The much-awaited film Patriot, starring Malayalam cinema icons Mammootty and Mohanlal, has been selected as the opening film for the 24th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). The festival will run from April 23 to 26, 2026, showcasing a diverse lineup of films from India and the South Asian diaspora.
Festival Overview
IFFLA 2026 will feature a total of 27 films, including:
- 7 narrative features
- 2 documentary features
- 18 short films
The closing film will be Anusha Rizvi’s The Great Shamsuddin Family, which had its streaming release last year.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Festival | Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) |
| Edition | 24th |
| Dates | April 23–26, 2026 |
| Opening Film | Patriot (Mammootty, Mohanlal) |
| Closing Film | The Great Shamsuddin Family (Anusha Rizvi) |
| Total Films | 27 (7 narrative features, 2 documentaries, 18 shorts) |
The Narrative Features Lineup
The narrative features section includes several impressive filmmaking debuts and award winners:
- Ghost School (Seemab Gul)
- Sand City (Mahde Hasan)
- Shape of Momo (Tribeny Rai)
- Lali (Sarmad Khoosat)
- Songs of Forgotten Trees (Anuparna Roy)
Short Films: Global Recognition
The short film program features work by 13 female directors, including the world premiere of Nihaarika Negi’s Tenfa, produced by Storiculture (which also produced the acclaimed Humans in the Loop screened at IFFLA 2025).
Other shorts having their Los Angeles premieres include:
| Short Film | Director | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Bleat! | Ananth Subramaniam | Queer Palm award-winner at Cannes Critics’ Week |
| Ali | Adnan Al Rajeev | Cannes Special Mention winner |
| O’Sey Balamma | Raman Nimmala | Soulful story about bond between a matriarch and her housekeeper |
Global Representation
Countries represented in this year’s lineup include:
- India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia
- The Philippines, Japan, France, the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the USA
Support
IFFLA 2026 is supported by the Joy of Sharing Foundation, Tarsadia Foundation, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and additional sponsors.
