The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) concluded on Saturday with Polish documentary Silver taking home the festival's highest honour, the Golden Conch for Best Documentary Film, while filmmaker Pooja Tolani was recognised as Best Debut Director for Razaa. Directed by Natalia Koniarz and produced by Maciej Kubicki, Silver was recognised for its exploration of poverty, labour and dignity through what the jury described as a “poetic yet uncompromising” cinematic lens.

Among the major winners in the fiction categories, Shubham Sumit's Small Clouds won the Silver Conch for Best Indian Short Fiction Film, while Iranian filmmaker Nafiseh Zare's Under the Snow claimed the Silver Conch for Best International Short Fiction Film.

Produced by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Small Clouds was praised by the jury for its sensitive coming-of-age narrative centred on childhood, separation and the passage of time. Set against rain-soaked landscapes and coastal imagery, the film emerged as the top Indian fiction short of the festival.

Under the Snow, meanwhile, impressed the international jury with its portrayal of a young woman navigating personal truth and social expectations. The jury commended the film's nuanced storytelling and emotionally resonant cinematic language.

In the National Competition, Sainath S. Uskaikar's documentary Waai won the Silver Conch for Best Indian Documentary Film, while Bhuvanesh M. Kumar's animated film Armstrong from Angaalamman Temple Street secured the award for Best Indian Animation Film. The jury highlighted the latter's imaginative vision of the future and its sharp social commentary.

The International Competition's animation prize went to Maya's Song, directed by Franziska Schönenberger and Jayakrishnan Subramanian. The jury cited its exploration of identity, belonging and self-discovery.

Beyond the Conch awards, filmmaker Pradeep Kenchanuru received the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize for The Hug of Emptiness, while Milan Kumar's The Old Bull Knows, or Once Knew won the IDPA Award for Best Student Film. Pooja Tolani was named Best Debut Director for Razaa.

The week-long festival concluded with a screening of Silver, bringing the curtain down on MIFF 2026 before the documentary, short fiction and animation showcase returns in 2028.

Complete List of MIFF 2026 Winners

  • Golden Conch – Best Documentary Film
  • Silver (Poland)
  • Director: Natalia Koniarz
  • Silver Conch – Best Indian Documentary Film
  • Silver Conch – Best International Short Fiction Film
  • Under the Snow
  • *Director: Nafiseh Zare
  • Silver Conch – Best Indian Short Fiction Film
  • Small Clouds
  • Director: Shubham Sumit
  • Best International Animation Film
  • Maya's Song
  • Directors: Franziska Schönenberger and Jayakrishnan Subramanian
  • Best Indian Animation Film
  • Armstrong from Angaalamman Temple Street
  • Director: Bhuvanesh M. Kumar
  • FIPRESCI International Critics Prize
  • The Hug of Emptiness
  • Director: Pradeep Kenchanuru
  • IDPA Award for Best Student Film
  • Best Debut Director