Delhi Marathi Film Festival 2026 Opens With Sthal, Samna and Award Winning Films

The national capital is all set to celebrate the magic of Marathi cinema as the Delhi Marathi Film Festival makes its grand debut from August 7 to 9. Bringing together award winning films, timeless classics, celebrated filmmakers and interactive sessions, the three day festival promises to be a landmark cultural event for cinema lovers in Delhi.

Organised by the Delhi Marathi Pratishthan with support from the Maharashtra government's Department of Cultural Affairs, the Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation, the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the festival will be hosted at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Centre. Entry to all screenings is free, although prior registration is mandatory.

Among the biggest crowd pullers is Sthal, the internationally acclaimed Marathi drama directed by Jayant Digambar Somalkar. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) under the prestigious Discovery section before travelling to nearly 30 film festivals across the world. Praised for its powerful portrayal of arranged marriage through the eyes of a young woman from rural Maharashtra, Sthal has emerged as one of the most celebrated Marathi films of recent years.

The festival will also revisit Marathi cinema's golden era with Samna, the iconic political drama directed by Jabbar Patel and written by legendary playwright Vijay Tendulkar. Starring Dr Shriram Lagoo, Nilu Phule, Mohan Agashe and Smita Patil, the National Award winning classic remains one of the finest political films in Indian cinema and was also showcased at the Berlin International Film Festival, cementing its global reputation.

Apart from these highlights, the festival's diverse lineup includes Deulband 2, Mamachya Govyala Jau Ya, Phulwanti, Ghabadkund, Bhutam Bhayam, Uttar, Satyashodhak, Tumbadchi Manjula, Asha and Gandhi Tax, along with 16 telefilms spread across three curated sections.

The opening ceremony on August 7 is expected to be a star studded affair with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Maharashtra Minister for Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar, Delhi Minister for Art, Culture and Languages Kapil Mishra, Rajya Sabha MP Vinod Tawde and Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal in attendance.

Adding to the excitement, audiences will get an opportunity to interact with popular Marathi filmmakers Pravin Tarde, Jayant Somalkar, Ramdas Phutane and Kishore Belekar, while actors Sandeep Pathak, Abhijeet Chavan, Usha Nadkarni and Priyadarshini Indalkar will participate in post screening conversations, offering fans a behind the scenes look at their films.

The festival experience extends beyond movie screenings. Aspiring filmmakers can take part in a three day FTII masterclass, while visitors can explore a special exhibition tracing the remarkable journey of Marathi cinema from its early classics to modern masterpieces.