The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026 celebrated emerging cinematic talent from across the world with a special screening of seven films from La Fémis, France’s renowned national film school. Presented under the “Emerging Voices: Film School Editions” section, the showcase offered festival audiences a compelling glimpse into the creative vision of the next generation of French filmmakers.
The films screened on July 17 showcased the diversity, innovation and artistic excellence that have made La Fémis one of the world’s most respected film institutions. The selection included “The Awakening,” an eight-minute short fiction directed by Faeze Karimpour. The movie takes you through a boy who is about to go on stage for his end-of-year show when stage fright takes hold and he stains his costume. He runs away to fix the mistake and his escape becomes an initiatory journey through the school and beyond. The experience gradually restores his confidence and brings him back to himself, ready to face the stage he fled.
At the screening, Ms Faeze Karimpour was felicitated by Shri Pankaj Saxena, Artistic Director, Film Festivals, NFDC. Speaking at the event, Ms Faeze, who was into visual arts in Tehran before pursuing studies in France, said that the screening at MIFF was a big opportunity for filmmakers like her. She also thanked the MIFF for providing the platform to the young filmmakers from France.
The selection also included “Bowl Cut,” a short fiction in comedy genre directed by Tamara Vittoz. The film is a compact and quietly comic portrait of a child’s determination and the way children navigate the emotional consequences of adult discord.
“Max,” a 15-minute-long animation movie by Emilien Pichon, blends childhood curiosity with mystery and suspense, while “My Internet Countryside,” a 24-minute-long short fiction by Lily Belbèze is an insightful exploration of loneliness, friendship and digital-age relationships.
The screening also featured “Not to Die Alone,” a short fiction directed by Tommy Boulet and Valentin Noël. The film showcased a thought-provoking examination of identity and social conditioning, while “Signs from Below,” an animation documentary by Maude Vuillez immerses the viewer in the sensory experience of growing up deaf in a hearing world, where underwater silence becomes a recurring metaphor for a different kind of listening. “Still Waters” by Juliette Gaudin takes you through the life of a nurse named Lucille who works to reinvent her gestures of care while navigating the power dynamics embedded in them.
The screening drew enthusiastic responses from cinephiles, students and film professionals, while the participation of young filmmakers from France added a dynamic dimension to the festival, creating opportunities for meaningful exchanges with Indian filmmakers, students and audiences.