Frequently Asked Questions

People's International Film Festival of India (PIFFI) is an international platform dedicated to celebrating cinema, culture, creativity and technological innovation. The festival brings together filmmakers, artists, students, industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts through screenings, exhibitions, masterclasses and industry interactions.

PIFFI 2026 will be held from 17th to 20th December 2026 at Ravindra Bhawan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. The festival will host screenings, cultural programmes, exhibitions and networking opportunities over four days.

The theme of PIFFI 2026 is Tech in Cinema, exploring the relationship between storytelling, cinema and emerging technologies that are shaping the future of filmmaking.

All film submissions must be made through FilmFreeway. Submission dates, late fees, eligibility criteria and category-specific guidelines are published on the official festival website.

Late fees are ₹4,000 for Feature-length Films and ₹2,000 for Short Fiction Films, Short-Length Documentary Films, Full-Length Documentary Films, and AI-Assisted Films. Eligible student filmmakers receive a 40% discount on the applicable late fee.

PIFFI currently accepts submissions in five competitive categories: Best Feature Film, Best Feature-Length Documentary Film, Best Short-Length Documentary Film, Best Short-Fiction Film, and Best AI-Assisted Film. Additional awards and curated sections may be announced by the festival.

Yes. PIFFI welcomes submissions from filmmakers across the world and encourages participation from independent creators, students and established professionals.

PIFFI 2026 accepts only those films that were completed after January 1, 2024. Films completed before this date are not eligible for submission.

The Student Film category is open to students who are enrolled in a recognized educational institution at the time of submission.

Yes. A valid student identity card or an official enrolment certificate issued by the educational institution must be submitted as proof of student status. The Festival reserves the right to request additional verification if required.

Yes. PIFFI offers a 40% discount on the submission fee across all applicable categories for eligible student filmmakers. The discount is available upon verification of valid student status.

Yes. Students from PIFFI's officially recognized Partner Schools and Partner Institutions may be eligible for a submission fee waiver, subject to the Festival's partnership terms and prior approval.

Eligible applicants must upload a valid student ID or enrolment certificate during submission. Students from Partner Schools will receive fee waiver instructions or a waiver code through their institution or the Festival.

Yes. Filmmakers may submit multiple films. Each submission must be completed separately through the official submission platform.

No. Submission fees are non-refundable and non-transferable once a film has been submitted for consideration.

The Best AI-Assisted Film Award recognizes outstanding cinematic works that creatively and responsibly integrate Artificial Intelligence into the filmmaking process.

The Festival welcomes responsible and transparent use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in filmmaking.

• Entrants must declare if AI has been used during any stage of production.
• Details of the AI tools and their purpose must be disclosed at the time of submission.
• The submitter is solely responsible for ensuring that all AI-generated or AI-assisted content is legally authorized and does not violate any copyright, intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights.
• AI-generated voices, faces, or digital likenesses of real individuals must only be used with appropriate permission.
• Fully AI-generated films may only be considered in dedicated AI categories (where applicable). Eligibility for other competition categories will be determined solely by the Festival.

All films are reviewed through a multi-level screening and evaluation process conducted by the festival's Screening Committee and Jury panel.

No. Only films officially selected by the festival committee will be screened as part of the festival programme.

Official Selections will be announced on 25 November 2026. All entrants will be notified through FilmFreeway, and the list of Official Selections will also be published on the PIFFI website and the Festival's official social media channels.

PIFFI will present awards across competitive categories and may also confer honorary recognitions and special jury awards.

Yes. Delegates, participants and selected audience members may be required to register through the official website before attending festival activities.

Yes. The festival will host masterclasses, panel discussions, industry conversations and special sessions led by filmmakers and experts.

Selected screenings, exhibitions and cultural activities will be open to registered participants, subject to venue capacity and festival policies.

Ravindra Bhawan is centrally located in Bhopal and is easily accessible by air, rail and road. Travel recommendations will be shared closer to the festival.

Hospitality support may be extended to invited guests, jury members and selected delegates. General participants are advised to arrange their accommodation unless notified otherwise.

Yes. Media accreditation details and application procedures will be announced prior to the festival.

Yes. PIFFI welcomes sponsorships and institutional partnerships that align with the festival's vision and objectives.

Yes. You can apply at piffi.in/volunteers. Volunteer roles cover hospitality, screenings, media, logistics and technical support during PIFFI 2026, 17–20 December at Ravindra Bhawan, Bhopal.

Yes. PIFFI will feature cultural showcases, exhibitions, networking spaces and curated experiences alongside film screenings.

All festival announcements, schedules and important updates will be published on PIFFI's official website and social media platforms.