By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 6: The fourth edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival officially kicked off yesterday (Nov. 5) here with the opening night film ‘Titli’ to a packed hall of dignitaries, guests and festival participants visibly excited for the ensuing festivities at the Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts.
Festival Director Ritu Sarin described the festival “madness” for her and her crew in the face of hosting such an internationally recognized event in a small town with challenges of limited technology and facilities. While Tenzing Sonam, also the Director of the DIFF, and the founder of White Crane Films gave a brief introduction of the film Festival.
Opening night film, Titli is an Official Selection at Cannes 2014 and winner of the Best Film Award at the South Asian International Film Festival in New York. The story explores the story of a criminal family in the Delhi’s underbelly. The story often leaning and walking on a subtle pace punctuated by dismal dialogues by the Bollywood standard yet delivers a powerful and muted semblance of polar virtues in the course of the protagonist’s journey.
Debut director Kanu Behl who was present at the opening said, “I would rather keep the intended message or the essence of the film a secret and have everyone interpret it on their own and make it their own”. He was accompanied by one of the lead actors, Ranvir Shorey of the ‘Khosla ka Gosla’ and ‘Pyar ka Side Effects fame.
The festival that will go on till Nov.8 features dynamic variety of films such as Oscar nominated short film Butter lamp, Joshua Oppenhiemer’s ‘The Act of Killing,’ Brazilian film- ‘Boy and the World’ and Dodo Hinziker’s ‘Tibetan Warrior’ documenting the Tibetan singer and activist Loten Namling’s campaign among others. The selection has an ensemble of more than 30 films, although absent of any fully fledged comedy.
The event was attended by dignitaries and ministers from both Tibetan and Indian governments, in addition to filmmakers and the general public. From the Central Tibetan Administration, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Penpa Tsering, Kalon Dicky Choyang, Kalon Dolma Gyari, attended the opening night.
