Keerthy Suresh, Radhika Apte, Rana Daggubati, Huma Qureshi and Vetrimaaran: IFP announces its celeb lineup for Season 16

Actors, filmmakers, writers and artists from across the country will come together for the 16th edition of IFP, scheduled for October 24 and 25 in Mumbai.

Actors, filmmakers, writers and artists from across the country will come together for the 16th edition of IFP, scheduled for October 24 and 25 at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai. This year's line-up includes Keerthy Suresh, Radhika Apte, Rana Daggubati, Mrunal Thakur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Huma Qureshi, Nithya Menen and Pratik Gandhi, alongside National Award-winning filmmaker Vetrimaaran and several other names from the creative industries. Spread across two days, the festival will feature conversations, masterclasses and workshops covering cinema, streaming, writing, music, advertising and digital storytelling.

Vetrimaaran, Rana Daggubati and Huma Qureshi to discuss their journeys

IFP Season 16: Keerthy Suresh, Mrunal Thakur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Rana Daggubati and Vetrimaaran among star attractions.

Filmmaker Vetrimaaran will talk about his approach to cinema and the process of making films in a session titled Making of a Modern Auteur. Rana Daggubati will look beyond his work as an actor and discuss his efforts to support new talent in More Than a Star: On Nurturing the New Wave.

Huma Qureshi will revisit the roles and career decisions that have shaped her as a performer in Many Lives of Huma Qureshi. Mrunal Thakur will also look back at her journey from television to Hindi and Telugu cinema in Making Her Mark, while Sobhita Dhulipala is among the actors set to feature at the festival.

Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte will share the stage for On Playing Power Ft. AKKA. The conversation will focus on their characters in the upcoming Netflix series Akka and what it takes to portray women who hold power. Nithya Menen will discuss her approach to acting in Becoming Kanmani.

Juhi Chaturvedi, Varun Grover and Sonam Wangchuk among other speakers

The programme extends beyond films and acting, with sessions dedicated to writing, literature, sustainability, advertising and the impact of technology on art. Screenwriters Juhi Chaturvedi and Varun Grover will discuss their creative processes and writing across different formats in On Craft, Creativity & Writing Across Mediums.

Sooni Taraporevala will appear on Anurag Minus Verma Podcast Live, while Satyanshu Singh will lead a session titled Killing Your Darlings. Craig Mazin, the acclaimed screenwriter, will take questions from audiences through a virtual AMA.

Sonam Wangchuk will discuss practical ideas around sustainable living in How To Live Simply. Artist Raghava KK will examine how artificial intelligence and algorithms are changing creative work in Art After The Algorithm & AI. Actor Shefali Shah will join Saurabh Dwivedi for Pustakalay Ft. The Audacity of Being.

Advertising filmmakers Prakash Varma and Amit Sharma will come together for What Makes a Good Ad? Other sessions will look at independent music, improvisation, photography, design and digital storytelling, making the festival a meeting point for people working across different creative fields.

Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte share their excitement about Akka

Speaking about IFP Season 16 and her upcoming Netflix and YRF series Akka, Keerthy Suresh shared, “What I love about IFP is that it brings together people who are genuinely passionate about storytelling, regardless of where they are in their creative journey. It's a space where new ideas, fresh voices and different forms of creativity come together under one roof. As someone who has grown through constantly exploring new characters and stories, I find that spirit of experimentation incredibly inspiring. I'm excited to be part of IFP 2026, connect with fellow creators and audiences, and have conversations about storytelling, craft, the evolving ways in which we tell stories today and talk about my upcoming series, Netflix and YRF’s - Akka.”

Radhika Apte also spoke about what makes the festival special to her, linking its emphasis on creative exchange to her work on Akka. She said, "IFP has built a wonderful community of creators, storytellers and artists who are constantly pushing themselves to think differently and create fearlessly. What makes it special is the energy of people coming together to share ideas, challenge conventions and learn from one another. I've always believed that creativity thrives when diverse perspectives meet, and IFP is a great example of that. With Akka, my upcoming series with Netflix and Yash Raj Films, I've had the opportunity to be part of a distinctive story and a world shaped by compelling characters and complex dynamics. I'm looking forward to being part of IFP 2026, engaging with emerging talent and exchanging ideas on storytelling and performance."

Huma Qureshi and Pratik Gandhi on the value of creative exchange

For Huma Qureshi, IFP offers an opportunity to connect with fellow artists and encourage people who are just starting out. Sharing her thoughts on the upcoming edition, she said, “IFP has always felt like a space that celebrates creativity in its most honest and exciting form. What I love about the festival is the energy it creates around storytelling and the opportunity it gives artists to come together, exchange ideas and inspire one another. As someone who has constantly explored different forms of storytelling through acting, writing and production, I truly value spaces that encourage experimentation and new voices. I’m really looking forward to being part of IFP, meeting young and emerging creators, and having meaningful conversations around the creative process, cinema and the many possibilities that storytelling can open up.”

Pratik Gandhi described the festival as a place where artists and audiences can engage with different forms of creative expression. He shared, “IFP represents an essential cultural intersection where diverse forms of storytelling, performance, and creative practice meet. Its strength lies in convening artists and audiences from varied backgrounds to spark discovery, exchange, and dialogue.”

IFP Season 16: Dates, venue and schedule

IFP began in 2011 as a 50-hour filmmaking challenge. Since then, it has grown into a platform that brings together creators from different parts of the world and across a range of disciplines. Its 16th edition continues that approach, with a programme spanning films, streaming, writing, music, advertising and the arts.

The festival will be held on October 24 and 25, 2026, at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai.