Now entering its 6th edition, WENCH continues to push boundaries by curating bold, inclusive, and visionary fantastic films from across the world.

- Wench FF is now a member of the Méliès International Festivals Federation
- On Dread Central's "The 90 Best Genre Film Festivals on Earth" List.
- Wench FF has officially tied up with Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) for our 2026 Edition.
- Wench just curated a sidebar of Indian genre films called Fantastic India for Fantastic Fest 2026

Feb 28 in Mumbai at Alliance Française (tickets open to everyone)

More Venues will be Announced Soon. (Filmmakers please note that your film Will be screened at multiple locations before submitting your film.)

NEW IN 2026
-This year we have a special AI section - Pixels & Possession and we are thrilled to announce one of our favourite AI masters Varun Gupta will lead as programmer.

-We also have a special Silver Méliès for best European short film award section that we are thrilled about.

- WHO ARE WE?

WENCH FILM FESTIVAL is India’s first and only fantastic film festival dedicated exclusively to horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, genres historically sidelined in Indian cinema, particularly by and for women and marginalized voices.

WENCH has built:
• A curated international film festival (180+ films / Highlighted 450+ Women to date)
• Pitch It Till You Make It – India’s only horror-focused project market (now in its 4th edition)
• Terror Talkies – India’s first horror/sci-fi/fantasy publication (launched 2025)
• Collaborations with two of the world’s leading genre festivals Fantasia International Film Festival (Canada) and Imagine Film Festival (Netherlands)
• Official Member of the Méliès International Festivals Federation
• Year-round monthly screenings with Alliance Française Bombay
• On The 90 Best Genre Film Festivals on Earth List by Dread Central
• A digital footprint of 85,000+ organic reach across platforms

WENCH has evolved into more than just a festival—it has become a movement.

Please NOTE
Even though WENCH gives preference to films Directed by Women and Non-Binary Filmmakers, they do however have a special category for Male Filmmakers who have directed films with a central female plot or key female HOD's. So don't hesitate to apply. We hope in time when women will get the same kinda carpet laid out for them we wont have to do this.

more info here -
https://www.wenchfilmfestival.com/

IN 2025
WE GREW TO 3 LOCATIONS IN 2 CITIES
FEB 27-MAR 2
VEDA KUNBA, ANDHERI MUMBAI (ALL DAYS)

FEB 28
AF THEOSOPHY HALL, CHURCHGATE MUMBAI

MAR 2
SKINNY MO'S JAZZ CLUB, KOLKATA
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in 2024 we launched
-ZOMBIECON INDIA - India's first Zombie Walk / Pub Crawl!

-Terror Talkies - a weekly dose of horror

-Cinema de l’Étrange - a film club in collaboration with Alliance Francias Bombay to bring you your monthly dose of all things majestic and bizarre.

-RED RUM - a horrific book club - Monthly recommendations and soon to come book readings. It’s gonna get creepy.

-VR HERE - our immersive experience
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HIGHLIGHTS OF PREVIOUS FESTIVALS

V4, 2024 (PHYSICAL ONLY)
29 FILMS LEAP YEAR SPECIAL
- OPENING FILM "WHERE THE DEVIL ROAMS" WITH DIRECTOR TOBY POSER PRESENT
- MATRIX - A TABLE READ WITH GEEK FRUIT FEAT KANAN GILL AND ROHAN JOSHI
- INDIA FOCUS DAY WITH 10 FILMS MADE BY INDIAN DIRECTORS
- MASTERCLASS IN AI
- SCI FI WRITERS ROOM WITH KAIZAD GUSTAD
- PITCH IT TILL YOU MAKE IT - INDIA'S FIRST HORROR PITCHING SESSION - 10 PROJECTS

V3, 2023 (HYBRID)
25 FILMS ALL SCREENED PHYSICALLY IN 2 LOCATIONS
-OPENING SPEAKER ANVITA DUTT
-MASTERCLASS IN HORROR BY VIKRAM BHATT
-HORROR WRITERS ROOM WITH KAIZAD GUSTAD
-PITCH IT TILL YOU MAKE IT - INDIA'S FIRST HORROR PITCHING SESSION
-LIVE SCORING TO THE FIRST SCI FI FILM - A TRIP TO THE MOON
-DISCUSSING GENRE AND THE GAZE WITH VISHAL FURIA AND ENSIA MIRZA

V Two, 2022 (HYBRID)
47 FILMS
43 DIRECTED BY WOMEN.
6 IMPORTANT PANELS - 23 PANELISTS
-HIGH ON SPIRITS
-NO FREAKINGIdeaWhat THISThingIs (NFT)
-VR HERE
-FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING : THE INSIDE STORY
-I SEE DEAD PEOPLE
-SCREAM QUEENS

V One, 2021 (Virtual)
41 Films -
18 Features
12 Shorts
11 Kids Films
ALL DIRECTED BY WOMEN !
7 Important Panels - 52 Panelist’s
-Consent and Intimacy on Set
-Inclusivity Matters!
-Scream Queens
-Inside Out
-Genre Films
-Sound of Music
-Women In Advertising

With stellar ticket sales in Year 1, 2, and 3 AND a SOLD OUT Year 4 and 5 of the festival with titles that were largely discovered at the festival is testimony to what the festival set out to achieve and is probably the best response received for any online festival from India.

