What began in 2023 as a two-day media fest with students from 10 institutions is now preparing to welcome young media enthusiasts from more than 10 countries. The fourth Marvel Shoolini International Media Fest will begin on 29 September at the Shoolini campus, making it the festival’s largest international edition so far.
This year, the fest will welcome more than 200 international participants, with the largest delegation coming from Bangladesh. More than 130 students are expected to represent universities, including the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Jagannath University, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), University of Chittagong and Daffodil International University, among others. Students from Nepal will also take part as the festival expands beyond India.
The festival began with largely regional participation. The inaugural Marvel Media Fest in 2023 brought students from 10 institutions to the Shoolini campus for more than 13 competitions covering photography, news anchoring, documentary filmmaking and caption writing. External media professionals and journalists were invited as judges, giving students a chance to test their skills beyond the classroom.
By its second edition in 2024, the festival had grown into a national platform, attracting students, experts and industry professionals from across the country. The competition line-up expanded to include short films, Instagram reels, RJing, quizzes and other media activities. The edition also featured conversations around emerging technologies, independent journalism, digital communication and the changing media landscape.
During the 2024 valedictory ceremony, Pro Chancellor Prof Vishal Anand spoke about taking the festival to an international audience in future editions. A year later, the 2025 edition introduced an International Quiz for Shoolini’s international students.
With more than 14 competitions and activities, Marvel Shoolini International Media Fest 2026 will bring together students interested in journalism, filmmaking, photography, digital content, public speaking and entertainment. The events will include news anchoring, photography, documentary filmmaking, short video making, declamation, stand-up comedy and other media and communication disciplines.
Alongside the competitions, the programme is designed to help students from different countries interact, exchange ideas and engage with faculty members and media professionals.
Arafat Rahman, a BBA student in the Department of Finance, University of Chittagong, and President of the university’s Finance Business and Debating Association, said, “Life gives us opportunities, and I believe the best thing we can do is take them with an open heart. Marvel Media Fest feels like one of those rare opportunities — a chance to step beyond the familiar, experience a vibrant new environment, and connect with people who share the same curiosity and passion.”
Prof Nishtha Shukla Anand, Dean, Faculty of Media and Liberal Arts, Fest Director, Trustee and Director of Marketing and Communications, Shoolini University, said the university was looking forward to welcoming students and guests from different countries to create an environment where creativity, learning and cultural exchange could come together.
The festival will also give visiting international participants a chance to experience campus life outside the competition venues. As part of the immersion programme on 1 October, the students will meet people from the university, visit nearby places and learn about the local culture and surroundings of Himachal Pradesh. The programme will also introduce them to the campus, its academic environment and student life at Shoolini.
The 2026 edition will be led by Prof Nishtha Shukla Anand as Fest Director, with Prof Nisha Kapoor and Prof Ranjna Thakur as Faculty Coordinators. Media students Sayed Al Hasan and Brinda Bhaskar will serve as Fest Coordinator and Assistant Fest Coordinator, respectively.
With students from more than 10 countries set to participate, the fourth edition will be the festival’s most international edition yet. From 29 September to 1 October, the Shoolini campus will welcome young media enthusiasts from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and other countries for competitions, creative activities, cultural exchange and an immersion program centred on campus life and the surrounding region.
22 September 2026