Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Confirms Attendance at NAFA 2026 at San Jose!
#AbhijeetGholap — founder-chairman of the North American Film Association (#NAFA), prominent industrialist, recipient of the National Golden Lotus award, and acclaimed producer of Marathi hits such as Deool and Bhaari — today paid a courtesy call to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to invite him to the third North American Film Festival (NAFA Film Festival 2026). The festival will be held in San Jose, California from August 7–9, 2026.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis praised NAFA’s various initiatives and gave his assurance that he will attend the NAFA Film Festival 2026, wishing the event success. ABP Majha editor Sarita Kaushik, Abhijeet Gholap, and Dr. Gauri Gholap were present at the occasion.
The NAFA Film Festival has become a prestigious cultural cinema event for the Marathi and Indian communities in North America, attracting many distinguished actors, producers, directors, and cultural figures from India each year. Last year, Maharashtra’s Minister of Culture, Adv. Ashish Shelar, made a special appearance.
This year’s festival will feature several celebrated personalities, including veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi, actor-director Mahesh Kothare, director Mahesh Manjrekar, National Award-winning director Nagraj Manjule, lyricist Guru Thakur, actress Shruti Marathe, and actress Girija Oak, among many other notable artists.
Praising NAFA’s NAFA Stream OTT initiative, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, “Having such a platform for the Marathi community living abroad is extremely welcome. NAFA Stream OTT gives Maharashtra’s filmmakers a significant opportunity to present their works on an international stage. This will help Marathi cinema reach a broader global audience.”
Speaking at the event, NAFA founder-chairman Abhijeet Gholap said, “The NAFA Film Festival is not just a film festival but a strong cultural platform that connects Indian culture, Marathi identity, and artists worldwide. It is a matter of pride that Maharashtra’s popular Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has honored our invitation and expressed his willingness to attend. Thousands of Marathi and Indian art lovers in North America are eagerly awaiting his arrival, and NAFA’s red carpet will be ready to welcome him. His presence will undoubtedly elevate the grandeur of the festival.”
There is intense enthusiasm for the festival among Marathi and Indian communities in North America, and expectations are high that this year’s NAFA Film Festival will be a grand celebration of cultural, artistic, and global Marathi unity.
By Keerti Kadam