The 12th edition of the Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY), hosted by Smile Foundation, will be held in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to India, with support from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
The festival is a significant international platform dedicated to children’s and youth cinema, with a strong focus on film literacy, cultural exchange, and young voices from around the world.
SIFFCY 2026 continues its collaboration with the GIFFONI Film Festival, particularly through the School Experience programme, which curates films made by children across Italy.
As part of this collaboration, Italian professionals and young participants will be actively involved in the festival. Ms Laura Aimone, Founder & Festival Director of Shocking Pink Endorphins (Venice) and a member of the GIFFONI Film Festival, will participate as an Eminent Jury Member and Panelist during the festival.
Two Italian students will join the festival online as members of the Young Jury Programme.
In addition, SIFFCY 2026 will host two special panel discussions that address international perspectives on cinema and education:
Film as a Classroom: European Models of Film Literacy for Children
Cinema Without Borders: Cultural Exchange Between India and the World through Cinema
These sessions aim to encourage dialogue on the role of cinema in education and cross-cultural understanding, reflecting the shared values of international cooperation and creative exchange.