--- title: "72nd National Film Awards 2026: Winners, Eligibility and Complete Guide" description: "The 72nd National Film Awards honors films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. As of May 2026, the winners have not been..." url: https://www.nationalfilmawards.in/72nd-national-film-awards/ date: 2026-06-12 modified: 2026-06-12 author: "Manu Faria" image: https://www.nationalfilmawards.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/72nd-National-Film-Awards-2026.webp categories: ["Award"] type: post lang: en --- # 72nd National Film Awards 2026: Winners, Eligibility and Complete Guide The 72nd National Film Awards honors **films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024**. As of May 2026, the winners have not been announced. This page will update within 24 hours of the official Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announcement. This guide covers everything about the 72nd National Film Awards: current winner status, eligibility rules from the official regulations, all categories with prize money, jury structure, expected announcement timeline, and the full results of the previous 71st edition for reference. ![72nd National Film Awards 2026](https://nationalfilmawards.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/72nd-National-Film-Awards-2026-1024x562.webp) --- **Table of Contents** 1. 72nd National Film Awards Winners: Current Status 2. What Is the 72nd National Film Awards? 3. Which Films Are Eligible for the 72nd National Film Awards? 4. What Are the Categories and Prize Money? 5. How Does the Jury Select Winners? 6. When Will the 72nd National Film Awards Winners Be Announced? 7. 71st National Film Awards: The Previous Edition 8. Frequently Asked Questions About the 72nd National Film Awards --- ## 72nd National Film Awards Winners: Current Status **The 72nd National Film Awards winners have not been announced as of May 2026.** The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting received all film submissions by November 6, 2025. The jury evaluation process is underway. This page will be updated with the complete winners list within 24 hours of the official government announcement. Bookmark this page for the fastest update on 72nd NFA results. **Current Status Table:** | Category | Winner | Status | | --- | --- | --- | | Best Feature Film | To Be Announced | Pending | | Dadasaheb Phalke Award | To Be Announced | Pending | | Best Direction | To Be Announced | Pending | | Best Actor | To Be Announced | Pending | | Best Actress | To Be Announced | Pending | | Best Supporting Actor | To Be Announced | Pending | | Best Supporting Actress | To Be Announced | Pending | | Best Non-Feature Film | To Be Announced | Pending | | Best Film Critic | To Be Announced | Pending | Check the (/national-film-awards-winners/) for results of all previous editions from 1954 to 2025. --- ## What Is the 72nd National Film Awards? The 72nd National Film Awards is **the 72nd annual edition of India’s highest government-sponsored cinema honor, recognizing the best Indian films from the calendar year 2024 across all languages and formats**. The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) administers this edition under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. NFDC replaced the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) as the administering body in 2021. The 72nd edition follows the 71st National Film Awards, which honored films from 2023. The President of India will present the 72nd National Film Awards at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The exact ceremony date has not been confirmed as of May 2026. The 72nd edition covers 3 sections: 1. Feature Films — Narrative films above 72 minutes in all Indian languages 2. Non-Feature Films — Documentaries, short films, and animation 3. Best Writing on Cinema — Books, film criticism, and reviews See the complete overview in the (/national-film-awards/). --- ## Which Films Are Eligible for the 72nd National Film Awards? Films eligible for the 72nd National Film Awards **must hold a valid CBFC certificate issued between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 (both days inclusive)** and must be produced as Indian films. ### Eligibility Criteria for the 72nd Edition (Official Rules) The following rules come directly from the official 72nd National Film Awards Regulations document published by NFDC: **CBFC Certification Rule:** The film must hold a valid certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) issued within the 2024 calendar year. Films certified before January 1, 2024 or after December 31, 2024 are not eligible for this edition. **Minimum Duration Rule:** Feature films must run for more than 72 minutes. Films at or below 72 minutes fall under the Non-Feature Film section. **English Subtitle Rule:** All submitted films, including films made in English, must carry English subtitles. This rule applies to every language category without exception. **Citizenship Rule for Acting Awards:** **Acting awards at the 72nd National Film Awards are strictly for Indian citizens only.** A performance by a foreign national in an Indian film does not qualify for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, or Best Supporting Actress. **Foreign Technician Rule:** Foreign professionals can win technical awards. A foreign national serving as cinematographer, editor, music director, or director of an Indian film is eligible for the corresponding technical award or the Best Direction award. **OTT Film Eligibility:** **OTT films are eligible for the 72nd National Film Awards if they obtain CBFC certification within the 2024 calendar year.