The Hubert Bals Fund has announced the recipients of its 2026 Development Support scheme, awarding €10,000 each to 20 projects from around the world. The latest edition marks a significant expansion of the programme, which supported 15 projects in 2025.
Two Indian projects feature among this year's recipients: Half Sea, directed by Sheethal Namath Shyam, and Silver Linings, a documentary by Kanishka Sonthalia and Siddesh Shetty.
Set in a small town on Kerala's Malabar coast, Half Sea follows a woman who becomes drawn into a world of forgotten traces after discovering an audio recorder. The project continues Sheethal Namath Shyam's exploration of memory, place and intimate human experience.
Silver Linings examines the lives of older adults across India who seek companionship through friendship clubs, matchmaking groups and speed-dating events. Directed by Kanishka Sonthalia and Siddesh Shetty, the documentary explores loneliness, ageing and the search for connection in contemporary India.
The announcement is notable not only for the Indian representation but also for the expansion of the Development Support programme itself. By increasing the number of selected projects from 15 to 20, the Hubert Bals Fund has broadened its backing for filmmakers developing projects in regions where access to film financing and industry infrastructure remains limited.
Established by the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Hubert Bals Fund is one of the world's most respected public funding initiatives for independent cinema, supporting filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. Several Indian filmmakers have previously received HBF support during the development or production of internationally acclaimed films, making the fund an important launchpad for emerging voices from the region.
