Lucknow: Smt. Anandiben Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh, on Friday officially announced PRITHVI 2026 – The Palaeoscience Film Festival of India, India’s first-ever film festival dedicated exclusively to Palaeosciences and Earth sciences, and unveiled the official festival brochure at Jan Bhavan, Lucknow. The announcement and brochure unveiling took place in the presence of Prof. Mahesh G. Thakkar, Director, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP); Dr. Binita Phartiyal, Senior Scientist, BSIP; and Dr. Nimish Kapoor, Scientist, BSIP and Festival Convenor.
Organised by the BSIP, Lucknow, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, PRITHVI 2026 will be held from 23–25 July 2026 at the BSIP Auditorium, Lucknow. Conceived as an annual national initiative, the festival marks a historic milestone as the first Palaeoscience Film Festival in India and Asia, creating a unique platform where science, cinema and public engagement converge to communicate Earth’s history, climate, biodiversity, geoheritage and environmental sustainability through compelling visual storytelling.
Held under the theme “Palaeosciences Research and Interventions Through Visual Initiatives (PRITHVI)”, the festival carries the vision “Bringing Earth’s Stories to Life, Inspiring a Sustainable Tomorrow.” It is being organised under BSIP’s Science Communication for Public Engagement & Partnership (SCoPE) initiative to promote innovative science communication by nurturing scientist-filmmakers, science communicators, students and creative storytellers while strengthening public understanding of Earth sciences.
PRITHVI 2026 aims to bridge the communication gap between scientists and society by translating complex scientific research into engaging visual narratives. The initiative supports the spirit of Article 51A(h) of the Constitution of India, which encourages every citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry, while contributing to the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The festival invited participation from scientist-filmmakers, professional science filmmakers, independent filmmakers, college and university students, and research scholars from across the country. Entries were invited under seven competitive categories: Documentary Films, Short Films, Animation Films, Science Fiction Films, Climate Change Films, Geoheritage & Geotouris
Alongside film screenings, PRITHVI 2026 will host a workshop, the National Dialogue on Earth Science Communication for Public Engagement, bringing together eminent scientists, filmmakers, science communicators, educators, media professionals and policymakers. The three-day festival will feature masterclasses, panel discussions, public-scientist interactions and interactive sessions on climate change, Earth sciences and innovative approaches to science communication.
Hundreds of scientist-filmmakers, science communicators, researchers, academicians and students from across the country are expected to participate in the festival. Universities and colleges are being encouraged to facilitate active participation from departments of Mass Communication, Journalism, Film Studies, Geology, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Botany and allied disciplines, fostering collaboration between science and creative media for greater public understanding of Earth and environmental sciences.
Selected films showcased during PRITHVI 2026 will serve as valuable educational resources for schools, colleges, universities and scientific institutions, strengthening science outreach and public engagement beyond the festival. Scientists, filmmakers, students, research scholars and institutions are invited to become part of this pioneering initiative and contribute to India’s growing science communication movement. PRITHVI 2026 is being organised with the support of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, and the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.