The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has announced the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony to be held on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, with the President of India presenting the awards recognizing cinematic achievements for the year 2024. Veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 in recognition of his five-decade contribution to Kannada and Indian cinema.
The awards selection includes 'Article 370' as Best Feature Film, 'Bhangaar' as Best Non-Feature Film, and 'Ram-Nami' as Best Documentary. Mammootty for 'Bramayugam' and Kartik Aaryan for 'Chandu Champion' share the Best Actor award, while Yami Gautam wins Best Actress for 'Article 370'. Randeep Hooda receives Best Debut Director for 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'. Other films receiving honors include 'Kalki 2898 AD', 'Amaran', 'Pushpa: The Rule Part-02', 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3', and 'Stree 2' across various categories.
This edition marks a new initiative to rotate the National Film Awards ceremony across different Indian states, beginning with Gujarat, to bring the celebration closer to various regions and showcase India's cultural and cinematic diversity. The awards, instituted in 1954, recognize excellence across Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Writing on Cinema covering multiple languages and filmmaking forms.