The International Kolkata Short Film Festival (IKSFF) is pleased to present CineBridge, its newest and most ambitious project, which will usher in a revolutionary period for Eastern India’s film industry this January. For the first time in Kolkata, independent filmmakers will have access to a special platform that will allow them to interact directly with large production houses, financiers, producers, and OTT executives, turning their ideas into reality.

CineBridge, which will make its premiere at Rotary Sadan in Kolkata on January 24, 2026, is positioned as a key event under IKSFF 2026, offering a market-driven ecosystem that enables up-and-coming storytellers to submit, pitch, interact, and create globally.

Inspired by prominent international markets such as NFDC Film Bazaar, CineBridge wants to establish itself as the leading destination for industry engagement in Eastern India. Here, filmmakers can:

* Make direct pitches to decision-makers about new concepts or movies;

* Look for co-production or funding;

* Locate distribution and OTT buyers;

* Establish significant industry alliances;

* Display projects that are prepared for purchase

Significant production companies like Mumbai’s Little Lamb Production and EON Films, together with a number of well-known OTT platforms and studios in Kolkata, have already confirmed their participation, demonstrating the tremendous trust surrounding this new endeavor.

IKSFF, which is currently acknowledged as the biggest and most internationally renowned short film festival in Eastern India, provides CineBridge with a strong base. Since its founding in 2020, IKSFF has developed into a vibrant and friendly cultural movement that celebrates diversity in language, style, and cinematic expression while showcasing hundreds of films from various continents.

It is a favorite among young filmmakers looking for both exposure and education because of its hybrid format, which combines local events, masterclasses, and seminars with online screenings on www.efilmzone.com.

Sourav Chakraborty and Saswati Guha Chakraborty, who came from quite different professional backgrounds but were brought together by their passion for movies, are driving the festival’s growth story. Together, they have transformed IKSFF into a vibrant creative hub where up-and-coming filmmakers find both potential and an audience.

Festival Dates & Key Highlights

 IKSFF 2026: 20–25 January 2026

Online Screenings: 20–24 January 2026 at www.efilmzone.com

Venues: Adamas University, Sister Nivedita University, Rotary Sadan & more

CineBridge Industry Platform: 24 January 2026 | Rotary Sadan

Awards & Closing Ceremony: 25 January 2026 | Rotary Sadan

Registrations are now open. Filmmakers and producers can apply via www.iksff.co.in/cinebridge

Under its Frames of Thought series, IKSFF 2026 presents three sharp, future-focused sessions:

Seminar | How will AI reshape the future of Cinema?

20 Jan 2026 | Adamas University

Creative power vs. technological takeover.

Seminar | Do men’s emotion, struggle & losses hold no relevance in Cinema?

21 Jan 2026 | Sister Nivedita University

Rethinking masculinity on screen.

Masterclass | Cinema in the Digital Era

By Prof. Sanjay Mukhopadhyay

21 Jan 2026 • 11 AM | Sister Nivedita University

Storytelling reshaped by digital disruption.

As the city of film and culture prepares for IKSFF 2026, CineBridge promises to be its most notable lighthouse, igniting partnerships, boosting innovation, and creating new avenues for financing for untold stories. CineBridge will be remembered as a turning point when the lights of IKSFF illuminate Kolkata, signifying the start of a potent new era for independent cinema in Eastern India.

Priyanka Dutta