SIFFCY 2026
A SMILE FOUNDATION
INITIATIVE
The 12th edition of the Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY), hosted by Smile Foundation, was held in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to India, with support from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. SIFFCY 2026 celebrated Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility through the power of meaningful cinema.
Scheduled from 28 January to 3 February 2026 in New Delhi and across multiple locations nationwide, this year’s edition featured Poland as the Country of Honour and the Netherlands as the Country of Focus.
Designed as a hybrid festival, SIFFCY 2026 engaged both in-person and virtual audiences. Key events, including the opening and award ceremonies, were held at the PHD House Auditoriums, New Delhi, from January 28 to 31, 2026. Alongside this, screenings and related outreach activities took place throughout the week across multiple locations in India in collaboration with local schools and community partners. A curated selection of films were also available on SIFFCY’s secure, geo-blocked virtual platform, enabling wider national and international participation throughout the week.
FESTIVAL THEME: INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, ACCESSIBILITY & EQUITY
This year, SIFFCY championed the values of Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility, and Equity, with the support of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The festival celebrates cinema as a transformative medium that nurtures empathy and gives voice to diverse perspectives, while ensuring that every young person—irrespective of ability or background—can access enriching cultural experiences.
In alignment with this theme, a dedicated day featuring multiple workshops and panel discussions was organized to encourage dialogue, awareness, and inclusive engagement. Through powerful films and meaningful conversations, SIFFCY continues its journey toward shaping a more compassionate, inclusive, and equitable future.
FOCUS NETHERLANDS
Each year, SIFFCY spotlights a nation through a dedicated country focus. The 12th edition presented Focus Netherlands, celebrating the best of Dutch cinema for young audiences, curated in partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands, New Delhi. This initiative fosters cultural exchange by showcasing stories that reflect shared values, traditions, and creative expression through cinema.
COUNTRY OF HONOR: POLAND
SIFFCY 2026 proudly honoured Poland as the Country of Honor. In collaboration with the Polish Institute, New Delhi, the festival hostd a special Polish Day, featuring multiple Polish films and engaging sessions throughout the week. This ongoing partnership reflects SIFFCY’s commitment to strengthening cultural ties through cinematic dialogue.
CELEBRATING GERMAN, FINNISH AND CZECH CINEMA
Continuing its association with SCHLINGEL International Film Festival, Germany, SIFFCY brings a handpicked selection of German films for Indian audiences. The festival also partners with the Embassy of Finland in India to present a curated showcase of Finnish cinema. And Embassy of the Czech Republic to curate films from the country.
Watch this space for the detailed schedule of the 12th edition of the festival.
Background
SIFFCY is the flagship initiative of Smile Foundation, one of India’s leading charitable organizations, dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering young minds through meaningful cinema. Alongside film screenings, the festival offers workshops, panel discussions, masterclasses, and interactive sessions. Each year, SIFFCY attracts thousands of filmmakers, professionals, and cinephiles from across the world, with over 50,000 young attendees at physical venues.
In 2026, the festival reached over 500,000 young audiences across 100+ locations in India simultaneously through its week-long festival. The festival showcased 150+ films from 50+ countries and organised 20+ workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions. Over 50 national and international industry professionals from 12 countries participated in person, alongside 90+ young jurors from 9 countries, making the festival truly global in spirit.
(For more information, visit www.smilefoundationindia.org | www.siffcy.org)
NEXT-GEN AWARD
Secretary General of CIFEJ – Int’l Center of Films for Children & Young People, President ANIMASYROS Int’l Animation Festival,
Born in Athens, in 1976. After finishing school at the Athens College, he studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR). Holding postgraduate degrees from the Universities of Rotterdam (NL), Hamburg (D) and Aix-Marseille III (F), he is an attorney-at-Law licensed by the Athens Bar since 2001. Since 2008 he is president of ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival and since 2015 president of ASIFA HELLAS – Hellenic Animation Association. In 2018 he received the title of the Knight in the Order of Letters & Arts of France, while during 2018-2019 he chaired the board of the Greek National Opera. Since 2022 he is president of CIFEJ – International Center of Films for. Children & Young People.
Film Maker, Founder – Creative Economy Forum.
With over two decades in cinema and creative industries, she brings together artistic expertise, curatorial depth, and ecosystem leadership to her work. Trained in film direction on the prestigious Égide Scholarship at the Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma Français in Paris, she has produced documentary and feature films through her company Maison Su Entertainment.
She has played a significant role in shaping India’s film culture as President of Cinedarbaar, leading film education, criticism, and festivals across the country. She co-founded the film magazine Indian Auteur and ran the cinema gallery 13BCD in New Delhi, both influential platforms for independent and world cinema. She was nominated by the U.S. government for the IVLP programme.
As the Founder of the Creative Economy Forum, Supriya leads national dialogues on the creative industries, curating high-level roundtables — including one with the Minister of Art & Culture — and industry panels at the Waves Summit organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. She has produced three editions of the Creative Economy Forum and instituted the Creative Global Voice of India Awards, which spotlight and shape the future of India’s creative sector.
Media Expert, Coordinator “FilemKING”, Ghent, and Filemon
Geert has an university degree in Communication science, Energy & Climate and in Education. He also followed Filmstudies, both on academic level as in practical skills.
With this backgound he dedicated his life to follow the state of the art solutions of ecological sustainability. This knowledge he shares as a teacher, spiced up with artistic workfoms like theater, music, plastic arts and off course film. Besides his teaching job, he coordinates the Children Filmfestival “FilemKING”, in Ghent, Belgium, as a decentralisation of the Filemon Festival and he works out educational material for shortfilmseries about ‘Citizenship’ for schools.
Filmmaker, Writer, Researcher, Translator, and Women’s & Children’s Rights Advocate
Researcher in the sociology of cinema and culture, with a strong focus on children’s and youth cinema, childhood studies, film education, and media literacy. Areas of expertise include cultural and educational project design for NGOs, as well as research on women, migration, and culture.
Brings extensive experience in academic research, international film festivals, NGO collaborations, and the design and implementation of educational and cultural initiatives for children and adolescents. Actively engaged in voluntary social work, film production, jury participation, and international workshops across Iran, Europe, and Africa.