By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, October 25: The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Raja Virbhadra Singh will attend the opening ceremony of the fifth edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) as the guest of honor.
The Festival Director Ritu Sarin confirmed that the CM has accepted the invitation and will grace the occasion happening at Upper Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School from November 3 to 6.
DIFF, which aims at bringing independent cinema to the mountains, will be showcasing 46 films including 27 feature narratives and documentaries films, 15 shorts and four children’s film this year.
With over 20 filmmakers, including nine international filmmakers presenting their films, the 2016 edition will have representatives from 20 countries and 18 films premiering in India for the first time including Mickey Lemle’s documentary ‘The Last Dalai Lama?’.
Raam Reddy’s critically acclaimed Kannada movie ‘Thithi’ will be the opening film of the four-day festival.
“Lately, more people especially youngsters from outside Dharamshala are coming to take part in the festival. It gives us the perfect opportunity to aware them about our present situations and the Tibetan struggle. So I feel that it is our collective responsibility to do that,” said Tenzing Sonam, Festival Director.
Owing to the unavailability of Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts’ (TIPA) hall, host of all the previous editions, due to renovation works the organizers had to shift the venue from TIPA to Upper TCV School.
Also participating will be films from Kangra valley including ‘Mane de Phere’, a local Himachali film directed by Sanjay Kumar. The list also includes Prabhjit Dhamija’s short film ‘Asmad’ and Steffi Giaracuni’s ‘Didi Contractor – Marrying the Earth to the Building’, a documentary on the well-known Kangra valley architect.
As a part of the festival’s community outreach program, the organizers on October 23 screened ‘When Hari Got Married’, one of the films of the festival director duo.
