Lucknow Film Festival Season 4 & Imaginarium 2026 returns on October 23–24

From Bareilly Ki Barfi to Gulabo Sitabo, Uttar Pradesh has given Indian cinema plenty of stories, settings and characters that resonate far beyond the screen. Continuing this rich cinematic tradition, Lucknow Film Festival – Season 4 & Imaginarium 2026 will take place on October 23–24 at SRS Cinemas, Gomti Nagar. Organised by AMREN Foundation through Lucknow Film Forum and presented by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the festival will bring filmmakers, writers, animators and emerging creative voices together under the theme “Framing Humanity — Between Silence & Chaos, Stories Emerge.”

This year's theme, Framing Humanity - Between Silence & Chaos, Stories Emerge, points to the many realities that cinema can bring to light. A film festival creates room for stories to be seen and discussed. It also brings together the people behind the screen, from writers and directors to casting professionals and animators. For Lucknow, it is an opportunity to engage with filmmaking beyond the world of commercial releases and explore the craft.

The state's connection with the medium runs deep. Films such as Tanu Weds Manu, Jolly LLB 2 and Vikram Vedha have also drawn on Uttar Pradesh's settings. Its cities, dialects and social realities can become integral to the stories being told.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism is the presenting partner of Lucknow Film Festival – Season 4 & Imaginarium 2026, supporting a platform that celebrates cinema, storytelling and emerging creative technologies. Organised by AMREN Foundation through Lucknow Film Forum, the festival also recognises the support of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, BBD University, Lucknow Museum of Heritage and Art (LMHA), KOKORO, Sagar World, SRS Cinemas, Climb Films, Open Frame AI Lab, FilmFreeway and Good Karma Calling Productions.

Director of LFF, Renuka Tandon has brought together a jury representing several corners of the film and creative industries. The panel includes casting director Mukesh Chhabra; director, producer and writer Rajesh Bhatia, associated with OpenFrame AI Labs; filmmaker and scriptwriter Jyoti Kapur Das; animator and education evangelist Tehzeeb Khurana; and animation filmmaker Vaibhav Kumaresh. The mix of disciplines brings different perspectives to the festival's cinematic focus.

For a city with a rich cultural identity and a growing connection to screen storytelling, the festival is a timely reminder that every story has a perspective worth hearing. Sometimes, all it needs is the right screen. Save the dates and join Lucknow's celebration of the stories that deserve to be heard.

When: 23–24 October 2026

Where: SRS Cinemas, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow

Contact: +91-9792332444

Email: info@lucknowfilmforum.com