Mumbai-based Whistling Woods International (WWI), one of India’s leading institutes for film, communication and creative arts, hosted the 14th edition of its flagship festival, Celebrate Cinema ’26, from October 7 to 9. The three-day event brought together more than 4,000 students, industry professionals and creative minds to explore cinema’s cultural impact, emerging technologies and power to unite audiences.
A major highlight was an exhibition honouring veteran actor Dharmendra, who passed away earlier this year. His wife, legendary actress Hema Malini, attended the inauguration and spoke warmly of Subhash Ghai’s vision in establishing an institution dedicated to cinema and its future. The tribute featured an audiovisual presentation created by WWI students, celebrating Dharmendra’s enduring contribution to Indian cinema.
Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra’s Minister of Cultural Affairs, announced mid-term scholarships in Dharmendra’s name for academically outstanding WWI students. He also paid tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who, like Dharmendra, was remembered during the festival.
Centred on the theme ‘Impact of Big-Screen Cinema’, Celebrate Cinema ’26 provided a platform for industry-academia engagement, bringing celebrated filmmakers, industry veterans and leading voices from Google, Adobe, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery and other organisations together for discussions and knowledge-sharing.
The festival opened with Aamir Khan, Aparna Purohit and the team behind Sitaare Zameen Par discussing storytelling, audience engagement and the theatrical experience. Khan appreciated Whistling Woods for providing countless young people with opportunities to learn the craft of filmmaking and pursue their passion for cinema.
Over the three days, the festival featured discussions involving more than 15 industry experts, over eight masterclasses and more than 50 workshops. The speakers included Hema Malini; Aamir Khan; Aparna Purohit; Imtiaz Ali; Rana Daggubati; Jyoti Deshpande, President of Jio Studios and producer of Dhurandhar; Komal Nahta; Siddharth Roy Kapur; Sriram Raghavan; Abhinay Deo; Divy Nidhi Sharma; R. S. Prasanna; Rajesh Mapuskar; Shony Panjikaran of Sony Pictures; Sanjay Pisharody of Warner Bros. Discovery; and experts from Google, Adobe, InVideo and Neural Garage.
Sessions examined global theatrical distribution through films such as Spider-Man and The Odyssey, the making of the Dhurandhar films, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on filmed entertainment.
The workshops offered hands-on exposure to AI-powered short filmmaking using Adobe Firefly, creative applications of AI, editing, visual effects (VFX) compositing, colour grading, screenwriting, production design, animation, photography, acting, sound, music production, creative advertising, lensing and lighting.
The Immersive Studio showcased interactive installations incorporating virtual reality (VR), motion capture, projection mapping, interactive games, generative visuals and real-time transformations, demonstrating how emerging technologies are reshaping creative expression and audience experiences.
Reflecting on cinema’s ability to bring people together, actor and entrepreneur Rana Daggubati said, “The cinema theatre was one place where it didn’t matter who you were, your caste, creed or anything else. That’s what cinema meant to me, and that ability to bring people together is what makes it so powerful.”
Subhash Ghai, Founder and Chairman of WWI, emphasised the enduring importance of storytelling and emotion amid rapid technological change.
“For me, cinema has always been about the magic of telling a story that touches the heart. When the lights go off in a theatre and the story unfolds on the big screen, hundreds of people laugh, cry and feel together. That is the power of cinema. Technology will keep changing, and we must embrace it, but the heart of filmmaking will always remain the story and the emotion behind it. Through Celebrate Cinema, I want our young filmmakers to learn this craft, find their own voice and create stories that audiences will want to experience on the big screen,” he said.
The festival concluded with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali in conversation with Subhash Ghai. Expressing his appreciation for WWI and its students, Ali spoke about the institute’s vibrant creative energy and the enthusiasm of its young talent. He also acknowledged Ghai’s vision in creating a platform that brings aspiring filmmakers closer to the craft of cinema and the people who shape it.
The interaction underscored the importance of nurturing creativity, encouraging emerging storytellers and preserving the emotional power of cinema.
Meghna Ghai Puri, President of WWI, said, “By bringing students face-to-face with industry leaders and emerging technologies, we prepare them to shape the future of cinema while preserving the magic of the theatrical experience.”
