Director Dominic Arun's Malayalam superhero film 'Lokah - Chapter 1 - Chandra', starring Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead, has been selected for the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) 2026, its producers announced on Wednesday, 1 July 2025. The film has simultaneously secured a slot at the 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2026, marking a significant international double for Malayalam cinema's first female superhero film.

Festival Selection Announcement

Wayfarer Films, the production house owned by actor Dulquer Salmaan, confirmed the news via its official X account, writing: 'We are thrilled to announce that our film has been selected for: BIFAN (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival) 2026, 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2026.' The twin selection underlines the film's growing international footprint beyond its commercial success in India.

Box Office Milestone

'Lokah' has grossed over ₹300 crore globally, a remarkable figure for a Malayalam production and one that cemented its status as a blockbuster. The film had already crossed the ₹200 crore mark before its international festival run began, drawing widespread critical acclaim alongside strong audience reception. It is produced under Wayfarer Films as the first chapter of a planned superhero series.

Kalyani Priyadarshan's Note of Gratitude

When the film's collections surpassed the ₹200 crore mark, Kalyani Priyadarshan took to her Instagram page to express her gratitude. She wrote: 'Yesterday, our film reached a number that was only possible because of you, the audience. I'm beyond speechless, and truly beyond grateful for the love being showered on this film. In our industry, content has always been king, the biggest star of all - and once again, you've proved that to us. Thank you for giving us the chance to show that stories with vision will always find their place with you.'

She also paid a special tribute to director Dominic Arun, saying: '@dominic_arun (our Dom)… thank you for giving us a vision we could believe in with our whole hearts. You're the reason we were all so excited to give everything we had - and it's safe to say none of this would have been possible without you. To the most amazing cast and crew…this win feels special for me only because I have you guys to share it with.'

The Creative Team Behind Lokah

Written and directed by Dominic Arun, the film features cinematography by Nimish Raviand and editing by Chaman Chakko. The score was composed by Jakes Bejoy, while action sequences were choreographed by international stunt coordinator Yannick Ben. Additional screenplay and dramaturgy were handled by Santhy Balachandran, with art direction by Jithu Sebastian.

The festival selections signal that 'Lokah' is being received not merely as a commercial entertainer but as a culturally significant entry in the global fantastic-film genre — a strong indicator of what the franchise's subsequent chapters could achieve on the world stage.