The three-day International Prayagraj Film Festival 2026 opened at Hotel Prayag Inn in Ashok Nagar, Prayagraj, on Friday.
Madhubala Films organised the event in association with Rotary Prayagraj Sangam to celebrate cinema, literature and culture.
Former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Sudhir Narain Agarwal attended as chief guest, while Professor Yogendra Pratap Singh, Director of the Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute, presided over the ceremony.
Dr Satpal Gulati, Managing Director of United Group of Institutions, and Prayagraj Additional Commissioner Dr Shamsher Jamdagni attended as distinguished guests.
The speakers highlighted cinema’s role in expressing social concerns, preserving cultural values and encouraging positive change. They said the festival would provide opportunities for emerging artists and strengthen Prayagraj’s literary and cultural identity.
The guests also congratulated Madhubala Films chairman Alok Malviya, organising committee chairman Dr Amit Tripathi and Santosh Tiwari.
Special Screening of ‘Kawan Kasoor’
The second session featured the Bhojpuri film Kawan Kasoor, jointly produced by Bharat Express News Network, Banaras Talkies and Jayant Media.
The cast includes Raj Singh, Gunjan Pant, Sonalika, Sushil Singh and Lalitesh Jha.
Attendees praised the film’s social message, subject and technical quality. Its family-friendly approach seeks to encourage positive change in Bhojpuri cinema and challenge perceptions of vulgarity associated with some productions.
The third session brought together poet and litterateur Dr Shlesh Gautam, Rahul Sharma of Moradabad, Professor Ranjit Singh and Neelam Tiwari to discuss cinema and poetry.
The fourth session examined artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Speakers included Farhan Farooqui, Director of SMEDO, Prayagraj; animator Thakur Shiv Sagar Singh; and AI expert Ratnesh Kumar Dixit.
Folk singer Swati Nirkhi and her team concluded the opening day with a cultural programme celebrating folk music in cinema.
The festival resumes on October 31 at Hotel Prayag Inn and concludes on November 1 at the MNIT Auditorium, Prayagraj.
Organisers aim to promote the city’s cultural heritage internationally and encourage dialogue through film screenings, literary discussions and cultural performances.
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