
• Annapurna Film School
• Whistling Woods International

For aspiring filmmakers, this offers direct access to professionals working across directing, cinematography, editing, producing, and screenwriting.

The focus of this conference shifts from finished final cuts to how those films are made. This is what makes this opportunity beneficial for both film students and the industry.

Goethe-Institut Script Competition expands the festival

BISFF is also strengthening its support for projects that haven't been filmed yet.

The Goethe-Institut Script Competition, organised in partnership with Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan, focuses on screenplay development rather than completed productions.

This allows writers to receive recognition before entering production, expanding the festival's role beyond exhibition into nurturing future filmmaking.

For emerging screenwriters, it represents another pathway into the industry.

Nine venues across Bengaluru will host the festival

The main hub remains Suchitra Film Society, which hosts three screening halls and traditionally serves as the centre of festival activity.

Other participating venues include:

• RV University
• Bangalore International Centre
• Alliance Française de Bangalore
• Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan
• Indian Heritage Academy
• LitSchool
• Knowledgium Academy
• An additional festival venue to be announced

Each venue hosts different screenings, talks, and events, so checking the official programme before planning your schedule is essential.

You can also watch the festival online across India

If you can't attend in Bengaluru, BISFF's online edition makes the festival accessible across India.

Running from August 6 to 16, 2026 the digital programme begins more than a week before the physical festival opens.

The online screenings are available only within India through the festival's official streaming partner.

This longer online window makes it possible to watch a larger number of films before attending in person or simply enjoy the festival from home if travelling isn't possible.

Why BISFF is worth attending even if you're not a filmmaker

You don't need to work in a cinema to enjoy BISFF.

In fact, many regular attendees simply love discovering films they would never encounter elsewhere.

Short films often experiment more freely than feature films. They explore unusual ideas, different visual styles, new storytelling structures, and emerging voices that later go on to make acclaimed feature films.

At BISFF, you'll also find:

• Filmmaker Q&A sessions
• Panel discussions
• Industry conversations
• Networking events
• Retrospectives of influential short filmmakers
• Opportunities to meet directors after screenings

The atmosphere is welcoming, making it just as suitable for curious first-time attendees as it is for experienced filmmakers.

How to plan your festival

If this is your first BISFF, a little planning will help you make the most of it:

• Start by checking the official programme on bisff.in as soon as screening schedules are published.
• If you're attending multiple days, build your schedule around Suchitra Film Society, which remains the festival's primary venue.
• If you're interested in the industry side of filmmaking, register separately for the Discovery Film Market and Echoes Film School Conference, as these require dedicated registrations.
• For online viewers, begin watching films from August 6, then use the in-person festival to attend premieres, discussions, and filmmaker interactions that aren't available digitally.

Getting to the main festival venues

Suchitra Film Society (Rajajinagar)

• By Metro: Green Line - Rajajinagar Metro Station
• Short auto or walk from the station to the venue

Bangalore International Centre (Domlur)

• By Metro: Purple Line - Indiranagar or Cubbon Park stations
• By Foot/Auto: 10–15 min cab or auto ride from either station

Alliance Française (Thimmaiah Road)

• By Metro: Purple Line - Cubbon Park or MG Road stations
• By Foot/Auto: Short auto ride from station (central Bengaluru access)

Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan (Indiranagar)

• By Metro: Purple Line - Indiranagar Metro Station
• By Foot: Walking distance from the station

RV University (Mysore Road)

• By Metro: Green Line - Mysore Road Metro Station
• By Foot/Auto: Short ride from station to campus

Because screenings are spread across the city, it’s a good idea to factor in travel time between venues when planning your schedule.

Quick information

Festival: Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2026
In-person dates: August 14 to 16, 2026
Online dates: August 6 to 16, 2026
Oscar qualifying categories: International, Indian and Animation
Submissions: 3,340 from over 100 countries
New categories: AI Machine Made Movies and Dancing Lens
New initiatives: Discovery Film Market and Echoes Film School Conference
Indian premieres: More than 20
Main venue: Suchitra Film Society
Official website: bisff.in

Bengaluru International Short Film Festival has grown far beyond a city film festival.

Today, it is one of India's most influential platforms for short cinema. It offers filmmakers a route towards international recognition while also giving you access to some of the most exciting new films being made anywhere in the world.

Whether you're hoping to discover your next favourite filmmaker, learn more about cinema, or simply spend three days watching remarkable stories from around the world, BISFF remains one of Bengaluru's most rewarding cultural events of the year.