#BNHAF is an awards and festival in the 'premier' category held in India with smaller editions in USA, Europe and Australia. 25th Edition (2026) is the ongoing edition

#BNHAF is the only film-festival in the world that showcases Sanskrit films - the very root of Bharat, known as, India, worldwide.

The importance of #BNHAF is reflected from the fact that Bahubali, one of the biggest IP's in Cinema made an official entry at #BNHAF

#BNHAF awards, in the categories of film, media, entertainment and fashion. Though professionals in industry-agnostic sectors like health-care, hospitality, leisure, law, architecture, etc. that have worked for art / film on societal significance can nominate themselves.

#BNHAF's talent-partner and sponsor #TKMU Talennt Ka Maha Utsav gives any talent - actor, model, fashionista, singer, director, writer, DoP, editor, production-designer, graphic designer, animator, influencer, social-worker - the all important 1st Break.

#BNHAF has 6-editions in a year including the Gala Edition in November-December, every year
You can enter #BNHAF any time of the year; though if you enter in January, you have the huge benefit of paying 1-time and screening 6-times (your film will be screened ONLY in the sub-editions that are available after the date you enter #BNHAF).

Dates of sub-editions are fixed; exact date of Gala Edition (between November 29 and December 20) is confirmed by mid-November.

1st & 2nd Sub-edition:
March 27 to April 12 l World Theatre Day l India

3rd Sub-edition:
May 12 onwards, Europe and/or USA

4th + 5th Sub-edition:
October 9 to October 26 l World Mental Health Day l India

(Sub-editions 3, 4, 5 are also part of #BNHAF Film Club Screenings)

6th GALA EDITION:
November-December, India (date released in mid-November)

If you are 10th time participant, get flat fee of $10 l If you are 3rd time participant, get flat fee of $55

Timeline
2021 #BNHAF Awards and Festival established
2023 Launch of International Editions with the launch of #BNHAF powered 'Talennt Ka Maha Utsav' #TKMU
2024 Launch of #BNHAF Film Club in the USA and Europe
2025 Launch of #BNHAF Awards and Festival Cannes Edition during the Cannes Film Festival

List of Editions successfully executed since the launch:
Inaugural edition: Physical. December 11, 2021
2nd edition: Virtual. March 12, 2022
3rd edition: Physical. May 13, 2022
4th edition: Virtual. July 6, 2022
5th edition: Virtual. September 15 to September 19, 2022
6th Edition: Physical. October 10 to October 14, 2022
7th Edition: Virtual. November 10 to November 14, 2022
8th Edition: Hybrid. December 16 to December 18, 2022
9th Edition: Physical. January 18 to January 25, 2023
10th Edition: Physical. March 17 to March 19, 2023 Inaugural INTERNATIONAL EDITION. USA and Australia
11th Edition: Hybrid. May 27 to June 2, 2023
12th Edition: Hybrid. August 4 to August 7, 2023
13th Edition: Physical. September 15 to September 19, 2023. International Edition. Austria
14th Edition: Physical. October 14 to October 17, 2023
15th Edition: Gala Physical Edition. December 15 to December 18, 2023
16th Edition: Hybrid. January 31 to February 3, 2024
17th Edition: Physical. March 27 to March 30, 2024
18th Edition and 19th Edition: Physical. International Editions. 1st conjoined editions: month-long celebration of art and talent, held in the US, France and Switzerland from April 24 to May 24, 2024. Launch of #BNHAF Film Club.
20th Edition: Physical. June 15 to June 18, 2024
21st Edition Physical November 20 to December 12, 2024
22nd Edition (22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5 and 22.6 Gala Edition) - 2025
23rd Edition January 2026
24th Edition March 2026
25th Edition May 2026

Notable Awardees @ #BNHAF and Talennt Ka Maha Utsav:
Nyra Banerjee l Indian Actress and TV Superstar
Flora Saini l Indian Actress and OTT Superstar
Phoebe Kemi l Actress and Model based in NYC walked the 'Big-4' NYFW, Paris Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion week
Priyasha Bhardwaj l Indian Actress with leading roles in Saas, Bahu aur Flamingo, Aarya, Call My Agent
Mekha Rajan l Indian Actress.
Varsha Rajkhowa Miss Scuba International 2016
Jyoti Guptara, Published Author l Counted as '100 most important Swiss'
Pratham Khurana, director of 'Nauha', Official Selection at 75th Cannes Film Festival in La Cinef section

Awards & Prizes

Media Link: Awardees of 22.6 Edition
https://www.bol-news.com/2025/12/tkmu-together-with-bnhaf-awards-and.html

e-award certificates are emailed to all winners, in case you didn't receive them, please email bnhafawards@gmail.com
Awards are given for feature films, shorts, docs, music videos, screenplays, monologues, webseries, theatre recordings in categories below - no awards are given, if there is no worthwhile entry in the category

