KASHISH 2026 announces cash prizes of Rs.7,85,000!!!
77 Films compete in 13 Competition categories at the festival, 6 LGBTQ+ filmmakers to pitch for KASHISH QDrishti 2026 Film Grant, an Audience Award and an International Poster contest.

Newly Introduced This year!

Best Genderation Short
Genderation Award is a newly introduced section at KASHISH for stories of growing up – of friendships, questions, and the many ways young people begin to understand themselves and the world around them. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by Dwijen Dinanath Arts Foundation.

Audience Award for Best First Feature
Audience Award for Best First Feature celebrates debut filmmakers whose stories create a meaningful connection with viewers at the festival. Unlike the other award categories decided by a jury, this award places the choice directly in the hands of the KASHISH audience, recognising the film that leaves the strongest impact on them. All feature-length debut films completed after January 1, 2025 programmed at KASHISH 2026 are eligible for the Audience Award, including both narrative and documentary films. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy.

In Continuation

KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant
In its 10th year now, the path-breaking KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant, which has already facilitated production of 11 LGBTQ+ short films, offers Rs.4,00,000 to a LGBTQ+ identifying filmmaker to make their queer short film, sponsored by Lotus Visual Productions, Vikramaditya Motwane and Guneet Monga. Two runner ups stand to receive Rs.25,000 cash award each supported by Renuka Shahne.

Best Narrative Feature
The best narrative feature award category includes Indian and International narrative features completed after January 1, 2025 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2026. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.40,000 supported by Tiger Baby Films.

Best Indian Narrative Short
The best Indian narrative short award category includes Indian narrative short films which are under 60 minutes, completed after January 1, 2025 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2026. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by Kindling Pictures.

Best International Narrative Short
The best international short award category includes international narrative short films which are under 60 minutes, completed after January 1, 2025 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2026. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 sponsored by the GagaOOLala (Taiwan).

Best Screenplay
All the films in all the above 3 categories are eligible to compete for the Best Screenplay Award. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 instituted in the memory of distinguished Marathi scholar and writer Dr. Arvind Vaman Kulkarni. The award is instituted by his son, actor Abhay Kulkarni.

Best Performance in a Lead Role
All the films in all the above 3 categories are eligible to compete for the Best Performance in a Lead Role Award. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by Samruddhi Studios.

Unity in Diversity Best Documentary Feature
The best documentary feature award category includes Indian and International documentary features completed after January 1, 2025 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2026. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.30,000 supported by the K.F.Patil Charitable Trust.

Unity in Diversity Best Documentary Short
The best documentary short award category includes Indian and International documentary short films completed after January 1, 2025 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2026. The award KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by the K.F.Patil Charitable Trust.

Best Student Short
The best student short award category includes Indian and International short films made by students of film and media schools, completed after January 1, 2025 and having their Mumbai Premiere at KASHISH 2026. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by the Whistling Woods International.

Riyad Wadia Award for Best Emerging Indian Filmmaker
Indian narrative and documentary short films that are the filmmaker’s first or second film completed after January 1, 2025, playing at KASHISH 2026 are eligible for nomination to this award category. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash award of Rs.25,000 instituted by Wadia Movietone, in the memory of Riyad Wadia, the pioneering filmmaker who made India’s first gay film BomGay.

Ismat Chughtai Award for Best Indian Woman Filmmaker of South Asian Origin
Instituted in memory of renowned novelist, short story writer, liberal humanist and filmmaker Ismat Chughtai, this award recognizes an emerging woman filmmaker (cisgender or trans woman) of South Asian origin, based in India or abroad, whose first or second short fiction or nonfiction film, completed after January 1, 2025, has been officially selected for KASHISH 2026. The award carries a KASHISH Butterfly Trophy and a cash award of INR 20,000 supported by Ismat Chughtai’s grandson and filmmaker Mr. Ashish Sawhny.

Aditya Nanda Award for Best Film on Queer Mental Health
Indian & International films playing at KASHISH 2026 – narrative or documentary of short film – with a focus on mental health issues of LGBTQ+ persons, will be considered for the Aditya Nanda Award for Best Film on Mental Health. The award carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.25,000 supported by Keshav Suri Foundation.

Best Poster Design
This is an award given to the Best Poster Design chosen from an international poster design contest. The winning design is used on all the KASHISH 2026 collaterals. This award carries a KASHISH Butterfly Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.20,000 supported by KASHISH Arts Foundation.