DHARAMSHALA, October 21: Dharamshala International Film Festival founded by White Crane Arts & Media Trust run by film-maker couple Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam is all set to kick off on October 24 at Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.
“As long-term residents of Dharamshala, we became aware of the lack of opportunities and initiatives to help local artists and film-makers in the area, and the paucity of any forum for interaction with established international artists and film-makers,” said Ritu Sarin.
The festival will showcase around 40 independent films from various genres from the best of global contemporary cinema.
The films to be screened at the festival include ‘Lunchbox’, whose producer Guneet Monga will be present, ‘Filmistaan’ by debutant director Nitin Kakkar, ‘La Voz De Los Silenciados’ by Australian Maximon Monihan, ‘The Rocket’ by American Sylvia Wilczynski, ‘Crossing Bridges’ by debutant Arunachali director Sange Dorjee Tahongdok, ‘With You Without You’ by Sri Lankan Prasanna Vithanage and ‘The Strange Little Cat’ by Ramon Zürcher.
Moreover, ‘Watermark’ by Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky will make its international premier.
Acclaimed filmmakers such as Jacek Borcuch, Anand Patwardhan, Nishtha Jain, Amit Virmani, Sylvia Wilczynaski and Nagraj Manjule will attend the DIFF 2013, interact with audience, participate in panel discussions and hold film-making master class.
“Ignored by the larger cities where the most cultural activities and events are focused, and neglected by metro-centric arts institutions and organizations, towns like Dharamshala, despite being potentially fertile centres of creative activity, have no access or exposure to the world of contemporary art and cinema,” said Tenzing Sonam.
C. Paulrasu, Deputy Commissioner of Himachal Pradesh said, “This is not a festival where commercial movies are going to be screened, it is a festival in which, features, documentaries, art films are going to be featured. I feel this festival is going to create lots of awareness about the industry to the young amateur people who are interested in entering film industry.”
DIFF aims to bring independent films to the mountains to promote and encourage local film-makers, and to promote mutual understanding by creating a non-partisan cultural platform to engage and involve all communities that inhabit the area.
The festival concludes on October 27, 2013.
