1ST DIFF: Show commences tomorrow at Mecleodganj

Dharamsala, October 31, 2012: Dharamsala is hosting the 1st Dharamsala International Film Festival (DIFF) from November 1-4 at Mecleodganj, near here.

Ritu Sarin and Tenzin Sonam are the masterminds behind this show.

Their aim is to establish DIFF as a world-class film festival where filmmakers and film lovers can interact in an intimate, creative and informal way.

Showcasing the best of recent Indian and world cinema, both fiction and documentary, they hope to bring meaningful cinema to the mountains and promote and encourage local filmmaking talent.

Being organised under the name of White Crane arts & Media, this festival is claimed to be the first of its kind across the country for contemporary Independent cinema.

Speaking to this Correspondent Ritu said,” The festival will showcase 26 feature films, documentaries and shorts, curetted by the best contemporary independent cinema. Film makers from India and abroad will present their films and participate in a range of master classes and panel discussion”.

The opening night film of the show will be Hansel Mehta’s award winning `Shahid’ and the festival shall have a closing film of Ashim Ahluwalia’s `Miss Lovely’ which won best film award in Mumbai film festival.

Ritu told that the other films on show would be Rajan Khosa’s `Gattu’, Umesh Kulkarni’s `Deool’, and Ritu & Tenzin’s `When Hari Got Married’ a story of local taxi driver. Another local film maker Sanjeev Rattan will also screen his Dogri film `Dile Ch Vsiya Koi’. The films from nations such as USA, Egypt, Denmark, Malaysia, Israel and UK would be the part of the show.

Ritu said,” Some films will be shown for the first time include, 5 Broken Cameras, ½ Revolution and Malaysian feature Bunoha.”

Adding, she said Asif Kapadia’s acclaimed `Senna’ would also be shown in the festival.

She said,” Film makers Hansal Mehta, Ashim Ahluwalia, Asif Kapadia, Umesh Kulkarni, Karim Al hakim, Jennifer Fox, Mark Elliot, Dian Said and Guy Davidi will be present at the film festival”

These film makers shall have master classes and penal discussions.

In the animation section Gitanjali Rao will hold classes.

Ritu said the festival shall give 50% concession on tickets to students.

Besides, she also promised to hold such festivals annually in this city the seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

She requested the Himachal Government to provide a cinema theatre in the city to hold such shows.