The Dharamshala International film Festival (DIFF) has been living up to its moto of “Bringing Independent Cinema to the Mountains” since 2012. This year with their Community Outreach initiative DIFF has helped filmmakers from around the world to connect with the local communities of Gaddi Village and Dharamshala region.
Tenzin Sonam and Ritu Sarin, Organisers of the festival
The film festival was held at Tibetan Children’s Village School in the land of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s refuge in Mcleodganj from November 1-4. By hosting countless talented filmmakers, DIFF brought to us unforgettable featured narratives from India such as Bhonsle, EE-Ma-Yau, Hamid and the most celebrated The Sweet Requiem from DIFF founders themselves Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam. International narratives included the House of my Fathers (Sri Lanka), The Red Phallus (Bhutan), Waru (New Zealand). All raising a united dialogue concerning the everyday social problems of the ordinary person surviving in the present world.
The festival also featured a range of documentaries and short films which included the internationally acclaimed Indian photographer Raghu Rai’s life story from the perspective of his daughter Avni Rai. Another featured film was Of Fathers and Sons which highlighted the reality of the lives of innocent children destined to be the new faces of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda.
As a backdrop to all the film screenings and workshops during the main film festival, DIFF’s community outreach initiative created an intimate relationship between the local community and cinema. This was DIFF’s third outreach initiative and was created in partnership with the National Film Development Corporation, India and Jagori Grameen Rural Charitable Trust.
The Tong-Len hostel for children of migrant workers was featured in the screening of the Rohin Raveendran Nair classroom drama Little Hands along with the Dheeraj Jindal film, The School Bag, telling the true story of a terrorist attack on school children in Pakistan; this screening which was followed by a discussion on the themes of friendship and loyalty. Shubhashish Bhutiani’s 2016 comedy-drama, Mukti Bhawan – Hotel Salvation was screened for prisoners at the Dharamshala Prisoner’s Jail – an open air prison with an ethos of reform through humanisation – and witnessed enthusiastic participation from the inmates there as well as the staff. School screenings for students from the tiny Dharamkot Government Primary School, Kotwali Bazaar Government High School and Gamru Village School included Gitanjali Rao’s Printed Rainbow and Rohin Raveendran Nair’s Little Hands. A discussion followed, of the students’ dreams and aspirations. In the small Himachali villages of Gorda, Channing and Lahri, Neeraj Ghaywan’s film, Juice (2017) was screened for women’s’ collectives where the importance of both genders in forming a better society was discussed.
The Schools Film Appreciation Competition saw 27 students selected to take part in workshops on the concept of active and critical engagement with cinema, their project included a special film screening, group discussions and a final assignment.
DIFF is an annual independent film festival presented by White Crane Arts & Media Trust which promotes contemporary art, cinema and independent media practices in the Himalayan areas of India. It aims to create events, spaces and opportunities to nurture, encourage and develop contemporary forms of creative expression in the region.
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