The London Indian Film Festival (LIFF), one of the UK’s largest annual showcases of Indian cinema, will pay tribute to veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal with a special retrospective at its 2026 edition, scheduled to be held in June–July next year.
Festival director Cary Sawhney said the upcoming edition will reflect on the legacy of filmmakers who have passed away, with a special focus on Benegal.
Sawhney said the festival plans to screen at least one of Benegal’s films as part of the tribute, underlining the importance of revisiting his work and engaging audiences in conversations around his cinematic contributions.
LIFF 2026 will also feature a selection of restored Indian cinema classics from the 1950s.
Sawhney said the restoration of films from that era has been particularly exciting, adding that the festival is in discussions with several eminent Indian filmmakers who will be marking significant anniversaries next year, though details are being kept under wraps for now.
Benegal, a key figure of the parallel cinema movement in Hindi films during the 1970s and 1980s, was known for acclaimed works such as Ankur, Mandi and Manthan. He passed away in 2024 at the age of 90.
The festival aims to continue highlighting the diversity of Indian cinema by showcasing films in multiple languages, including Punjabi, Gujarati, Assamese and South Indian languages.
Sawhney said LIFF is actively seeking quality films from Punjabi and Gujarati filmmakers to cater to large diaspora audiences in the UK, while also making a concerted effort to address the underrepresentation of South Indian cinema compared to Hindi films.
In addition, LIFF 2026 will place emphasis on films by women filmmakers and stories centred on LGBTQ communities.
Sawhney said the festival’s focus remains on finding distinctive and compelling narratives, noting that while there are many strong films globally, LIFF looks for stories that stand out for their originality and perspective.