Best Film
Best Director
Best Actor Male / Female
Best Supporting Actor Male / Female
Best Model Male / Female
Best Animation Film
Best VFX
Best Documentary
Best Music Video
Best Theatre Recording
Best Screenplay
Best Dialogues
Best Story
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Action
#BNHAF Special Award (If the category isn't included)

News-Link of 22nd Edition
https://www.bol-news.com/2025/12/tkmu-together-with-bnhaf-awards-and.html

Few other press links:
https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/news-articles/awards-and-festival-that-celebrates-more-than-just-cinema
https://www.northeasttoday.in/2022/01/03/indias-ocean-ambassador-varsha-rajkhowa-adjudged-with-bnhaf-award-of-excellence/
https://boxofficeworldwide.com/movies-latest-news/bnhaf-bol-news-hybrid-art-awards-festival-inaugural-edition-premieres-a-bouquet-of-cutting-edge-films/
https://localpostit.com/2023/01/19/grand-ceremony-of-9th-bnhaf-awards-festival/
https://9newsnetwork.in/3007
https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/news-articles/bnhaf-awards-and-festival-goes-big-with-the-8th-edition-celebrating-excellence-1

Rules & Terms

By using the #BNHAF Awards and Festival website https://www.bol-news.com/2013/04/bnhaf.html or/and submitting your film or/and entering #BNHAF Awards and festival - you unconditionally accept and agree to the Rules, Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy of #BNHAF Awards and Festival.

SUBMISSION MATERIAL for screening MUST BE:
- Only .mp4 files accepted. Max file size 1 GB
- Submit film through WeTransfer link sent by email
- All films MUST BE 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio
- Target bitrate 12Mbps H.264 avc1 encoding max resolution 1920x1080 / 2048x1080 / 1600x1200
- .jpg or .png Poster (Must be vertical portrait layout @ minimum 72DPI and 3x4 ratio)
- Subtitles MUST BE burnt directly onto the film

1. The dates of the sub-editions are fixed. The date of Gala Edition held every year in December is emailed latest by November 20 every year.

2. If you want to submit the film directly to the festival, contact us on bnhafawards@gmail.com

3. No NUDITY in the film. Any NUDITY must be removed while entering the film at the festival.

4. Acceptance of your film into the festival does not guarantee award or prize.

5. The Submission fees of any category is non-refundable.

6. Films in any language other than English must be subtitled in English

7. Photographers who wish to put together their still images as montages are eligible for submission.

8. One-on-one Awardee Editions, conducted online and featured on https://www.bol-news.com are either in English or in Hindi.

9. In all matters decision of #BNHAF Awards and Festival will be absolute and final.

10. Force Majeur Clause: Due to an unforeseen outcome, #BNHAF Awards and Festival reserves the right to cancel, postpone or move the event to a digital platform if necessary. Any fee paid is non-refundable.

11. Gifts from the sponsors of #BNHAF Awards and Festival gifted ONLY if the awardee attends the Gala Edition in person; if the awardee doesn’t attend Gala Edition in person, the gift is given to charity NGO's either 1. Rekha Vohraa Foundation or 2. Udayan Care

12. If an edition finds no worthwhile entry in one or/and more than one category, there will be no awards in those category for that edition.
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Chloe Pan-Kita

    Everyone here is so incredibly helpful and passionate.

    December 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Big thank you Chloe for your participation. Your art introduced the audiences to new-perspectives. It definitely added to the audiences craft and understanding of art. Looking forward to your participation in future as well.

  • Vittorio Caratozzolo

    Very exciting experience to receive a Jury Special Mention for our school work «Pestis Muliebris»! Thanks a lot for the generous hospitality and the excellent networking.

    April 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Vittorio, it was a pleasure to screen your film at #BNHAF to a very appreciative audience. Look forward for more films from you in future. Take very good care!

  • Mashood Qadri

    We are beyond humbled to receive the Best international short film award on – AB negative. Indeed Indo Bol-News Hybrid film festival has an extremely cordial staff. Excellent experience.

    March 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Mashood, it was a pleasure hosting you and making your wonderful film reach #BNHAF audiences. Look forward for more films from you in future. Take very good care!

  • Ramesh Bhandari

    Thank you so much BNHAF for the awards. One of the best Film Festival I ever seen.. Looking forward next one :-)

    December 2022
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Ramesh! Big congratulations on winning big at the festival. Look forward to seeing you soon. All the best for your future films.

  • David Anderson

    Thank you so much for honoring our film The Chaotic Melody of Tina. This was a positive experience, and I hope to experience this with you again.

    September 2022
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Welcome David! Thank you for choosing #BNHAF Awards and Festival for such an important statement you made with 'The Chaotic Melody of Tina'. I am happy that the film won multiple awards. I look forward to welcome you and your films to the festival soon! Thank you for your film.