Berlinale 2026 – South Asian film personalities participating – on the International Jury; in Talents programme and spotlight in EFM 2026
As well traditional film screenings in Berlin, there is a further South Asian presence in other aspects of Berlinale: the main competition jury has a well known industry figure from India and a filmmaker from Nepal.
Several from India also participate in the Berlinale Talents section that focuses on creative development of film professionals – and the Berlinale European Film Market…one of the largest for independent filmmakers looking to distribute their films across Europe and beyond, also gets underway from today and we also note the significant change in programming personnel when it comes to films from South Asia…
By Suman Bhuchar
International Jury
INDIAN filmmaker and restorer Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and Nepali filmmaker Min Bahadur Bham are also part of the main international jury for the 2026 festival headed by Wim Wenders – one of the world’s foremost directors working in cinema today. Berlin-born Wenders’ most recent film, ‘Perfect Days’ (2023) was nominated for an Oscar. The other members of the the Jury are South Korean actor Bae Doona (‘Broker‘ 2022), American screenwriter director and producer Reinaldo Marcus Green (‘King Richard‘ 2021); award-winning Japanese writer and producer Hikari (‘37 Seconds‘ 2019) and Polish filmmaker Ewa Puszczyńska (‘The Zone of Interest’ 2023). You can read more about the jury members, using the link just below.
More on the International Jury
https://www.berlinale.de/en/festival/awards-and-juries/international-jury.html
Berlinale Talents
THIS takes place from February 13-18: 200 global filmmakers are invited to take part in talks, workshops and discussions under the theme of Creating (and) Confusion – Cinema, Chaos and the Power of Discomfort. The Talents join one of the world’s largest and most connected film networks, with more than 10,000 alumni worldwide, offering a unique opportunity for global collaboration and creativity, say organisers.
The emerging filmmakers participating are Tanushree Das (who made ‘Shadow Box’ (‘Baksho Bondi‘) which was in last year’s festival (see our review – link below); Indie filmmaker, Subarna Dash, whose short film, ‘The Girl Who Lived In The Loo’ was part of the Generation 14 Plus Berlinale 2024; producer and screenwriter, Kislay whose film, ‘The Shape of Momo’ showed at Busan in 2025.
Other creatives include editor and producer, Anadi Athaley (who edited the Sundance award-winning ‘Sabar Bonda’, (‘Cactus Pears’), released in 2025); Thanikachalam S, from Bengaluru – who produced Maisam Ali’s ‘In Retreat’ (shown in Cannes in the ACID section in 2024).
Film critic and journalist Iishita Sengupta; editor and sound designer Sithikantha; composer and sound designer, Devraj Bhaumik and Vedant Srinivas a programmer and curator, also participate.
You can read more here
https://www.berlinale-talents.de/bt/page/c/main
European Film Market
RUNNING from February 12-18 there are a number of talks and events taking place also – with interdisciplinary artist, Nihaarika Negi’s horror film, ‘Feral’, among several selected for pitching to find financial and creative partners.
Finally
Berlianale welcomes Anu Rangachar as the South Asian Programme delegate for South Asia who joins the festival from 2026 and www.asianculturevulture.com acknowledges Meenakshi Shedde, curator and critic for her involvement at Berlinale from 1998 to 2025. She last spoke to us at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023…
All pictures Courtesy ©Berlinale76 except where indicated
