Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 winners list out

The Critics’ Choice Awards 2026, now in their 8th year, were a milestone for content-based Indian cinema, as ‘Homebound,’ under the direction of Neeraj Ghaywan, won the top accolades for the night. The film managed to leverage the success to win the top acting awards.

The Critics’ Choice Awards, under the aegis of the Film Critics Guild, recognise and honour the best in feature films, web series, short films, and documentaries. They often focus on films and performances thriving outside the realm of commercial success.

Full list of winners: Critics’ Choice Awards 2026

Short Films

Best Film: ‘Maaybaapache Aashirwaad (Blessings)’

Best Director: Apurva Bardapurkar – ‘Maaybaapache Aashirwaad (Blessings)’

Best Actor: Sunny Hinduja – ‘That’s A Wrap’

Best Actress: Sheeba Chaddha – ‘Nighiyaan Chhavan (Warm Shadows)’

Best Writing: Apurva Bardapurkar – ‘Maaybaapache Aashirwaad (Blessings)’

Best Cinematography: Saurabh Suman – ‘Aasmaani Jhoola (The Giant Wheel of Life)’

Web Series

Best Web Series: ‘Black Warrant’

Best Director: Vikramaditya Motwane, Satyanshu Singh,



Arkesh Ajay, Rohin Raveendran Nair, Ambiecka Pandit – ‘Black Warrant’

Best Actor: Jaideep Ahlawat – ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’

Best Actress: Monika Panwar – ‘Khauf’

Best Supporting Actor: Rahul Bhat – ‘Black Warrant’

Best Supporting Actress: Tillotama Shome – ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’

Best Writing: Satyanshu Singh, Arkesh Ajay – ‘Black Warrant’

Feature Films

Best Film: ‘Homebound’

Best Director: Neeraj Ghaywan – ‘Homebound’

Best Actor: Vishal Jethwa – ‘Homebound’

Best Actress: Priyanka Bose – ‘Agra’

Best Supporting Actor: Pasupathy – ‘Bison Kaalamaadan’

Best Supporting Actress: Shalini Vatsa – ‘Homebound’

Best Writing: Rohan Parashuram Kanawade – ‘Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears)’

Best Cinematography: Sunil Borkar – ‘Jugnuma (The Fable)’

Best Editing: Chaman Chakko – ‘Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra’

Gender Sensitivity Award: ‘Sthal (A Match)’

Documentary

Best Documentary: ‘I, Poppy’

Special Award

Extraordinary Contribution to Cinema: Farida Jalal