The landmark summer film programme returns for its second edition in Jaipur. It offers free screenings of global moving-image works at the historic City Palace. This year, the programme brings together international masterpieces and experimental South Asian works. As a result, it creates new conversations around art, cinema, and culture.
About the Film Programme
The Jaipur Centre for Art (JCA) has announced the return of Artists’ Cinema / Artist’s Cinema. The second edition runs from 3 July to 9 August 2026. During this period, the historic City Palace complex becomes a vibrant cultural hub. Curated by Dr. Shwetal A. Patel, the programme presents more than 150 films and moving-image works. Importantly, all screenings are free and open to the public. The initiative connects contemporary art with cinema. Moreover, it strengthens Jaipur’s growing presence on the international art map.
Curatorial Vision
The summer film programme explores the boundaries between artist-made moving images and auteur-driven cinema. In particular, it examines the space between the gallery and the traditional cinema screen. Afternoon screenings focus on conceptual and experimental artist films. These works often challenge conventional narrative structures. Meanwhile, evening screenings feature landmark films that have shaped global cinematic history. Through this approach, the programme presents cinema as more than entertainment. Instead, it considers film as a powerful philosophical and social medium.
Film Programme Highlights
The 2026 edition expands its international vision through several major partnerships. These include Art21, the British Council, the Goethe-Institut, the Film Heritage Foundation, and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, audiences can engage with works by leading South Asian and international figures. These include Agnès Varda, Jean-Luc Godard, Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute talents, Arundhati Roy, William Kentridge, and Sudarshan Shetty. As a result, the programme brings rarely seen international traditions into conversation with Indian filmmaking.
Institutional Impact
Founded in 2024 by HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur and contemporary arts specialist Noelle Kadar, the JCA aims to make exceptional art accessible to everyone. To achieve this, the institution hosts cultural programmes within the historic City Palace.
The venue also creates space for dialogue among artists, scholars, and local audiences. Meanwhile, the summer film programme builds on the success of its first edition. It establishes a recurring cultural gathering within Jaipur’s artistic landscape. Ultimately, the initiative offers a distinctive platform for conversations between cinema, contemporary art, and the public.
Event Details
Title: Artists’ Cinema / Artist’s Cinema (Second Edition)
Curator: Dr. Shwetal A. Patel
Venue: Jaipur Centre for Art (JCA), City Palace, Jaipur, India
Dates: 3 July to 9 August 2026
Timings: 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Admission: Free and open to all
This article has been created from the press kit shared with Abir Pothi. For press releases and related queries, write to editor@abirpothi.com.
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