Autumn Programme
We are pleased to say that thanks to support from BFI we are back this Autumn with a very special selection of events to break through to new audiences in different partner cities.
Our Autumn selection includes a free women-only screening of director Priyanka S. Saha’s debut feature, Anmol – Lovingly Ours in London and Birmingham. In Manchester, we are delighted to present a daring selection of shorts and micro-shorts exploring how AI and other technologies are enabling South Asian filmmakers to challenge conventional forms and centre their heritage.
There is another chance to catch a selection of Short films from this years Satyajit Ray competition at Genesis Cinema, East London. We also have a special Facebook Live event that we will announce very soon.
Finally for gaming enthusiasts we are back at the FORMAT South Asian Gaming Zone in Liverpool in October.
Autumn Programme
We are pleased to say that thanks to support from BFI we are back this Autumn with a very special selection of events to break through to new audiences in different partner cities.
Our Autumn selection includes a free women-only screening of director Priyanka S. Saha’s debut feature, Anmol – Lovingly Ours in London and Birmingham. In Manchester, we are delighted to present a daring selection of shorts and micro-shorts exploring how AI and other technologies are enabling South Asian filmmakers to challenge conventional forms and centre their heritage.
There is another chance to catch a selection of Short films from this years Satyajit Ray competition at Genesis Cinema, East London. We also have a special Facebook Live event that we will announce very soon.
**. Update**Facebook Live EVENT: Based on the gigantic hit premiere of the restoration of Peter Brook’s Mahabharata at BFI IMAX in July, we are working with Baithak UK to host an International Facebook Live event on Saturday 25th October to discuss the work of the great master and his influence on cinema and theatre in the UK, India and France. Don’t miss this one and a host of legendary speakers.
Finally for gaming enthusiasts we are back at the FORMAT South Asian Gaming Zone in Liverpool in October.
WED 9 SEPTEMBER (London)
Join the London Indian Film Festival for an exclusive, free women-only screening of director Priyanka S. Saha’s debut feature, Anmol – Lovingly Ours. To make the morning extra special, our event partner Dishoom will be serving free chai from 10:30 am!
10:30 | Wed 9 Sep | UCL East
WED 16 SEPTEMBER (Birmingham)
Join the London Indian Film Festival for an exclusive, free women-only screening of director Priyanka S. Saha’s debut feature, Anmol – Lovingly Ours.
WED 16 SEP | 10:30 | MAC
WED 23 SEPTEMBER (London)
A rare chance to see the London Indian’s Film Festival’s internationally-renowned showcase of emerging filmmakers’ works from South Asia and around the world. All the selected films are, in different ways, felt to enshrine the legendary director Satyajit Ray’s humanist vision, subtlety of story and eye.
WED 23 SEP | 18:30 | Genesis Cinema | Book Tickets
MON 28 SEPTEMBER (Manchester)
This daring selection of shorts explores how AI and other technologies are enabling South Asian filmmakers to challenge conventional forms and centre their heritage and help democratise filmmaking. After the screening, a panel of filmmakers and experts discusses what emerging technologies mean for the next generation of South Asian filmmakers, and potential tech and creative collaborations between Manchester and India.
MON 28 SEP | 17:30 | SODA (School of Digital Arts), Manchester Metropolitan University | Tickets Releasing Soon
FRI 2 OCTOBER (Liverpool)
This pioneering showcase will feature cutting-edge titles from South Asian and Indian game developers; many being exhibited in the UK for the very first time. Gaming fans will have the exclusive chance to play premium titles never seen outside of India, in a vibrant festival atmosphere that combines gaming with music, community, and nightlife.
FRI 2 OCT | 18:30-23:45 | Boxpark, Liverpool | Book Tickets
2026 Award Winners
Each year we recognise and pay tribute to members of the Industry, with the presentation of these special Awards. Whether the recipient is a legend or an exciting new breakthrough artist, an innovative and inspirational storyteller or a breath-taking cinematographer, the presentation of the annual LIFF Awards are seen by the film industry as a recognition of their art by the British Asian film loving community.
Here are the winners for 2026:
BFI Player
The London Indian Film festival has its own dedicated Collection on the British Film Institute’s BFI Player. The BFI Player presents the best global cinema on-demand: from classic and contemporary films to the best of the BFI National Archive.
