Jaipur, The 9th Aryan International Children’s Film Festival of Jaipur (AICFF 2026) and the 11th Sixteen International Film Festival (16IFF 2026), organised by the Jaipur International Film Festival Trust, announced their award winners on Wednesday. Films from India and across the world were recognised in various categories for their storytelling, direction, creativity and thematic depth. AICFF 2026: Celebrating Children’s Cinema At AICFF 2026, Black Butterflies, directed by David Baute and produced between Panama and Spain, won the award for Best Animated Feature Film. India’s Rebuilding Freedom, directed by Suveer Saigal, was named Best Short Documentary/Student Film. The Patch, directed by Greece’s Ioulia Lymperopoulou, won Best Short Animation Film, while France’s Ya Hanouni, directed by Lyna Tadount and Sofian Chouaib, received the award for Best Short Fiction Film. Benin’s Benin My Heart, by Jésugnon Gédéon Tite Phinees Seth Ahounou, was honoured as Best Documentary Feature Film. India’s Marathi feature film Chikeezing, directed by Rajendra Shrihari Bagate and Vaibhav Ganesh Kulkarni, was named Best Feature Fiction Film. 16IFF 2026: International Stories Take Centre Stage At the 11th Sixteen International Film Festival (16IFF 2026), Canada’s The Scandinavian Method, directed by Anik Salas, won Best Documentary Feature Film. Iranian filmmaker Farid Valizadeh’s Count to 10 was named Best Feature Fiction Film, while The Translator, directed by Iran’s Milad Shiri, won Best Short Fiction Film. India’s Hum Nayi Subah Ki Kirne Hain, Yeh Naya Zamaana Hamaara Hai – DJIME, by Kanwal Jeet Jawa, Srinivas Deverakonda and Shams Tanweer, received the award for Best Short Documentary Film. South Korea’s Butterfly Eyes, directed by Sohee Jeon, was recognised as Best Short Animation Film. Hanu Roz: Cinema Can Educate, Inspire and Create Awareness Hanu Roz, Founder Director of the Jaipur International Film Festival Trust, congratulated all the winning filmmakers and said that AICFF and 16IFF aim to connect children, students and young audiences in Jaipur with outstanding and thought-provoking films from India and around the world. He said the winning films showcased the diversity and impact of cinema through distinctive stories, cultures and themes. “Cinema for children and young people is not merely a source of entertainment. It is also a powerful medium for education, sensitivity, creative thinking and social awareness,” Roz said, adding that AICFF continues to work towards this larger objective. 29 Films to Be Screened on August 27 The two festivals will continue with screenings on August 27, 2026, at Ryan International School, VT Road, Mansarovar, and Dolphins High School, Pratap Nagar, Jaipur. A total of 29 selected films from countries including South Korea, Iran, Palestine, the United States, Norway, Canada, Mexico, Pakistan, India, Australia, Greece, Russia, France and the United Kingdom will be screened. The films explore a wide range of themes including children and family, education, environment, social concerns, human values, adventure, imagination and entertainment. Through international cinema, the festivals aim to provide students with meaningful exposure to diverse cultures and perspectives while promoting education, creativity, social awareness and human values.