The 24th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is set to take place from April 23 to 26, featuring 27 films, including seven narrative features, two documentary features, and 18 short films.
IFFLA has announced its line-up of films and events for this year, with participating countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the USA.
The opening night gala of IFFLA 2026 will feature Mahesh Narayanan’s Malayalam thriller Patriot, starring Mammootty and Mohanlal, who reunite on screen after 18 years. The cast also includes Fahadh Faasil, Nayanthara, Kunchacko Boban, and Revathy.
The plot centres on a retired officer falsely accused of espionage and who joins forces with a high-ranking soldier to defend the nation against a major conspiracy.
The festival will also feature IFFLA Industry Days, which debuted in 2024.
IFFLA Industry Days is a forum that offers South Asian film and TV creatives opportunities to connect with industry leaders and a chance to win a $10,000 Pitch Competition Development Grant.
The two-day event supports financing, production, and casting, among other areas. The festival will feature Mahde Hasan’s debut Sand City, which won the Proxima Grand Prix at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, and Anuparna Roy’s Songs of Forgotten Trees, which earned the Best Director award at the Venice Film Festival.
Tribeny Rai’s Shape of Momo will have its North American premiere at IFFLA, alongside Karla Murthy’s documentary The Gas Station Attendant, which won Best Documentary at the Nashville Film Festival and received a Special Mention at Sheffield DocFest.
Other titles include Ben Rekhi and Swetlana’s documentary Breaking the Code and Hidden Sun, directed by Shuchi Talati.
The short film programme this year features works by 13 female directors, including Nihaarika Negi’s sweeping Tenfa, produced by Storiculture.
The festival will also showcase a selection of films by California-based and local filmmakers, including the world premieres of Harvest Party at Camp Two by Rajan Gill and Reaa Pur, Peanut by Sheila Sawhny, Urvashi Pathania’s Skin, Unfriend (Katti) by Kanishka Aggarwal, and Radha Mehta’s Sūnna.
The festival will close with Anusha Rizvi’s The Great Shamsuddin Family, a social satire set in Delhi, featuring an ensemble cast including Kritika Kamra, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Sheeba Chaddha, Farida Jalal, and Purab Kohli.
