Our lives are simply stories we have been telling ourselves all along. A childhood memory becomes a story. A family secret becomes one. So does a first love, a bad decision and a friendship that survives three cities. Cinema merely gives these stories a frame. Perhaps that is why a good film stays with us long after the credits roll.
What are we, if not characters stepping through inherited scenes, rewriting them in real time, and passing the script along? That connection between screen and reality forms the core of the Lucknow Film Festival (LFF) & Imaginarium 2026, an initiative of the Amren Foundation. This edition orbits a reflective theme: “Framing Humanity: Between Silence and Chaos. Stories Emerge.”
Storytelling is a human instinct. A film made thousands of kilometres away in an unfamiliar language can still articulate a deeply personal grief or joy. In that shared recognition, borders dissolve. LFF grounds this experience in the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world as one family, using global cinema as a cross-cultural bridge.
An Ecosystem Beyond the Screen
Over the past seven years, LFF has screened more than 500 films, evolving into a meeting ground for filmmakers, artists, policy thinkers, and audiences. Through masterclasses, workshops, and competitions, it has supported emerging storytellers while fostering dialogue around the creative economy. Imaginarium 2026 expands this footprint, treating creative expression as a fluid, interconnected ecosystem. Rather than treating animation, gaming, visual effects, and emerging media as novelties, Imaginarium brings them into the main conversation alongside live-action cinema. It creates a space where short films, experimental projects, Indian studio productions, and international animation sit together.
With UP Tourism as the presenter, LFF & Imaginarium 2026 also brings together an accomplished jury drawn from different corners of the creative industry. The panel includes award-winning director Rajesh Bhatia, casting director Mukesh Chhabra, known for spotting and shaping new talent, and scriptwriter Jyoti Kapur Das. They are joined by Tehzeeb Khurana, an animator, educationist and evangelist, and acclaimed animation filmmaker Vaibhav Kumaresh.
What’s New: From AI Hackathons to Women Directors
The festival constantly adapts to mirror shifting technology and culture. The 2026 edition introduces several key focuses across feature films, short films, animation, and gaming.
- Focus on Women Directors: A dedicated spotlight elevates feature films directed by women, bringing fresh, nuanced perspectives to modern narratives.
- AI Hackathon: One of the first initiatives of its kind at the festival, this track explores how artificial intelligence can assist, rather than replace, human storytelling.
- Feature and Short Films: The 2026 edition brings a strong selection of feature and short films, highlighting diverse stories and filmmaking voices.
Gaming and Emerging Creators
Interactive media takes center stage this year. Gaming is no longer treated as a side attraction, it is recognized as a primary storytelling medium. The festival brings key voices into this space, including Huzaifa Arab of Craftom and Laxmi from Indian Game Map. Their sessions focus on game creation, world-building, and mapping.
A central highlight is the gaming panel moderated by filmmaker and animator Kireet Khurana. Featuring Huzaifa and Laxmi, and held in connection with the Create in India Games initiative, the session explores why animation, AI, and gaming now share the same space as traditional filmmaking. For modern audiences, a game controller and a cinema ticket are simply two different gateways into a story.
Schedule: Two days of screenings and innovation
Day 1: October 23
- 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Inaugural Opening: Festival kickoff featuring the inaugural screening followed by the Chief Guest’s keynote address.
- 2:15 PM – 4:15 PM | Afternoon Screening Block: Selected narrative and feature presentations.
- 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Evening Screening Block: Continuation of competitive showcase and international shorts.
- 6:45 PM – 7:15 PM | Awards & Short Film Showcase: Announcement of initial category honors, capped off by the screening of the winning short film.
Day 2: October 24
The single-day flow on 24 October moves from emerging technology to classical craft, finishing with celebration.
- 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | AI Session: An extended deep dive into AI in media, exploring generative tools and narrative applications (includes a one-hour lunch break).
- 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Global Screenings: A curated hour featuring the Best of Annecy Films alongside a selection of Polish cinema.
- 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Tea Break
- 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Masterclass: Director Vaibhav Kumaresh presents an insider look at the making of Return of the Jungle.
- 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Gaming Panel: Kireet Khurana moderates a discussion with Huzaifa Arab and Laxmi, linking game design to the Create in India Games vision.
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Award Ceremony: The official awards presentation, followed by the screening of the winning film.
What are we, if not part of a story?
As the lights dim in Lucknow this October, audiences will watch screens only to recognize themselves. Stepping back out into the city streets, we are left with a simple truth: Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi, it is not the length of the reel that matters, but the depth of the story we leave behind.
Because life’s too short for boring scripts and bad coffee. Grab your passes for LFF & Imaginarium 2026, we’ll save you a front-row seat!
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When: October 23 and 24
Where: SRS Cinemas, near CMS School, Vipul Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow – 226010
