* Discussions held on AI-driven filmmaking, international cinema, and the future of gaming; winners and prominent figures from the creative sector honored.

TIL Desk Lucknow :👉The two-day Lucknow Film Festival Season 4 and ‘Imaginarium 2026,’ held at SRS Cinemas in Gomti Nagar, concluded with a creative convergence of cinema, animation, gaming, and emerging technologies. Organized in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Tourism, BBD Educational Group, and SRS Cinemas, the festival provided a shared platform for luminaries from the fields of cinema, art, culture, education, and cutting-edge technology, further highlighting Lucknow’s growing stature as a creative hub.

The second day of the festival featured several highlights, including a masterclass on AI-driven filmmaking, screenings of international films, panel discussions, a showcase of films created during the AI ​​hackathon, and a grand awards ceremony. The inaugural session was graced by Chief Guest Major General Gautam Gupta, Additional Director General of the NCC Directorate, Uttar Pradesh, alongside animation filmmaker Vaibhav Kumaresh, Huzaifa Arab (CEO and Co-founder of APAR Games), and game developer Lakshmi Khanolkar.

The morning session included screenings of AI and animation-based short films such as ‘Spring in a Bottle,’ ‘Trading Cards,’ ‘Until Can Fly,’ and ‘The Bridge.’ This was followed by a masterclass titled ‘AI: The New Canvas,’ conducted by Rajesh Bhatia and Bharat Arora. Films produced as part of the AI ​​hackathon were also showcased.  Renuka Tandon, Director of the Lucknow Film Festival and Imaginarium 2026, stated that the ‘Lucknow Film Forum’—an initiative by the Amren Foundation—serves as a bridge between traditional cinema and modern, technology-driven storytelling, while fostering creative expression. The initiative aims to promote a robust media and entertainment ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh.

Representing FTII, Pune, Santosh Ojha attended the event and spoke highly of the festival. He commended the excellent curation of the initiative and praised the creation of such a vibrant, forward-looking platform that integrates traditional storytelling with contemporary cinematic techniques.

The afternoon session featured a special screening of international animated films—part of the ‘Best of Polish Animation’ package—followed by an interactive discussion. Animation filmmaker Vaibhav Kumaresh conducted a masterclass on ‘Return to the Jungle,’ where he shared insights into the creative and technical processes behind the film. Meanwhile, a panel discussion titled ‘Level Up: The Future of Gaming’—featuring Kirit Khurana, Huzaifa Arab, Lakshmi Radhawa, Salman Arshad (Vice President of Engineering at Hyperzod Technologies), and Renuka Tandon—explored the ‘Create in India’ initiative, the potential of the gaming industry, and the future of interactive entertainment.

Honoring International Films and Emerging Talent

The festival’s awards ceremony honored the winners, partner organizations, and key contributors. Representatives from Uttar Pradesh Tourism and SRS Cinemas were also recognized.

In the international film categories, the ‘Best Critics’ Award’ was presented to Adam Sazudrich for Slow Dating; the ‘Best Documentary Award’ went to Andrea for Cartapesta; and the ‘Best Animation Award’ was awarded to Radhey Jang for Trading Cards.  ‘Spring in a Bottle’ was honored as the Best AI-Assisted Film, while ‘Let’s Play Ball’ was named the first runner-up.

Awards were presented to Ignacio for Best International Direction (for ‘Alfresco’), Gianluca for Best International Editing (for ‘Lacaryo’), the team behind ‘Mahroh’ for Best Screenplay, and the creators of ‘Killing a Traitor’ for Best Sound Design. Hugo Martens received the award for Best Actor for his performance in ‘Blanchet and the Eight Saints,’ while Maria, the lead actress in ‘Matka,’ was honored as Best Actress.

Among the films selected for the Lucknow Film Festival 2026, ‘Until Can Fly’ won the award for Best Animation. Winners of the AI ​​Hackathon were also recognized.

The festival concluded with a screening of the Oscar-nominated film ‘Paro,’ followed by a Q&A session with Trupti Vilas Bhoir. Vibha Agarwal, Rachna Tandon, Namita Gupta, and Sangeeta Banerjee were specially honored for their sustained contribution and dedication to the event. The formal proceedings ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Namita Gupta.