Global films in small McLeod Ganj; named as McLeod Ganj International Film Festival

Dharamsala, October 19, 2013: “We have been bombarded with film submissions from around the world this year. It is time to think new, and think different, and think big. The first change will be to add a second name: McLeod Ganj International Film Festival certainly seems to fit,” said Lobsang Wangyal, the organisor of the show. Earlier, it was known as The Free Spirit Film Festival, which  begun in 2004. It is the oldest ongoing film festival in McLeod Ganj.
A total of 19 films will be screened in the festival from Monday to Wednesday at Tibetan Day School in McLeod Ganj. In the lineup are films from Bangladesh, Egypt, France, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, UK and the US.
A few of the directors are coming to the Festival to present their films: Pema Dhondup from California of film Arise, Dr Sudeep Ranjan Sarkar from Kolkota of film Neti Neti (Not This, Not This), Prashant Vanjani from Delhi of film Villari, and Ninad Kulkarni from Pune of film Connection Failed.
Speaking to this correspondent at Dharamsala on Saturday Lobsang Wangyal  said that all the film directors and their networkers are reaching out to the organisers  to share their films in this little village of McLeod Ganj, which is yet a global spot with the presence of people from all over the world, due to Dalai Lama here.
He further added that the winners of the film awards this year were chosen by a jury from the pool of films which are part of the festival. The Audience Award will be decided by festival-goers' ballots.
Lobsang Wangyal  said, “Ninad Kulkarni, 16, will be the youngest among the directors. His first film about farmer's suicide in Maharashtra was made when he was 12.”
Others like Pema Dhondup, accomplished Tibetan filmmakers today. He will be travelling from California to present his film, ‘Arise’, which is about the on-going self-immolations in Tibet.
Lobsang said, “Considering McLeod Ganj as a popular destination for tourists from around the world, it lacks enough avenues for events, fairs and festivals such as this festival.”
The Free Spirit Film Festival, provides a unique platform to grow a film culture here in McLeod Ganj. Free Spirit Film Festival (formerly Tibetan Film Festival) is an annual event hosted to promote the joy, beauty and power of cinema. The festival particularly honours and promotes independent filmmakers from around the world.
The festival also has a special place for Tibetan films and filmmakers. The festival hopes to encourage and build a strong film culture among Tibetans. Films are an indispensable medium in today's world, and a stronger film culture will provide enormous benefit to Tibetans in bringing awareness about the Tibetan situation. The festival was started in 2004. www.cityairnews.com