ARE YOU READY TO SMASH THAT BLOODY CEILING WITH US?

(PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PHYSICAL PART OF THE FESTIVAL CAN CHANGE IF COVID STRIKES AGAIN OR SOMETHING NEW CROPS UP! PLEASE CHECK HERE OR ON OUR WEBSITE www.wenchfilmfestival.com FOR UPDATES)

Awards & Prizes

Blood Thirsty (Feature Film > 60 mins)
The Blood Thirsty Award is our top honour for feature films that leave a lasting mark; bold, visceral, and unapologetically genre.

Dwarves (Shorts 10-40 mins)
The Dwarves Award celebrates mighty stories in compact forms that punch above their weight

Elves (Shorts < 10 mins)
The Elves Award is dedicated to short-form sorcery

Méliès d’argent (short films):
As a member of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, we will nominate European shorts to compete for the Méliès d’argent. The winning film will be chosen by a jury and will then be in the running for the Méliès d'or. More info can be found here https://melies.org/

Pixels & Possession:
The Pixels & Possession Award honours the most innovative use of Artificial Intelligence in genre storytelling.

Rules & Terms

WFF IS A FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL- ONLY FANTASY, SCI-FI AND HORROR FILMS WILL BE ACCEPTED (Documentaries, Narratives and Hybrids)

Should the submitted film not adhere to this eligibility requirement or to the following rules and terms, WFF retains the right to disqualify said film and is under no obligation to contact the submitting party and/or refund the submission fee.

Please carefully read the following terms and rules, including Selection and Notification, Submission Rules, and Terms and Conditions.

- Any work produced and completed in the past 18 months prior to our upcoming edition is eligible for consideration.

- Any work made available worldwide for an online public viewing before or during our dates will be ineligible.

- If you are unsure if your film qualifies for our Festival, please contact the WFF Submissions Team at submissions@wenchfilmfestival.com before submitting.

- Submission fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.

- If selected, all commercial/private property including all trademark/copyrighted materials shown or recorded on the project is the responsibility of the filmmaker.

- By submitting an entry, the filmmaker states that they are responsible as an agent to promote the film and that the film is an original work.

- Participants agree that clips and images from their film may be used and/or published in the WFF program guide, on the WFF website and for any promotional purposes which WFF deems appropriate.

- By submitting to the festival you confirm that you own the rights of the film, including the rights to the music in the film. WFF is not responsible and will not be held responsible in case of any dispute. Your film may be disqualified without a notice or refund.

- We Welcome Narrative, Animated, Experimental, and Documentary.

- All entries should be sent via FilmFreeway with a secure Online Screener.

- There is no minimum / maximum running time.

- Filmmakers may submit multiple entries as long as each film is submitted with its own Entry Form, Online Screener and paid Entry Fee.

- Submitted films that are not eligible will be withdrawn. Please check eligibility before submitting. Questions may be sent to submissions@wenchfilmfestival.com

- You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Wench Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

- The entrant expressly agrees that the film may be shown at the festival and used for promotional purposes in connection with the festival. This includes, among other things, the distribution of the film to all jury members, the use of excerpts for advertising clips and other uses within the framework of the festival. In addition, the submitter agrees that the film may be shown at events after the festival.

- Submitted films must not have undergone commercial exploitation – for example, an official theatrical release and a DVD and Blu-ray release – by the time of the festival. "Private“ screenings such as premieres, festival participations, and self-distributed DVDs and Blu-rays are exempt from this restriction.

Premiere Status Requirements
At the very least, the film must be a Mumbai premiere although we give preference to India Premieres.

Premiere Status Definitions:
- World Premiere: The film will not have a public presentation before its scheduled presentation at the Festival.
- International Premiere: The film will not have a public presentation anywhere outside its country of origin before its scheduled presentation at the Festival.
- Indian Premiere: The film will not have a public presentation anywhere in India before its scheduled presentation at the Festival.

- ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

Please check our FAQ: https://www.wenchfilmfestival.com/about
32 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Pat Tremblay

    Great fest with awesome dedicated director! Thanks alot Sapna for the opportunity!

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Alexandra Hayden

    Wench is an incredible, rapidly growing festival that we were so lucky to be a part of. I was unable to attend in-person, but I met festival founder Sapna previously and her passion is unmatched. Communication throughout the process was terrific and I really felt like part of the Wench community!

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Alexandra ...

  • Margarida Saramago

    Wench was such a great experience! Everyone involved, from organisers to the fellow filmmakers to the audience, were so amazing, it will remain as a fantastic memory in my heart. Thank you to Sapna for fighting hard and creating this community and festival, it's really a special thing :)

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Margarida and it was so wonderful to have you with us. Can't wait to see what you make next!

  • Dave Bekerman

    The Wench Film Festival has put its stamp on the genre world in a major way. Sapna is a fearless force of nature fighting for indie horror cinema, and her team programs work that's equally entertaining, challenging, and provocative. Our team was proud to be a part of the epic event they created with its bold vision and righteous mission. Long live Wench!

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Dave .. we loved your film.

  • Yash Saraf

    Wench is an excellent genre film festival, the only one of its kind in India. Sapna Bhavnani is a genuine community builder, she loves filmmakers and she is obsessed with genre. Thrilled we got to screen our short 'Moti' and meet others of our ilk.

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Yash - can't wait to see what you make next!