Mitrahs Indian Festival Movie & Awards Night 2026 Set to Dazzle New Jersey on June 20

The event is being organized under the leadership of Mitrahs Chairman Rajan Cheeran and President Shiraz Youssaf. Mitrahs Directors Sobha Jacob, Jemson Kuriakose, Shalini Rajendran, Praveena Menon, and Smitha Haridas confirmed that all preparations are complete for the mega-event in New Jersey.

A Journey Through Indian Cinema
Titled "Cinema Ki Kahani" (The Story of Cinema), the show will feature performances by over 200 artists from the United States and Canada. Organizers revealed that the program is designed as a nostalgic retrospective journey through the history of Indian cinema, blending dance, music, and theater. The evening will also highlight the presentation of awards for short films produced by North American Indians.

Founded in 2014, "Mitrahs" has been at the forefront of promoting Indian art and culture in the United States for over a decade. This year's awards night continues that legacy, aiming to provide an international-standard platform for diaspora talent in dance, music, theater, and cinema while honoring North American Indian filmmaking talent.

Event Sponsors
The prestigious film awards event is Powered by Malabar Gold & Diamonds, with strong support from Global Collision & Body Works LLC, Tastes of Kerala, and SAJ Hotels & Resorts. Hedge New York and Lovi Realty Group are the Co-Powered by sponsors.

Award Categories
Recognizing excellence in the short film sector, awards will be presented in the following categories:

Best Film

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Singer

Best Cinematographer

Strict Criteria and Intense Competition
The deadline for submitting entries was April 1. Films underwent a rigorous screening process before reaching the jury panel. Competing films must have a runtime of under 60 minutes and must have been produced between June 2024 and March 2026.

Additionally, applicants must be of North American Indian descent. Eligible submissions include films made in Malayalam, English, or other regional languages with English subtitles. Nominees making it to the final top three selections are required to attend the award ceremony in person.

Distinguished Leadership and Jury Panel
The coordination of the grand event is led by Mitrahs Chairman Rajan Cheeran and President Shiraz Youssaf. The winners are chosen by a distinguished panel of experts from the film industry, which includes:

Deepti Nair (MMA Chairperson)

Manya Naidu (Actress)

Jayan Mulangad (Director)

Tom George (Producer/Actor)

George Kannatt (Screenwriter)

Contact Information: For more details regarding the event, inquiries can be directed to mitrahsmovieawards@gmail.com.