The 2026 edition will showcase 88 films from 42 countries, including 15 world premieres and 54 India premieres, with flagship celebrations across Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad and screenings spanning 41 additional locations across the country, establishing ALT EFF as the world’s largest decentralised environmental film festival.
ALT EFF (All Living Things Environmental Film Festival), one of India’s largest environmental film festivals and the world’s largest decentralised environmental film festival, is set to return from December 3 to 13, 2026, with an ambitious and expanded edition that promises to be bigger, more immersive and engaging than ever before. Featuring 88 films from 42 countries, including 15 world premieres and 54 India premieres, this year’s festival will bring together compelling stories from across the world, using the power of cinema, art and creative expression to spark conversations around the environment and our relationship with the planet.
Adding to the excitement surrounding this year’s edition is acclaimed actor and environmental activist Rajshri Deshpande, who joins the festival as one of its key jury members. Known for her powerful performances in films and series such as Angry Indian Goddesses, Sexy Durga, Sacred Games, Trial by Fire, The Fame Game, Black Warrant and Satyashodhak, Rajshri has also been deeply involved in grassroots environmental initiatives. Through her Nabhangaan Foundation, she has been instrumental in reviving river systems and fostering sustainable development in drought-prone villages across Marathwada. Her association with ALT EFF brings together her passion for storytelling and her commitment to creating meaningful social and environmental impact.
Rajshri will be joined on the jury by an accomplished panel comprising natural history writer and award-winning author Pranay Lal, theatre maker, actor and casting director Dilip Shankar, documentary filmmaker and producer Priya Thuvassery, award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker Sumit Roy, and National Geographic Explorer and environmental storyteller Arati Kumar Rao. Bringing together diverse perspectives from cinema, natural history, documentary filmmaking, theatre, literature and environmental advocacy, the jury will evaluate a selection that explores the many intersections between humanity and the natural world.
Speaking about joining the jury, Rajshri Deshpande said, “I have always believed that storytelling has the power to move people, challenge perspectives and inspire change. Environmental issues are no longer distant conversations; they are deeply connected to the lives, livelihoods and futures of communities everywhere. Through my work with Nabhangaan Foundation, I have witnessed how closely the health of our ecosystems is tied to the well-being of people. ALT EFF creates an important platform for stories that make us pause, reflect and look at the world around us differently. I am delighted to be part of this year’s jury and look forward to discovering films that not only tell powerful stories but also encourage us to rethink our relationship with the planet.”
With 88 films from 42 countries, ALT EFF 2026 promises an expansive programme spanning diverse geographies, perspectives and environmental narratives. The selection includes 15 world premieres and 54 India premieres, bringing audiences an opportunity to discover a remarkable range of new cinematic voices and stories. From narratives exploring communities on the frontlines of ecological change to films examining biodiversity, climate realities, conservation and sustainable futures, the programme aims to offer audiences a multifaceted understanding of the environmental challenges and possibilities shaping our times.
This year, the festival’s footprint will extend far beyond its flagship city celebrations, with screenings and events taking place across 41 additional locations in India over the 10-day period, apart from its three flagship events in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. From tier 2 and tier 3 cities to smaller rural communities, including locations across the Himalayas and indigenous regions of Odisha, ALT EFF continues to take environmental storytelling to audiences in diverse geographical and cultural contexts. By bringing the festival to communities beyond the country’s major metropolitan centres, ALT EFF aims to make climate and environmental cinema more accessible, encourage wider participation and inspire audiences to engage with these stories and translate conversations into action. The festival will also be accessible through its online programme and Watch Parties, extending its reach to viewers across the country.
Taking its flagship celebrations beyond a single-city format, ALT EFF will this year host its grand weekend celebrations across three cities – Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. Mumbai will host the festival’s opening weekend, while Bengaluru and Ahmedabad will bring the festival experience to audiences in two additional cultural hubs. Building on the response to its Bengaluru celebrations last year, the expanded three-city format marks an important step in the festival’s ambition to make environmental cinema and conversations more accessible across the country.
The 2026 edition will also introduce a more immersive dimension to the festival experience, with a range of artistic interventions, interactive installations and creative experiences complementing the film programme. Moving beyond conventional screenings, these additions will invite audiences to engage with environmental themes through art, participation and experiential storytelling, creating a more dynamic space for discovery, dialogue and exchange.
Kunal Khanna, Co-founder and Festival Director, ALT EFF, said, “Every year, we look at how we can take ALT EFF a step further, not just in terms of the films we bring to audiences but also in the way people experience the festival. This year, we are expanding our footprint to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while introducing immersive artistic experiences that allow audiences to engage with environmental storytelling in new and exciting ways. With 88 films from 42 countries, we are bringing together an extraordinary range of stories and voices. Our larger vision is to make ALT EFF more than a film festival – we want it to become a shared cultural experience that encourages people to connect with the environment, engage with different perspectives and take these conversations beyond the festival itself.”
With a wider geographical presence spanning 41 additional locations, an expansive international film selection featuring 15 world premieres and 54 India premieres, and a renewed focus on immersive audience experiences, ALT EFF 2026 aims to further strengthen the place of environmental storytelling in India’s cultural landscape, bringing together filmmakers, artists, activists and audiences to celebrate cinema while reflecting on the future of our planet.