** A film released directly on an OTT platform without CBFC certification is not eligible. A film released on OTT with a valid 2024 CBFC certificate is eligible. **Dubbed Film Rule:** Dubbed versions of films, revised films, remade films, and re-edited versions of films that were previously submitted for the National Film Awards are NOT eligible for the 72nd edition. **Language Rule:** Films in any Indian language or dialect are eligible. Films in a regional dialect require a certificate from the District Magistrate or Home Secretary confirming the dialect’s status. Silent films are also eligible. **Submission Format:** Feature films must be submitted as DCP (unencrypted) or Blu-ray copies. Non-feature films and Writing on Cinema submissions may use pen drives. ### Notable Indian Films from 2024 Eligible for the 72nd NFA The following major Indian films received CBFC certification in 2024 and entered the eligibility pool for the 72nd National Film Awards: | Film | Language | Director | Genre | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Kalki 2898 AD | Telugu/Hindi | Nag Ashwin | Science Fiction | | Stree 2 | Hindi | Amar Kaushik | Horror Comedy | | Devara: Part 1 | Telugu | Koratala Siva | Action Drama | | Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 | Hindi | Anees Bazmee | Horror Comedy | | Merry Christmas | Hindi/Tamil | Sriram Raghavan | Thriller | | Article 370 | Hindi | Aditya Suhas Jambhale | Political Drama | | Manjummel Boys | Malayalam | Chidambaram | Survival Drama | | Aavesham | Malayalam | Jithu Madhavan | Action Comedy | | Maharaja | Tamil | Nithilan Swaminathan | Thriller | | Do Patti | Hindi | Shashanka Chaturvedi | Thriller | The jury evaluates all submitted films on artistic merit, technical quality, and social relevance. Box office performance does not influence the jury’s decisions. --- ## What Are the Categories and Prize Money in the 72nd National Film Awards? The 72nd National Film Awards offers **2 trophy types across all categories: the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) for top-tier recognition and the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) for specific craft and regional categories**, with prize money varying by category. ### Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) Categories and Prize Money The Swarna Kamal is the highest trophy given at the National Film Awards. The following Feature Film categories receive a Swarna Kamal: | Category | Prize Money | Recipient | | --- | --- | --- | | Best Feature Film | Rs 3,00,000 each | Producer and Director | | Best Direction | Rs 3,00,000 | Director only | | Best Debut Film of a Director | Rs 3,00,000 | Director only | | Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Rs 3,00,000 each | Producer and Director | | Best Children’s Film | Rs 3,00,000 each | Producer and Director | | Best Animation Film | Rs 3,00,000 each | Producer and Director | The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, given for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema, carries **Rs 15,00,000 in prize money, a Swarna Kamal, and a shawl**. This is the highest single prize amount in the National Film Awards. For the Writing on Cinema section, the Swarna Kamal prize is **Rs 1,00,000 each to the Author and Publisher of the Best Book on Cinema**, and Rs 1,00,000 to the Best Film Critic. ### Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) Categories and Prize Money The Rajat Kamal covers the acting, music, technical, and regional language categories. Every Rajat Kamal winner in the Feature Film section receives **Rs 2,00,000 in prize money**. Rajat Kamal Feature Film categories include: | Category | Prize Money | | --- | --- | | Best Actor | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Actress | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Supporting Actor | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Supporting Actress | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Male Playback Singer | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Female Playback Singer | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Screenplay (Original) | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Screenplay (Adapted) | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Music Direction | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Cinematography | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Editing | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Sound Design | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best VFX | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Film on National/Social/Environmental Values | Rs 2,00,000 | | Best Regional Language Film (per language) | Rs 2,00,000 | See the (/national-film-awards-categories/). Learn more about (/swarna-kamal-rajat-kamal/). --- ## How Does the Jury Select 72nd National Film Awards Winners? The jury for the 72nd National Film Awards **uses a two-tier system where Regional Panels evaluate language-specific films first, and then a Central Jury of 11 members makes all final Feature Film category decisions**. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting appoints all jury members independently. No government official, film producer, or commercial entity influences the jury’s decisions. **Feature Film Jury Composition:** The Feature Film Central Jury for the 72nd edition has 11 members: 1 Chairperson and 10 members. These individuals come from cinema, allied arts, and humanities. **Non-Feature Film Jury Composition:** The Non-Feature Film jury has 6 members: 1 Chairperson and 5 members. **Writing on Cinema Jury Composition:** The Writing on Cinema jury has 2 members: 1 Chairperson and 1 member. **Mandatory Viewing Rule:** Every jury member must watch each submitted film in its entirety before casting a vote. A jury member who has not watched a film cannot vote on that film. This rule protects the integrity of the selection process. **Regional Panel Process:** Regional Panels evaluate films submitted in their designated languages. Each regional panel watches all language-specific entries and recommends films to the Central Jury for consideration. The Central Jury then evaluates all recommendations and selects the final winners. Read the full breakdown of (/national-film-awards-jury/). --- ## When Will the 72nd National Film Awards Winners Be Announced? The 72nd National Film Awards winners **are expected to be announced in mid-to-late 2026 based on the historical pattern of the last 5 editions**, where announcements typically follow 6 to 9 months after the submission deadline. