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21st Asian Women’s Film Festival Returns to New Delhi with Three Days of Cinema and Conversations
Dates & place: 13.03-15.03.2026, New Delhi, India
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Delhi, March 2026:
The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) – India Chapter will present the 21st Asian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF) from 13–15 March 2026 at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi, continuing one of Asia’s longest-running platforms dedicated to celebrating women’s voices in cinema.
Organised in collaboration with the India International Centre, a partnership that has sustained the festival since its inception in 2005, the Asian Women’s Film Festival has grown into an important space where women filmmakers from across Asia and beyond share their work, build dialogue, and engage with audiences. Over two decades, the festival has fostered a vibrant community around feminist filmmaking and collective viewing cultures.
The 21st edition, curated by Festival Director Bina Paul, will present a wide-ranging programme of approximately 75 films spanning documentary, fiction, animation, and experimental work, alongside masterclasses, discussions, and special curated packages that bring together filmmakers, scholars, and audiences for three days of cinema and conversation. The festival will open with the Bhutanese feature I, the Song by filmmaker Dechen Roder, marking a moment of cultural exchange and highlighting Bhutan’s emerging cinematic voice. Members of the film’s team will be present at the opening screening on 13 March.
The closing film of the festival will be Shadowbox, a French co-production directed by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, with acclaimed actor Tillotama Shome in attendance for a conversation following the screening.
Among the international highlights is the Japanese film Oasis by renowned editor and filmmaker Keiko Okawa, who will attend the festival and participate in a special conversation on editing practice and cinematic form.
Celebrated Indian filmmaker Paromita Vohra will present her latest film Working Girls, followed by a conversation about the film and her distinctive approach to feminist storytelling.
The festival will also feature a special animation showcase in collaboration with the AniMela Film Festival, including a masterclass with noted animator Nina Sabnani and curator Anna Doshi, exploring the creative possibilities of animation as a storytelling medium.
Speaking about the programme, Bina Paul, Festival Director, said: “The Asian Women’s Film Festival has always been about creating a space where women filmmakers from across Asia can share their work and find audiences who are curious about new cinematic languages and perspectives. This year’s programme reflects the extraordinary diversity of women’s storytelling - from deeply personal narratives to films that engage with larger social and political realities. What makes the festival special is not just the films themselves, but the conversations and connections that emerge around them.”
Also, Bina Paul said: "We are adding a special retrospective of films of Kyrgyz and Kazakh female directors".
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Aparna Sanyal, Managing Trustee, IAWRT India, added: “For more than two decades, the Asian Women’s Film Festival has created a space where women filmmakers from across Asia can share their stories and engage in meaningful dialogue with audiences. Our longstanding partnership with the India International Centre has been central to sustaining this platform for collective viewing, exchange, and celebration of women’s cinematic voices.” Since its inception, AWFF has remained rooted in a simple belief: that women’s stories and creative labour deserve visibility, dialogue, and celebration in the cinematic landscape.
The 21st Asian Women’s Film Festival is open to the public, with screenings taking place across multiple venues within the India International Centre. The festival programme includes films from across Asia and beyond, alongside conversations, masterclasses, and curated thematic sessions.
Dates: 13–15 March 2026
For media enquiries, interviews, and festival information, please contact:
IAWRT India Chapter
About IAWRT India The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) is a global professional organisation committed to advancing women’s participation in media. The India Chapter actively supports women media practitioners and promotes dialogue around cinema, culture, and storytelling through initiatives such as the Asian Women’s Film Festival.
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