The Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) is listed for 10 to 17 December 2026 on its FilmFreeway submissions page. The organisers’ own website had not announced this year’s venues or pass prices as of 18 October 2026, so treat the dates as provisional until they do.
Last year’s festival gives a good idea of what to expect: eight days, two city multiplexes, more than a hundred films, and passes that cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand rupees. Here is how CIFF works and how to get in.
Who runs it
CIFF is organised by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), a Chennai film society founded in 2003, which describes itself as the country’s largest private film society. The festival is held with support from the Government of Tamil Nadu and the National Film Development Corporation, according to the festival’s support page. Neither the festival nor the state has published the size of this year’s grant, so we have not given a figure.
The official site lists ICAF’s registered office at Gemini Parsn Apartments, Cathedral Garden Road, Chennai 600 006. The festival director is Anand Rengaswamy and the president is Sivan Kannan, according to FilmFreeway.
Dates and what happened last year
The 23rd edition ran from 11 to 18 December 2025. A festival notice on the SICA website gives the details:
| Detail | 23rd CIFF, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11 to 18 December 2025 |
| Films | 122 films from 51 countries |
| Venues | PVR INOX Sathyam (Royapettah) and PVR INOX Citi Centre (Radhakrishnan Salai) |
| Opening and closing | 6 pm at the Sathyam screen |
| Public pass | Rs 1,500 |
| Concession (SICA members) | Rs 500 |
Venues have changed over the years. In 2022, for the 20th edition, offline registration was at Anna Theatre on Mount Road and online booking ran through the festival website and BookMyShow, The News Minute reported. Do not assume this year’s venues until they are announced.
Getting a delegate pass
CIFF uses a delegate system rather than single-show tickets for most screenings. The festival website has a delegate registration form that asks for:
- Name, gender, date of birth, mobile number, email and address
- Your occupation or designation
- Why you want to attend, and any film society membership
- Other film festivals you have attended
The form does not state a fee, and no 2026 pass prices had been published by mid-October. Last year the SICA concession required members to register at the association’s office before noon on 9 December, so watch for similar cut-offs if you belong to an industry body.
For queries, ICAF lists secretary@icaf.in and +91 98401 51956.
What gets screened
The programme is built around a few sections, according to FilmFreeway:
- World Cinema Competition, with awards for best feature, second best feature and a special jury award.
- World Cinema non-competitive and Indian Panorama sections.
- Tamil Feature Film Competition, which this year’s rules open to Tamil films certified between 16 October 2025 and 15 October 2026 (the fee listing gives older dates, so check), with awards including best film, best actor, best actress, cinematographer, editor and sound recordist.
The Tamil competition is often the most talked-about part. In 2022 it included Gargi, Iravin Nizhal and Maamanithan. Entry to the Tamil section is free for filmmakers; the late deadline on FilmFreeway is 1 November 2026, with selections notified on 20 November.
Tips for festival week
- Register as soon as passes open; the festival draws film students, industry members and regular cinephiles.
- December is the northeast monsoon’s peak. Allow extra travel time between venues on rainy evenings.
- Past editions have published a full movie book as a PDF on the festival site, such as the 22nd CIFF movie book. Use it to pick two or three titles a day and keep a backup.
- Check each film’s language and running time in the catalogue before you queue.
Quick answers
When is CIFF 2026?
The festival’s FilmFreeway page lists 10 to 17 December 2026. The official website had not confirmed venues as of mid-October.
How much does a CIFF pass cost?
For 2025 the public pass was Rs 1,500, with a Rs 500 concession for SICA members. 2026 prices are not yet out.
Where are films shown?
In 2025, at PVR INOX Sathyam in Royapettah and PVR INOX Citi Centre. This year’s venues will be announced by ICAF.
Is CIFF a government festival?
No. A private film society, ICAF, runs it, with support from the state government and NFDC.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Chennai International Film Festival official site (Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation)
- Support (Chennai International Film Festival)
- Chennai International Film Festival listing (FilmFreeway)
- 23rd Chennai International Film Festival notice (SICA)
- 22nd CIFF Movie Book (Chennai International Film Festival)
- Over 100 films to be screened at Chennai International Film Festival (The News Minute)