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting makes the official announcement at a press conference before the formal ceremony. The President of India then presents the awards at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. ### Timeline of Recent National Film Awards Announcements | Edition | Films From | Submission Deadline | Announcement | Ceremony | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 71st | 2023 | November 2024 | August 1, 2025 | September 23, 2025 | | 70th | 2022 | November 2023 | August 16, 2024 | October 8, 2024 | | 69th | 2021 | November 2022 | July 24, 2023 | October 17, 2023 | | 68th | 2020 | November 2021 | July 22, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | | 72nd | 2024 | November 6, 2025 | Expected mid-2026 | Expected late 2026 | The 72nd NFA submission deadline closed on November 6, 2025. Following the pattern of recent editions, the announcement is expected between July and September 2026. The ceremony typically follows 6 to 8 weeks after the announcement. Monitor the official NFDC portal at nfaindia.org for the official announcement. This page will update within 24 hours of any official declaration. --- ## 71st National Film Awards: The Previous Edition The 71st National Film Awards **honored films from the calendar year 2023, with the announcement on August 1, 2025 and the ceremony on September 23, 2025 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, presented by President Droupadi Murmu**. ### Key Winners at the 71st National Film Awards | Category | Winner | Film | | --- | --- | --- | | Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Mohanlal | Lifetime Achievement | | Best Feature Film | 12th Fail | Hindi | | Best Director | Sudipto Sen | The Kerala Story | | Best Actor | Shah Rukh Khan (shared) | Jawan | | Best Actor | Vikrant Massey (shared) | 12th Fail | | Best Actress | Rani Mukerji | Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway | | Best Popular Film | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Hindi | | Best Male Playback Singer | P V N S Rohit | Baby (Telugu) | | Best Female Playback Singer | Shilpa Rao | Jawan (Hindi) | | Best Choreography | Vaibhavi Merchant | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | ### Best Regional Film Winners at the 71st National Film Awards | Language | Best Regional Film | | --- | --- | | Hindi | Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery | | Marathi | Shyamchi Aai | | Malayalam | Ullozhukku | | Tamil | Parking | | Telugu | Bhagavanth Kesari | | Bengali | Deep Fridge | | Gujarati | Vash | | Punjabi | Godday Godday Chaa | | Assamese | Rongatapu 1982 | | Kannada | Kandeelu | | Odia | Pushkara | Mohanlal becoming the Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient at the 71st edition marked a historic moment for Malayalam cinema. The shared Best Actor award between Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey was the first shared Best Actor result in several editions. See the [71st National Film Awards complete winners list](/71st-national-film-awards/) for every category result. --- ### Frequently Asked Questions About the 72nd National Film Awards #### When Will the 72nd National Film Awards Winners Be Announced? **The 72nd National Film Awards winners are expected in mid-2026, most likely between July and September 2026**, based on the pattern of recent editions. The 71st edition was announced on August 1, 2025 and the 70th was announced on August 16, 2024. This page updates within 24 hours of the official Ministry announcement. #### Are OTT Films Eligible for the 72nd National Film Awards? Yes. **OTT films are eligible for the 72nd National Film Awards if they hold a valid CBFC certificate issued between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024.** An OTT film released without a CBFC certificate is not eligible. The National Film Awards do not distinguish between theatrical releases and OTT releases. CBFC certification is the only eligibility requirement related to release format. #### How Much Prize Money Do National Film Award Winners Receive? **Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) winners receive Rs 3,00,000 each for Feature Film categories, while Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) winners receive Rs 2,00,000 each.** The Dadasaheb Phalke Award carries the highest prize of Rs 15,00,000 along with a Swarna Kamal and a shawl. Writing on Cinema Swarna Kamal winners receive Rs 1,00,000. All prize amounts are as per the official 72nd National Film Awards Regulations. #### Who Will Present the 72nd National Film Awards? **The President of India presents the 72nd National Film Awards at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.** The 71st edition was presented by President Droupadi Murmu on September 23, 2025. The 72nd edition ceremony date has not been officially announced as of May 2026. The ceremony follows a formal government protocol with the Minister of Information and Broadcasting also in attendance. #### Can a Foreign Director Win a National Film Award? Yes. **Foreign nationals can win the Best Direction award and technical awards at the National Film Awards if they directed or contributed technically to an Indian production with a valid CBFC certificate.** However, acting awards (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress) are restricted to Indian citizens only. This rule applies to the 72nd edition as per the official regulations. --- ##### Related Articles on NationalFilmAwards.in Stay updated on the 72nd National Film Awards and explore all Indian film award ceremonies: - Browse the (/national-film-awards-winners/) - Read the full guide to (/national-film-awards/) - See the [71st National Film Awards complete winners list](/71st-national-film-awards/) for the previous edition - Explore the [70th National Film Awards winners](/70th-national-film-awards/) for 2022 films - Understand (/national-film-awards-categories/) - Learn about the (/dadasaheb-phalke-award/) - Compare (/national-film-awards-vs-filmfare/) - Check the (/national-film-awards-jury/) for how winners are chosen