Malayalam cinema's first female superhero film, Lokah – Chapter 1: Chandra, has earned back-to-back international selections, making it to the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) 2026 in South Korea and the 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2026 in Germany. The film, which crossed ₹300 crore worldwide at the box office, now adds festival prestige to its commercial triumph.

A Milestone Beyond the Box Office

The selections were announced by production house Wayfarer Films, which shared the news publicly, writing: 'We are thrilled to announce that our film has been selected for BIFAN (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival) 2026 and the 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2026.' The dual recognition marks a significant step for a film that was already celebrated as a landmark in Malayalam cinema for its genre-breaking premise.

What Dulquer Salmaan Said

Producer Dulquer Salmaan, whose banner Wayfarer Films backed the project, expressed both pride and gratitude at the selections. 'Seeing Lokah: Chapter One – Chandra being recognised at prestigious international film festivals is incredibly special. I'm immensely proud of the entire team whose passion brought this vision to life. It's truly gratifying to see the film continue its journey beyond theatres and for Malayalam storytelling to receive global recognition. These selections reaffirm our belief that sincere stories can transcend borders and connect with audiences across cultures,' he said.

The Film and Its Creative Team

Directed by Dominic Arun, Lokah centres on Chandra, a mysterious woman who arrives in Bengaluru to confront evil, only to become entangled with a corrupt police officer named Nachiyappa and an organ-trafficking ring. The film stars Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen in the lead roles, with Sandy, Chandu Salim Kumar, and Arun Kurian in supporting parts.

The technical crew includes cinematographer Nimish Ravi, editor Chaman Chakko, music composer Jakes Bejoy, action director Yannick Ben, and production designer Jithu Sebastian.

Why This Matters for Malayalam Cinema

The festival selections arrive at a moment when Malayalam cinema is enjoying sustained global attention, with multiple films finding traction on international streaming platforms and at film festivals. Lokah's journey — from a genre-defining theatrical run to festival circuits in Asia and Europe — underscores the growing appetite for South Asian storytelling that moves beyond familiar formulas. Notably, this is among the few Malayalam productions to simultaneously crack both an Asian fantastic-film festival and a dedicated Indian film festival in Europe in the same year.

What Comes Next

With Chapter 1 now in the international festival circuit, audience and industry attention will likely turn to whether Wayfarer Films moves forward with subsequent chapters in the Lokah universe. The commercial and critical momentum, now reinforced by global festival recognition, positions the franchise as one of Malayalam cinema's most closely watched properties.