LIFF 2026
LIFF 2026
The festival returns to its 17th year with a rich array of cutting-edge new cinema premieres from India and around South Asia, many of them cherry-picked from the finest film festivals around the world, plus restorations of magnificent classics of Indian cinema. We are also showcasing the best of emerging British Asian film talent while celebrating the cast of the very British Goodness Gracious Me and exploring the new frontiers of cinema and new technology.
Trailer
Trailer
A taste of what’s coming up…
We kick things off with 52 Blue where a young man’s passion and desire to meet his idol Lionel Messi leads him on a journey to the football World Cup in Qatar in this rousing tale of self-discovery and Love.
The legendary Aamir Khan gives a rare on-stage conversation about his remarkable life and career.
A unique chance to share the on-stage reunion of legends of British comedy, the cast of Goodness Gracious Me.
Innovation in South Asian cinema harnessing the use of AI and other technologies, plus a discussion with industry experts.
Showing at BFI IMAX, the Academy Award nominated Lagaan is one one Hindi cinema’s greatest underdog tales.
Make sure to look through our full programme and book tickets early to avoid disappointment.
OLD
LIFF returns in July 2026
We are delighted to announce that the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF), together with its associated festivals in Birmingham, Manchester and other cities, is back from early July. We are busy preparing a vibrant showcase of independent feature film premieres, short film showcases, gala red carpets, industry networking events and computer game launches, all focused on Indian and South Asian stories from across the globe.
The festival takes place at prestigious venues across 20 locations in six UK cities. Each July, LIFF is attended by thousands of cinema-goers and is also streamed online, reaching a significant global audience.
We look forward to welcoming you again this July. Sign up for our newsletter to get regular updates and early bird announcements on quick-selling movies and special guest talks.
Shekhar Kapur heads new Film and AI Jury
Writer-director Shekhar Kapur, famed for movies like Elizabeth, will head up the festival’s first international jury to consider new Indian, South Asian and diaspora films exploring AI and other new technologies as part of their creative process. The jury will consider the best films to be premiered at the BFI Southbank, London on 11th July. This event is a collaboration with AIFA Ventures who will be presenting an award for the Best film in this category, entitled the AIFA Ventures. Click here to submit your film and for full terms and conditions. (Final deadline: June 10)
Submit Your Short Film
Calling all short film makers! We are now accepting submissions for LIFF 2026. Alongside entries for our annual Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition, New Brit-Asian shorts and Too Desi Too Queer, we are also partnering with AIFA Ventures to showcase short films that embrace emerging technologies including AI and blockchain. Click here to submit your Short Film.
LIFF Making Headlines in India
Brilliant media coverage in Mumbai highlights the inspirational journey of the London Indian Film Festival, celebrating 16 years of championing Indian independent cinema and engaging diverse audiences across six U.K. cities. Our deepest gratitude to Patron Prakash Jha and a special thank you to all the journalists, particularly the Dainik Bhaskar group, PTI and CNN for their outstanding coverage.
We Need Your Help!
In order to help the festival grow in 2026 and better serve you as an audience member we are asking for your confidential feedback on a few questions below. Please spare us 5 minutes to complete this Survey.
A Live Conversation with the cast of ‘The Mahabharata’
Marking the digital restoration of Peter Brook’s epc film, London Indian Film Festival and Baithak UK hosted an online discussion on the iconic text, the visionary director and the technical challenge of restoration. Delve into the labyrinthine world of theatre interculturalism, the mechanics of the working process in a production of this span and complexity and the mountainous research that underpins the portrayal of an epic.
2025 Award Winner
Our Audience Award in London and Birmingham goes to Vinod Kapri’s Pyre. With stunning views of the Himalayas, Pyre is the tale of a couple’s quirky love story and resilience in spite of a changing mountain society. With two astonishing performances, the film explores pain of abandonment, endurance of hope, and heartache of unfulfilled promises.
BFI Player
The London Indian Film festival has its own dedicated Collection on the British Film Institute’s BFI Player. The BFI Player presents the best global cinema on-demand: from classic and contemporary films to the best of the BFI National Archive.
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