FAQ

What is HFF 2026? Hyderabad Film Festival is one film festival for all filmmakers, presented by CINIC and Communitie. It is not a traditional screening-only festival: it brings competitions, hackathons, talent showcases, masterclasses and recruitment together so that opportunity meets talent.

When and where? The festival day is 03 October 2026, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, at T-Works, Hyderabad. Several hackathons and online competitions run in the weeks before it.

Who attends? Around 1,500 filmmakers, students, creators and movie lovers, along with 50+ production houses, studios, content, marketing and casting agencies as recruiters, jury members and guests.

Which crafts are covered? Writing, editing, cinematography, VFX and animation, AR / VR, AI filmmaking, fashion and design, and portfolio building.

What runs before the festival? Writers Hackathon, AI Filmmakers Hackathon, AI in Fashion Hackathon, and online rounds for Editing, VFX / Animation and AR / VR, plus stage one of the Talent Showcase and the Short Filmmaking Competition.

How do I register? All registrations happen on Communitie. Open events show a Register Now button on the Pre-Festival Events section; the rest show "Yet to Open" until their registrations go live.

When do the closed ones open? Writers Hackathon and AI Filmmakers Hackathon are open now. The others open in stages and this website is updated as each one goes live.

Can I enter more than one? Yes, as long as you can meet each brief within its own timeline.

What happens on 03 October? Masterclasses through the day, stage two of the Talent Showcase and the Short Filmmaking Competition, a live music concert, and the awards for every hackathon and competition.

Are winners announced there? Yes. Winners across all hackathons and competitions are announced and felicitated on stage.

Which passes are available? Participant Ticket at ₹499 for filmmakers and creators taking part in hackathons, online competitions and masterclasses; Attendee Ticket at ₹399 for movie lovers and guests experiencing the full festival day. Both cover 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Do I need a pass to enter a competition? Competition and hackathon registration happens on Communitie. The Participant Ticket is the pass for taking part on the festival day.

How do I pay? Bookings are completed online through our payment partner. Payment, invoice and booking questions go to accounts@hyderabadfilmfestival.com.

Can I get a refund? No. Refunds will not happen once booked. See the Refund Policy for duplicate or failed payment corrections.

Can I transfer my pass? A pass is issued to one person. Name change requests are considered case by case at accounts@hyderabadfilmfestival.com.

What should I carry? Your pass confirmation and a government issued photo ID.

Is there an expo area? Yes. Production houses, studios, agencies and technology providers exhibit work, showcase products and hire talent, alongside food and a flea market.

Will it be photographed? Yes, the festival is photographed and filmed for archives and promotion.

Can timings change? Programme details and timings may change. Updates are published here and emailed to registered participants.

Who organises HFF? CINIC, a professional network built for the entertainment industry, and Communitie, a community-led social and experiential platform.

How do I partner, sponsor or exhibit? Write to info@hyderabadfilmfestival.com with your organisation and what you have in mind.

General and partnership queries: info@hyderabadfilmfestival.com
Participant and attendee support: support@hyderabadfilmfestival.com
Payments, invoices and bookings: accounts@hyderabadfilmfestival.com