Filmmakers and Cinema from 33 Countries and 12 Indian States to Participate in the Three-Day Festival
Writer Director Amit Rai and Actor Sharib Hashmi will interact with audience
Shimla | September 21, 2026
The 12th International Film Festival of Shimla (IIFS) is set to be organized from September 25 to 27, 2026, at the historic Gaiety Theatre in Shimla, bringing together filmmakers, artists, cinema professionals and film enthusiasts from across India and around the world.
The three-day festival will witness participation from 33 countries, making it a significant celebration of international cinema in the Queen of Hills. The participating countries include Iran, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Nepal, the United States, South Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Azerbaijan, Poland, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Switzerland, Malaysia, Germany, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Indonesia, Italy, Palestine, Rwanda, Uganda, Thailand and Ukraine, along with India. The festival will feature diverse cinematic voices and stories representing different cultures, societies and filmmaking traditions.
The festival will also have strong participation from across India, with filmmakers and cinema professionals from 15 states taking part. The participating states include Kerala, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Manipur, Odisha, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
Renowned writer and Director Amit Rai, will present to interact with audience in a special session an acclaimed writer and filmmaker, he is known for the mainstream spotlight with OMG 2 (2023), which he wrote and directed. Starring Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam. The film received widespread attention and critical appreciation and won the Best Story award at the 69th Filmfare Awards.
Actor Sharib Hashmi will also interact with audience in a special session on the very first day of the festival on 25th of September.Hashmi is a versatile Indian actor widely appreciated for his natural performances and understated screen presence. He began his career in television and gradually established himself in Hindi cinema and digital entertainment. He gained critical recognition for his performance in Filmistaan, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Sharib has appeared in several notable projects, including
Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Batti Gul Meter Chalu, Fighter and Dhaakad. He is particularly loved for portraying J.K. Talpade in the acclaimed series The Family Man. His performances combine humour, emotional depth and realism, making him a distinctive contemporary performer.
Pushp Raj Thakur, Festival Director said that “Cinema transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. The participation of filmmakers and cinema representatives from 33 countries and 15 Indian states makes the 12th edition of the International Film Festival of Shimla a truly global celebration. We are delighted to welcome filmmakers and cinema lovers to Shimla and provide them with a platform to share stories, ideas and experiences through cinema.” The historic Gaiety Theatre, located in the heart of Shimla, will serve as the venue for the festival. The iconic cultural landmark will provide a distinctive setting for the screening and celebration of films from India and across the world.
12th International Film Festival of Shimla, scheduled for September 25–27, 2026, invites filmmakers, media representatives, film professionals, students and cinema lovers to join this three-day celebration of global cinema in Shimla.
This Film Festival is being organized under the joint aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Government of India), the Department of Language and Culture (Government of Himachal Pradesh), and Himalayan Velocity.
