The fourth edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) came to an end on 8th Nov. with the screening of Neeraj Ghaywan‘s “Masaan” with every year passing by, Dharamsala International Film Festival is just becoming bigger and bigger. Filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, along with their team of dedicated volunteers from across the world, under the banner of White Crane Arts & Media Trust organized the fourth edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival 2015. This eclectic film festival brought to the mountains, the best of the cinema talent yet again in 2015.
The festival that lasted 4 days starting 5th November provided a platform to budding filmmakers whilst the presence of established and experienced members of the industry. Over 30 films, shorts, and documentaries were screened at the Dharamshala International Film Festival 2015. In its endeavour of ‘bringing independent cinema to the mountains’, the festival, set in a town that has no cinema theatres of its own, saw a huge gathering of cinema devotees, filmmakers, locals and just about anyone who appreciates the visual medium, cheerfully enjoying cups of chai-coffee as they stood waiting in snaking queues to watch these films.
With ‘Titli‘ as an opener, films from all over the world, equal parts moving, shocking, amusing and deeply unnerving followed. The festival called its day to this edition with Cannes Film Festival award winner, Masaan, by Neeraj Ghaywan who also presented the film along with screenwriter Varun Grover. Apart from that, the listing includes international films like Maw Naing’s“The Monk”(Burma), Kaoru Ikeya’s documentary “Lung Ta (Japan), Dodo Hunziker’s “Tibetan Warrior” (Switzerland), Dechen Roder’s “Lo Sum Choe Sum” (Bhutan). Indian filmmakers who showcased their work include National Award-winning director, Gurvinder Singh’s Chauthi Koot (Cannes 2015), Bhaskar Hazarika’s Assamese feature, Kothanodi (2015 Busan International Film Festival), Abhay Kumar’s documentary Placebo (IDFA 2014), Prashant Nair’s Umrika (Audience Award, 2015 Sundance Film Festival) and Ruchika Oberoi’s Island City (FEDEORA Award for Best Debut Director 2015 Venice Film Festival).
Tenzing Sonam and Ritu Sarin, the filmmaker couple who started the festival in 2012, said the films this year were selected for their strong personal stamp, their clearly articulated authorial vision, and their undertow of deep humanistic concern. “We were instinctively drawn to films that dealt with issues and subjects that we were close to, or that we felt reflected the state of our world today and were relevant across borders and cultures- political conflict, marginalized communities, questions of identity, the intersection of art and life,” said Tenzing Sonam
DIFF aims to bring independent films to the mountains to promote and encourage local filmmakers, and to promote mutual understanding by creating a non-partisan cultural platform to engage and involve all communities that inhabit the area,” said the organizers.
We at Bollywoodirect are proud to be associated with the festival for the 2nd year. It has been a great journey for us as well. Really looking forward to collaborating for coming years.
