DELHI: First International Film Festival Opens Today with Traffic Advisory in Place

The inaugural     International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) 2026     kicks off today (March 25) at Bharat Mandapam, running through March 31. The week-long event features over     140 films     shortlisted from more than     2,000 global entries    , with screenings spanning Indian regional cinema (Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Haryanvi, North-Eastern, and Bengali) alongside international titles .

    Star power:     The opening red carpet ceremony will be hosted by Arjun Kapoor and Nimrat Kaur, with Vicky Kaushal, Hema Malini, Bhumi Pednekar, Rana Daggubati, Anupam Kher, Sanya Malhotra, and Siddhant Chaturvedi expected to attend. The gala opening features the Oscar-nominated film   Sirat   .

    For travellers:     Delhi Tourism is positioning the festival as a catalyst for film tourism and the creator economy, aligning with the government’s new Film Policy that promises single-window clearances for shooting permissions. The initiative aims to establish Delhi as a preferred destination for domestic and international film crews .

    Traffic Advisory:     Restrictions on Mathura Road and Bhairon Marg will be in effect daily from     10:00 AM to 10:00 PM     through March 31. Parking is prohibited on affected stretches; violators face towing and fines. Commuters are advised to use Ring Road as an alternative and opt for public transport. Parking is available at Basement Parking No. 1 (Bhairon Marg entry) and Basement Parking No. 2 (Mathura Road entry) .

    Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra     stated that the festival advances Delhi’s creator economy, while     CM Rekha Gupta     described IFFD as an initiative that places Delhi firmly on the global cultural map .