AniMela, the international festival dedicated to animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality, will return to Mumbai’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
The festival’s 2026 edition is being guided by an international advisory board featuring Mickael Marin of France’s Annecy Festival and MIFA, Munjal Shroff of Graphiti Studio, Arjun Madhavan of Assemblage, executive producer Ashima Avasthi Chaudhuri, Aneta Ozorek of Kaboom Film Festival and filmmaker Kiran Rao.
Programming will encompass film screenings and premieres, artist talks, behind-the-scenes sessions on animation and VFX productions, a gaming arena, an international VR showcase, a comics program and industry-focused sessions centered on professional exchange and skills development. A new addition for 2026 is the Transmedia Stage, which will host discussions on world-building across film, games, sound and interactive formats.
“India’s creative landscape is evolving fast, with new talent and new ways of thinking in animation, gaming, and immersive media,” said festival director Nina Sabnani. “AniMela arrives at the right moment to help guide this shift by supporting innovation and giving visibility to the voices that will shape the next decade.”
Rao, who recently joined the advisory board, said, “As someone who deeply believes in the power of radical imagination and technology to expand how we tell stories, it is an honor to be part of AniMela’s journey at such a pivotal moment for the creative ecosystem. I am excited to support the festival as it expands its footprint, empowers new voices, and champions a future where Indian creators stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world.”
Among the projects slated for preview is “Jharokha One: The Dancing Forest,” a location-based VR experience inspired by an Adivasi song from Telangana and developed using the Gond visual tradition.
The festival has established two-year partnerships with the French Institute in India, NFDC and the Indian Institute of Creative Technology, with a focus on education, training, industry dialogue and innovation within the AVGC-XR ecosystem. Anita Karnik serves as head of corporate alliances.
“For decades, NFDC has supported filmmakers and cinematic voices that shape India’s cultural future,” said Prakash Magdum, managing director of NFDC. “AniMela is a natural partner in this journey; bringing together storytelling, technology, and new generations of creators on a truly global stage.”
Mathieu Béjot, attaché for audiovisual, cinema and digital content at the French Institute in India, said, “The French Institute in India has been a proud partner of Animela since day one. It is now embarking on an ambitious two-year plan of action covering all the facets of the AVGC-XR sector. Under the name Desibel – Indian Talents, French Vibes, the project aims to support the emergence of more Indian original IPs and to foster relationships between our two countries.”
Gautam Bhanot, general manager of NFDC, added, “AniMela represents the kind of forward-looking platform the Indian creative industry needs today. Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to opening international pathways, fostering collaboration, and positioning Indian creative talent within global networks.”
Co-founder and artistic director Anne Doshi said, “At AniMela, we celebrate not just skill and polish, but curiosity, risk, chaos, courage and the need to create simply because you must. That is the kind of creative energy we want to protect and amplify.”
Co-founder and event director Archana Trasy noted, “AniMela connects animation with gaming, filmmaking with technology, studios with students and ideas with opportunities. It’s not just a showcase. It is where bridges are built and the future of Indian AVGC-XR starts to take shape.”
Shroff said, “Animela is where the art, the artist, and the artistry of animation, VFX, gaming, comics, XR, and transmedia storytelling come together. And this year, we open our doors even wider – to celebrate the fans whose imagination keeps these universes buzzing with life and excitement.”
The festival is open to creators, innovators, students, professionals and the general public. AniMela 2026 will take place Feb. 19-22.
