Shillong, Mar 18: The first edition of the Shillong International Film Festival, 2026 will be held from March 25 to 27 at the State Convention Centre.
The festival will feature films from Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya and international films from Bhutan and Vietnam.
State Information and Public Relation Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui informed that the film festival is being held to showcase Meghalaya’s culture as well as its scenic beauty.
Rymbui said that through this festival the state is trying to attract film makers to shoot their movies in the state as well as allow film makers of Meghalaya to hone their skills with acclaimed personalities.
The Minister also said that during the three day festival, the budding filmmakers of the state will be given insights into movie making by acclaimed personalities.
On the occasion, the IPR Minister unveiled the logo, launched the website and trailer of the film festival.
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.
