Lucknow: PRITHVI 2026, billed as India’s first film festival dedicated exclusively to palaeosciences and earth sciences, will be organised in Lucknow from July 23-25.Governor Anandiben Patel unveiled the event’s brochure at Raj Bhavan on Friday.Organised by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous institute under the department of science and technology, the three-day festival will be held at the institute’s auditorium in Lucknow.According to BSIP, the annual initiative aims to use cinema as a medium to communicate scientific research on earth’s history, climate change, biodiversity, geoheritage and environmental sustainability to a wider audience.The festival is being organised under the institute’s Science Communication for Public Engagement and Partnership (SCoPE) initiative.The event has invited entries from scientist-filmmakers, professional and independent filmmakers, students and research scholars under seven competitive categories, including documentary, short, animation, science fiction, climate change, geoheritage and geotourism films, besides a dedicated student category.Apart from film screenings, the festival will host workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions and a National Dialogue on Earth Science Communication for Public Engagement.Scientists, filmmakers, educators, media professionals and policymakers are expected to deliberate on innovative approaches to science communication and public engagement.The institute said selected films showcased during the festival would be used as educational resources by schools, colleges, universities and scientific institutions to promote science outreach and awareness. The event is being supported by the ministry of earth sciences and the department of science and technology.
