Anurag Kashyap, MIFFest Jury President, Searches for ‘a New Cinematic Language’
Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is serving as jury president at the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest), where he is also leading a masterclass titled "Unfiltered Realism." Rather than presenting himself as an authority with fixed answers, Kashyap says he is using the role to seek out what he calls "a new cinematic language," expressing particular interest in how younger directors are telling stories in ways his own generation could not.
Kashyap, whose latest directorial feature "Bandar" marks his return behind the camera, argues that authenticity in filmmaking has never been about visual style but is instead a necessity across directing, producing and acting. He notes that mature film industries in South Korea, Japan, China and India all face the same pressures from shrinking audience attention spans and the endless choice offered by streaming platforms. He said he hopes the masterclass becomes a two-way conversation, allowing him to gather insights into the future of cinema rather than simply dispensing advice.
In short
- Kashyap is jury president and masterclass leader at MIFFest 2026
- He's seeking a "new cinematic language" from younger filmmakers
- Cites shrinking attention spans and streaming overload as shared industry challenges
Explained simply
Anurag Kashyap is among India's most significant contemporary filmmakers, known for his influential work in Hindi cinema and independent film. The Malaysia International Film Festival is a major Asian film festival that brings together prominent directors and industry figures to recognise and award films from across the region.
The global film industry is experiencing considerable change as streaming platforms compete for audiences and traditional cinema attendance declines. Filmmakers across established industries in South Korea, Japan, China and India all face identical pressures: smaller cinema audiences, shorter viewer attention spans, and competition from streaming services offering unlimited content.
In response to these industry changes, filmmakers are exploring different techniques and approaches to storytelling. This reflects broader questions within the industry about cinema's future direction as viewing habits and technologies continue to transform.
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