Mumbai’s biggest creator weekend is returning. IFP Festival Season 16 takes place on October 24 and 25, 2026, at Mehboob Studios in Bandra West, and the lineup spans filmmakers, writers, musicians, photographers, designers and performers. Here’s what’s confirmed, who’s on the bill, what passes cost, and how to plan your two days.
The festival’s official page also notes that it’s designed for filmmakers, social media creators, writers, actors, musicians, designers, podcasters, gamers, media students, marketers and anyone curious about creative work.
IFP started in 2011 as a 50-hour filmmaking challenge under the name India Film Project. Over the years it expanded into a broader creator platform, and the festival now describes itself as a multi-stage, multi-domain event covering films, music, writing, design, photography, advertising, comedy, technology, gaming and culture.
The official page reports 145,000-plus attendees from five countries across its past nine editions. For Season 16, it lists more than 150 artists from over 30 creative fields, 100-plus hours of curated sessions and 25-plus collaboration opportunities. One caution: an FAQ answer on the same page mentions 180-plus creators, so figures differ slightly depending on where you look.
Founder Ritam Bhatnagar has said the idea behind IFP is to give creators “a reason, a deadline and a platform to create.”
The speaker cards on the official page include Karthik Subbaraj, Craig Mazin, Huma Qureshi, Juhi Chaturvedi, Nithya Menen, Rana Daggubati, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shakun Batra, Sujoy Ghosh, Pratik Gandhi, Pushkar and Gayatri, Karan Anshuman, Sooni Taraporevala and Varun Grover. On the music side, Nucleya, Kavita Seth, Curtain Blue and Banjaare are listed, and photojournalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo, a Pulitzer Prize winner, also features.
Two sessions have been highlighted in the announcement coverage. Juhi Chaturvedi and Varun Grover will talk about craft and writing across mediums, and Sonam Wangchuk will lead a conversation titled “How To Live Simply,” around sustainability and mindful living. The wider programme includes conversations on the art of improv, India’s underworld on the page, advertising, performance traditions and art in the age of AI.
The speaker list and schedule can change, and the festival’s own terms say schedule, speakers and performers may change without prior notice, so check the official schedule page before you plan around one session.
The challenge format is the heart of IFP. Season 16 runs 50 Hour Challenges across filmmaking, music, photography, writing, design and performing arts, where participants create within a tight deadline.
Jury announcements list Raam Reddy, Pushkar-Gayatri, Karthik Subbaraj and Anusha Rizvi for the Filmmaking Challenge, while the Music Challenge jury includes Khalid Ahamed, Kanishk Seth, Kavita Seth, Uday Benegal, Nucleya and Dabzee. The Writing Challenge jury includes Karan Anshuman, Abhay Koranne, Sumit Roy, Rashmi Bansal, Tara Khandelwal, Chiki Sarkar and Prayaag Akbar. The Design jury features Muhammed Sajid, Amrit Pal Singh, Omkar Patil, Shayak Sen and Mira F. Winners are awarded during the festival, so the schedule page will show when ceremonies happen.
The official page lists three public passes under its Phase 2 pricing, all valid for both days and all quoted before GST:
One listing snippet shows the Citizen Pass at ₹1,769, which matches ₹1,499 plus 18% GST. A third-party ticketing page also advertises tickets from ₹399, but we couldn’t confirm what that price covers, so rely on the official pass page. Media passes are invitation-only, and influencers can apply for accreditation by sharing their profiles in the media form.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, according to the festival’s terms. The terms also say professional photography equipment needs prior approval, and personal non-commercial photography is allowed. Entry to stages is first come, first served.
The page’s FAQ also says there’s no parking at the venue and a food zone on site. Parts of that FAQ still carry details from earlier seasons, including old dates, so confirm anything critical, like timings and entry rules, directly with the organisers at the contact listed on the site.
This section is analysis, not reporting.
Most creator events are built around talks. IFP’s difference is that it also gives people something to make, with challenges, workshops and collaborative sessions sitting alongside the speaker stage. For creators who work alone, that matters because it creates a reason to meet collaborators in person, not just collect contacts.
The cross-discipline mix is also unusual. A YouTuber, a screenwriter, a musician and a designer can end up in the same room, which is where unexpected collaborations tend to start. If you’ve been following how platform tools are changing creator workflows, our write-up of the Made On YouTube 2026 announcements is a useful companion before you go, because many of the conversations on creator tools will likely connect to it.
A few practical suggestions. Pick your must-see sessions in advance, since seating is first come, first served. Leave gaps for the mixers and workshops, because those are where conversations turn into projects. If you’re a creator, bring a one-line pitch of what you make, and if you want to cover the festival, request media accreditation early.
IFP Season 16 runs on October 24 and 25 at Mehboob Studios, with passes starting at ₹799 before GST, a star-heavy stage and six 50 Hour Challenges. Confirm session timings on the official schedule page, and treat older FAQ details with caution.
IFP Festival Season 16 takes place on October 24 and 25, 2026, at Mehboob Studios in Bandra West, Mumbai. The festival runs from 11 AM on October 24 to 8 PM on October 25, with gates opening at 10 AM, and it features sessions in English and Hindi.
The festival is designed for filmmakers, social media creators, writers, actors, musicians, designers, podcasters, gamers, media students, marketers and anyone curious about creative work. Season 16 includes 50 Hour Challenges across filmmaking, music, photography, writing, design and performing arts, where participants create within a tight deadline, with juries announced for each challenge.
The official page lists three public passes valid for both days: Student Pass ₹799, Citizen Pass ₹1,499 for solo attendees, and Buddy Pass ₹4,499 for a group of four. GST adds to these amounts, and media passes are invitation-only.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Professional photography equipment needs prior approval, while personal non-commercial photography is allowed. Entry to stages is first come, first served, and there is no on-site parking. A food zone is available on site, and verify critical details with the organisers before attending.
Plan by picking must-see sessions in advance since seating is limited, leave gaps for mixers and workshops to foster collaborations, and if you are a creator, bring a one-line pitch. Request media accreditation early if you wish to cover the festival.
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