Mumbai Asian
Film Festival Jury - 2026
Niraj Kumar Mishra
Niraj Kumar Mishra is a filmmaker, writer and producer with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry.
He is credited as a writer on the blockbuster Baaghi 2 (2018) and as writer, director and producer of the psychological thriller Samanantar (The Parallel), which was recognized at the 69th National Film Awards.
His body of work spans feature films, television, web series and short films, reflecting a versatile and enduring voice in Indian cinema.
Aranya Sahay
Aranya Sahay is a filmmaker and director of Humans in the Loop (2024), a powerful debut that examines AI, labour, and bias through the story of an Adivasi woman training machine intelligence. Trained at St. Stephen’s College and FTII Pune, Aranya’s work blends social realism with scientific and technological inquiry.
Beyond the film itself, he and his team pioneered an impact-driven distribution journey, organizing nearly 100 grassroots screenings across India and the U.S., building momentum that led to executive producer Kiran Rao joining the project and a global Netflix release. A recipient of the prestigious Sloan Distribution Grant, Humans in the Loop was released in the U.S. and came under consideration for the 2026 Academy Awards (Best Original Screenplay), marking a significant moment for Indian independent cinema engaging with technology and society.
Charitra Raj
Charitra Raj is a National Award-winning filmmaker, writer and editor, and an alumnus of the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI).
With over a decade of work across feature films, documentaries and advertising, his practice is marked by a distinctive cinematic voice and a keen eye for narrative. He served as Co-Director of Red Hibiscus, winner of the Film Bazaar Post-Production Award.
Film Screening - 2026
Day 1 — Oct 31, 2026
Final Schedule:
- 10:30 Mandali - Opening Film
- 12:33 TT
- 12:49 In Harmony
- 14:46 The Butcher's Sacrifice 2
- 15:05 Nowhere to Place
- 15:33 The Game of Song
- 16:58 Assimilation
- 17:29 Humans In The Loop
- 18:46 Daddu Zindabad
- 19:13 Happy Birthday
Day 2 — Nov 1, 2026
Final Schedule:
- 10:10 A Teacher's Gift
- 11:51 A Small Desire
- 12:24 Warranty
- 13:30 Finger Ring
- 13:59 Echoes
- 14:26 Dear Panther
- 14:46 Draupadi Se Draupadi Tak
- 15:10 Don't Kill My Memory
- 15:38 The Prayer - Closing Film