Mumbai, 20 June 2026

The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026 has entered its final phase, continuing its grand celebration of world-class storytelling through short films, documentaries, and animation.

One of the festival's most popular attractions has been the 'Oscar Winners' section, featuring a highly anticipated lineup of Academy Award-winning short films. This special category brings some of the finest examples of contemporary global cinema to Indian audiences, showcasing outstanding creativity, innovation, and emotional storytelling.

Film lovers in Mumbai had the rare opportunity to watch four internationally acclaimed masterpieces:

The Official Oscar-Winning Lineup at MIFF 2026

• I Am Not a Robot (Belgium, Netherlands)

Directed by Victoria Warmerdam, this dark sci-fi comedy won the 2025 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. The story follows Lara, a music producer who repeatedly fails online CAPTCHA tests and becomes increasingly obsessed with a troubling question: could she actually be a robot?

• In the Shadow of Cypress (Iran)

Co-directed by Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, this powerful film won the 2025 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Set by the sea, it explores the strained relationship between a retired sea captain struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and his daughter.

• The Girl Who Cried Pearls (Canada)

Directed by acclaimed animation duo Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, the film won the 2026 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Set in early 20th-century Montreal, it tells the story of a poor boy who falls in love with a girl whose tears transform into pearls, forcing him to choose between greed and genuine love.

• Two People Exchanging Saliva (France, USA)

Co-directed by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, a Brooklyn-based visual artist of French and Indian descent, this imaginative film won the 2026 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Set in an absurd society where slaps serve as currency and kissing is punishable by death, the film offers a unique and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

The screenings provided students, aspiring filmmakers, and cinema enthusiasts with a valuable opportunity to experience some of the highest standards of international short filmmaking without leaving Mumbai.

Audiences responded warmly to the films, applauding enthusiastically after the screenings and appreciating the diverse storytelling styles, artistic excellence, and emotional depth on display.

As MIFF 2026 approaches its conclusion, the Oscar Winners section stands out as one of the festival's most celebrated showcases, reaffirming Mumbai's place as a vibrant destination for world cinema.

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PIB Team MIFF | Harshal Akude/Darshana Rane