Global Film Festivals Unveil 2026 Lineups as MIFFest Crowns 'Lucky Lu'

MIFFest wraps with 'Lucky Lu' taking top prize

The ninth Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) closed its Malaysia Golden Global Awards ceremony at Megastar Arena in Kuala Lumpur, with Loyd Lee Choi's US-Canada co-production 'Lucky Lu' winning the Best Film trophy. The ceremony honored Chinese action star Wu Jing and South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong with special awards, and recognised filmmakers, actors and creative teams from across the international festival circuit. 'Lucky Lu,' which follows a New York delivery driver preparing to reunite with his wife and daughter from China, had previously earned accolades for its emotional storytelling and social themes. Special awards also went to a slate of regional and international titles, with the next MIFFest scheduled for 2027.

Other honours distributed during the ceremony included the New Hope Award to Singapore's 'Ah Girl,' Best Director for Morad Mostafa, Best Actor for Mahendra Perera in Sri Lanka's 'Riverstone,' and a shared Best Actress prize for Ong Xuan Jing ('Ah Girl') and Lila Gueneau ('Silent Rebellion'). Best Supporting Actress went to Audrey Lin for 'Girl,' while Priyantha Sirikumara won Best Supporting Actor for 'Riverstone.' Diego Pequeño took Best Cinematography and Luis Emilio Guzmán Best Screenplay for the Chilean drama 'The Red Hangar,' and Spain's 'Sirât' claimed the Audience Choice Award. The ceremony's entertainment included a performance by Malaysian hip-hop artist KAYDA.

Cinemalaya 22 reveals opening and closing films

The Cultural Center of the Philippines' Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival unveiled its opening and closing films for the 22nd edition, themed 'Reel Reflections.' 'Enjoy Your Stay,' co-directed by Honee Alipio and telling the story of a Filipina undocumented cleaner working in Switzerland, will open the festival on August 6 at Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza, free to the public. The film made its world premiere in the Panorama section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026. Rafael Manuel's 'Filipiñana,' a feature-length adaptation of his 2020 short about a teenage country-club employee confronting secrets beneath privilege, will close the festival on August 16. 'Filipiñana' debuted in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Tickets for the closing screening are priced at ₱350 for regular admission and ₱250 for students.

Festival of Cinema NYC marks 10th anniversary in Forest Hills

Festival of Cinema NYC returns to Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills, Queens for its 10th anniversary edition, scheduled to run August 7-16. Christopher Mormando's crime drama 'Judge No Book,' about a man protecting his mother and daughter as his past resurfaces, will make its world premiere as the opening film, while Kristina Klebe's dramatic thriller 'Noxturne,' drawn from the director's own recovery after a spinal injury, will close the festival on August 15. The program features more than 100 independent features and shorts across comedy, drama, horror, documentary, animation and episodic projects, with a particular emphasis on first-time feature filmmakers. Free workshops and seminars are planned throughout the week at the Queens Library in Forest Hills, and a new $10 matinee series will screen past Audience Choice Award winners followed by filmmaker Q&As. Forest Hills native Todd Strauss-Schulson is scheduled to attend a 15th anniversary screening of 'A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas,' and the Film Underground program returns with ten shorts screening for the first time.

Urban Film Festival heads to Miami for Labor Day weekend

Florida Film House International will host the 11th Urban Film Festival from September 4-6 over Labor Day Weekend across Historic Overtown and Downtown Miami. The free three-day event opens on September 4 with student film screenings from the 1st Take Youth Film Program at the Overtown Performing Arts Center, followed by the Welcome to Miami Party at Red Rooster Overtown. Nearly 200 independent films by local, national and international filmmakers will screen on September 5-6 at Silverspot Cinema in Downtown Miami. The program also includes industry panel discussions, masterclasses, filmmaker Q&A sessions, educational workshops and networking opportunities aimed at emerging and established filmmakers. Festival founder Marco Mall emphasised the event's continued commitment to keeping world-class film programming accessible to South Florida communities.