Legendary actors Biswajit Chatterjee, Farida Jalal and Asha Kale will be honoured at the 24th Pune International Film Festival, organisers announced in Pune on Friday. Celebrated violinist and composer Amar Haldipur will receive the S D Burman International Award for his contribution to music. The awards will be presented during the festival’s closing ceremony at Balgandharva Rangmandir on 22 January.
Pune International Film Festival will celebrate Indian cinema and music
Festival president Dr Jabbar Patel said the PIFF Distinguished Award will recognise the three veteran actors for their long and varied careers in Indian cinema. “The winners represent the golden era of Indian cinema as well as the creative vitality of music that continues to inspire new generations,” he told reporters. The 24th edition of PIFF is organised by the Pune Film Foundation, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, and Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari.
PIFF 2026 opens on 15 January at E-Square Theatre and will run through 22 January, with screenings scheduled across ten venues in the city. A significant focus this year is the competition segment Marathi Cinema Today, which has shortlisted seven films from more than 100 submissions. Trustee Satish Alekar said the final contenders are Adishesh by Ramesh More, Toh Ti Ani Fuji by Mohit Takalkar, Tighee by Jeejivisha Kale, Jeev by Ravindra Jadhav, Gondhal by Santosh Dawkhar, Gaman by Manoj Naiksatam, and Bappya by Sameer Tewari.
An international jury will judge the competition and the winning film will receive the Marathi Best International Film Award along with a cash prize of ₹5 lakh sponsored by the state government. Alekar added that several Marathi films, including Sohla by Saikaat Bagbaan, Mukkampost Bombilwadi by Paresh Mokashi, Maya by Aditya Ingale, and Dwidha by Nilesh Naik, will be screened in the non-competitive section.
Beyond screenings, PIFF will host workshops and panel discussions featuring scholars and filmmakers from India and abroad. The programme includes the Vijay Tendulkar Memorial Lecture by writer B Jeyamohan, who will speak on the art of adapting novels for the screen. Talks by Serbian filmmaker Goran Radovanovic and Iranian director Alireza Shahrokhi are also scheduled.
A retrospective devoted to masters such as Guru Dutt, V Shantaram and V Damle will run alongside the festival, offering audiences an opportunity to revisit landmark works from Indian film history. Invitations have been extended to political dignitaries, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, to attend the opening and closing ceremonies.
Dr Patel emphasised the festival’s role in bridging generations, from the classics represented by Asha Kale and Biswajit Chatterjee to the fresh perspectives presented by new Marathi filmmakers. “This year’s PIFF celebrates cinema’s power to elevate culture and bridge generations,” he said.
Interested attendees can register online at www.piffindia.com or at on-site counters from 5 January. The festival’s mix of competition, retrospectives and international dialogue is expected to draw cinephiles, critics and industry professionals to Pune for a week of screenings and discussion.
Key Takeaways:
- Pune International Film Festival will honour Biswajit Chatterjee, Farida Jalal and Asha Kale, with Amar Haldipur receiving the S D Burman International Award.
- The 24th PIFF runs from 15 to 22 January, with screenings at 10 venues and a Marathi competition featuring seven shortlisted films.
- Workshops, panel discussions and a Vijay Tendulkar Memorial Lecture by B Jeyamohan will bring international and Indian filmmakers to Pune.
- Festival highlights include retrospectives of Guru Dutt, V Shantaram and V Damle and a ₹5 lakh prize for the best Marathi film.
