A B O U T

The 2nd Manikarnika International Film Festival will be held at Banaras from the 13th to the 15th of October 2023. Banaras or Varanasi is a city that has been pioneering art, culture & music since the 18th Century and has been the creative epitome since then. The rich cultural tradition of Varanasi makes it the cultural and spiritual capital of India. A combination of archaeology, mythology, geography, art, and history makes this city a great center of Indian culture. The aim of the festival is to raise awareness and promote national & international cinema in all its forms as art, entertainment, and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue.

We believe quality filmmaking should be celebrated and awarded, regardless of the budget. Our dedicated team of international programmers focuses on creating the most diverse screening selection. Our endeavor is to create a platform for witnessing how the audience reacts to your cinematic work.

We are passionate about supporting up-and-coming directors, producers, and actors, and providing them with worthwhile, memorable screening experiences. This includes Q&As with filmmakers, industry round tables, & audience awards.