California, San Jose:
The 3rd NAFA Film Festival 2026, which provides a global platform to Marathi cinema, kicks off today (August 7) in grand style at the California Theatre in San Jose, USA. Organized in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, this three-day event running from August 7 to 9 will transform San Jose into a vibrant hub of Marathi culture. NAFA Founder President Abhijit Gholap announced that the festival will feature a rich blend of film premieres, short films, masterclasses by industry stalwarts, workshops, meet-and-greets, panel discussions, and an awards ceremony.
Day-by-Day Highlights:
Day 1 (Friday, August 7): Red Carpet & Awards Gala The festival opens with a star-studded red carpet arrival. The evening features media lounge interactions, a fashion show, and the main attraction—the ‘Awards Night Gala’—honoring prominent personalities from Marathi cinema.
Day 2 (Saturday, August 8): World Premieres & Celebrity Masterclasses Day two brings world premieres of highly anticipated films, including Na Aavadti Gosht, Tu Mi Aani Amayra, and Dwidha, alongside short films like ButterScotch, Bramhakamal, Ek Suvarna Pravas, Hyphen, and NAFA originals. Special masterclasses will be conducted by actor Atul Kulkarni, director Nagraj Manjule, actresses Girija Oak and Shruti Marathe, and veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi. Fans can meet stars like Archana Joglekar, Ajinkya Deo, Mahesh Kothare, Trupti Bhoir, Sai Deodhar, and Gargi Kulkarni during ‘Meet & Greet’ sessions. Key workshops include Atul Kulkarni’s ‘Micro Drama’, a ‘Director’s Grid’ panel, and ‘Coffee with Kaushik’ hosted by ABP Majha Executive Editor Sarita Kaushik.
Day 3 (Sunday, August 9): New Premieres, Student Films & Closing Ceremony The final day features premieres of Paro, Frames, and the short film Undocumented.PDF, along with screenings of student films including Andesha, Panha, Baburao in Love with Ella, H1B or Not Be, Keki, and Those Left Behind. Following interactive sessions with industry veterans, the festival will conclude with a grand Closing Ceremony.
A Major Milestone for Marathi Cinema:
Founder President Abhijit Gholap expressed confidence that bringing together global audiences, filmmakers, actors, and technicians makes NAFA 2026 a significant step toward carving a distinct international identity for Marathi cinema.