4 min readNew DelhiMay 14, 2026 08:56 PM IST The 18th edition of the Habitat Film Festival (HFF) will begin on May 15 at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) in New Delhi and conclude on May 24. It will showcase some of the best films released over the past year while also featuring restored classics, retrospectives, short films, documentaries, and conversations with filmmakers. “The 18th edition is curated around the overarching idea of resilience and the indomitable human spirit,” says Professor KG Suresh, Director of the India Habitat Centre and HFF. He adds, “While previous editions have often celebrated anniversaries, regional diversity, or master filmmakers, this year we consciously tried to bring stories that speak of hope, quiet courage, and recovery — both personal and collective.” The festival did not come together quickly; the selection process was a year-long labour of love. Suresh says, “Our programming team started by watching over 200 films — features, documentaries, and shorts — spanning festivals, independent submissions, and direct outreach to filmmakers. From this longlist, we shortlisted around 60 …