The Government of Meghalaya has announced that the first edition of the 1st Shillong International Film Festival will be held from March 25 to 27, 2026.
Organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, the three-day festival will be hosted at the State Convention Centre Shillong, which will be turned into a hub for global cinema. The initiative is being positioned as a major step toward establishing Meghalaya as a preferred destination for the international film fraternity, while also boosting the state’s creative economy.
The festival aims to connect local talent with global expertise by providing a platform for knowledge exchange. A series of masterclasses and workshops led by industry professionals will be conducted to equip aspiring filmmakers with technical skills, enabling them to pursue opportunities in filmmaking without leaving the state.
The inaugural edition highlighted both regional and local film. The lineup includes
1.Ha Lyngkha Bneng | Pradip Kurbah | Meghalaya
2.Our Home (Eikhoigi Yum) | Romi Meitei | Manipur
3.Deepa Didi (The Housekeeper) | Surya Balakrishnan | Mumbai
4.Kok Kok Kokoook | Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap |Assam
5.Jingshemphang | Tyrell R Lyngdoh | Meghalaya
6.Chanchisoa | Elvachisa Ch. Sangma & Dipankar Das | Meghalaya
7.Maimizial | Raymond Colney | Mizoram
8.Ade | Theja Rio | Nagaland
9.Shape of Momo | Tribeny Rai | Sikkim
10.Ka Chithi | Simi Kongthiang | Meghalaya
11.By the Home | Mankap Nokwoham | Arunachal Pradesh
12.Nongshun | Kamki Diengdoh & Elizer Bareh | Meghalaya
13.Roots Renewed | K. Mark Swer and Tarun Bhartiya | Meghalaya
14.Ahor | Kenny Lyngdoh | Meghalaya
15.Tang Shiteng Por | Cores Marwein | Meghalaya
16.Kñi | Kiki Garod | Meghalaya.
By screening these alongside international works—such as
“Impermanent Residents” by Tuan Huu Nguyen from Vietnam and
Arun Bhattarai’s “Agent of Happiness” from Bhutan—the festival fosters a unique cross-cultural exchange.
Addressing the media, Information and Public Relations Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the festival is expected to open new avenues for filmmakers and promote Meghalaya’s scenic and cultural appeal as a filmmaking destination. He added that training sessions during the event will help nurture emerging talent in the state.
The minister also unveiled the festival logo and launched its official website and trailer at a formal event attended by senior officials, including Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri IAS and Director of Information and Public Relations B.S Sohliya IAS.
As part of the programme, masterclasses will be conducted by Dominic Sangma on screenplay writing and Arnab Gayan on cinematography.
In addition to film screenings, the festival will promote economic opportunities through a “Film Shooting Promotion” initiative aimed at boosting tourism and generating local employment.
The Student Short Film Competition, a dedicated segment of the Shillong International Film Festival, aims to highlight and encourage the creative voices of young filmmakers across Meghalaya. Open to students from schools, colleges, and universities, the initiative provides an important platform for emerging storytellers to explore cinema as a medium of expression.
This year’s theme, “Beyond Borders,” calls on participants to reflect on ideas of identity, culture, connection, landscape, and shared human experiences. Students are invited to interpret the theme through both fiction and non-fiction formats, offering fresh perspectives shaped by their own environments and lived experiences.
The competition aims to nurture filmmaking talent among young people while promoting cinema as a meaningful medium for storytelling and dialogue. Selected entries will be showcased during the festival, providing emerging filmmakers with valuable exposure, while the winning films will also be screened as part of the festival programme, contributing to the growth of a vibrant film culture in the state.
