19th International Festival of Cellphone Cinema Grandly Inaugurated at Marwah Studios. Noida, India: The 19th International Festival of Cellphone Cinema was inaugurated with great enthusiasm and global spirit at Marwah Studios, marking another historic milestone in the journey of mobile filmmaking. The prestigious festival was inaugurated by Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Senior Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and former Union Minister, in the distinguished presence of eminent personalities from the worlds of cinema, media, industry, and literature.
The august gathering included Gopal Jiwarjka, CMD of Salora International; renowned actor Abhinav Chaturvedi; senior journalist and Editor of AfroAsian Business Chronicle”], Renu Malhotra; and Dr Diwakar Sukul from London.
Addressing the audience, Dr Sandeep Marwah, Founder of Noida Film City and President of Marwah Studios, spoke passionately about the extraordinary journey of the International Festival of Cellphone Cinema. He shared how the movement of mobile filmmaking grew from a bold experiment into a global phenomenon, earning him the internationally acknowledged title of “Father of Cellphone Cinema.” Dr Marwah emphasized that this festival is recognized as the first-ever international festival of mobile films in the world, setting benchmarks in innovation, accessibility, and creative freedom.
While reflecting on the global evolution of cellphone cinema, Dr Marwah fondly remembered the invaluable contribution of Prof. Karl Bardosh, whose vision and academic support helped bring worldwide recognition to the genre. He further highlighted that the festival has successfully travelled to prestigious global platforms including Budapest, Hungary and Cannes, France, reinforcing its truly international stature.
This year’s edition witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 8,000 film entries from across the globe for 18th edition of IFCFC. A total of 22 awards, along with attractive cash prizes, were presented to celebrate excellence, originality, and innovation in mobile filmmaking for 18th edition participants.
Speaking on the occasion, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi praised Dr Sandeep Marwah, stating, “Dr Sandeep Marwah is a truly creative, innovative, and legendary personality in his field. Noida Film City, Marwah Studios, and AAFT have today become international brands. He is among the most decorated personalities of the country. Mobile has brought revolution in journalism, in cinema and in our day to day affaires.”
Renowned actor Abhinav Chaturvedi lauded the festival for democratizing cinema and empowering young creators with a simple yet powerful tool—the mobile phone—while appreciating Dr Marwah’s vision of nurturing new talent worldwide.
Senior journalist Renu Malhotra highlighted the global impact of the festival, noting that cellphone cinema has emerged as a strong voice for inclusive storytelling and cross-cultural dialogue.
From London, Dr Diwakar Sukul commended the festival for its originality and international outreach, describing it as a historic platform that has reshaped the future of filmmaking and inspired creators across continents. The 19th International Festival of Cellphone Cinema once again reaffirmed its position as a pioneering global platform, celebrating creativity without boundaries and reinforcing India’s leadership in innovative cinematic movements.