Dharamsala film fest goes online, begins today

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 3

The 10th edition of the Dharamsala International Film Festival (DIFF) will go online from November 4 to 10.

DIFF announced a curated line-up of live talks, roundtables and a post-production lab as part of the festival’s special programming, including in-depth discussions with acclaimed independent filmmakers, a post-production lab with industry professionals covering subtitling, music, sound design and colour management, and conversations on social movements and film.

Discussions to explore best practices

Our team is thrilled to announce DIIF’s special programming events that will engage filmmakers and film-lovers more than ever before. Discussions will explore the best practices in the field, social movements in film, modern technological developments in cinema, and more. —Ritu Sarin, Festival director

The acclaimed independent filmmakers part of this year’s special programming include Hansal Mehta (Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story), Anup Singh (Qissa), Pushpendra Singh (Laila Aur Satt Geet), Ngawang Choephel (Ganden: A Joyful Land), Anam Abbas (This Stained Dawn) and Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas (Writing With Fire).

Festival organisers announced more Indian and international films as part of its lineup, including “There is No Evil” (directed by Mohammad Rasoulof) winner of the Golden Bear at Berlinale 2020, and Russia’s entry to the Oscars, “Dear Comrades” (directed by Andrei Konchalovsky).

Indian premiere of “Kontora” (directed by Anshul Chauhan) is the winner of the best film at the Black Nights Film Festival 2019 in Tallinn.

Festival director Ritu Sarin said, “Our team is thrilled to announce DIIF’s special programming events that will engage filmmakers and film-lovers more than ever before. Both emerging and established filmmakers are sure to find great value in these in-depth conversations with a range of industry professionals. These timely discussions will explore the best practices in the field, social movements in film, modern technological developments in cinema, and more.”

Sarin said roundtable, moderated by Raja Sen, with director, producer Hansal Mehta and screen writer Juhi Chaturvedi, focused on negotiating the fast-evolving OTT environment, how it had changed the independent filmmaking landscape and how panelists had navigated these changes in their careers.

Acclaimed filmmakers Anup Singh and Pushpendra Singh would speak about their films and careers, including Pushpendra Singh’s “Laila Aur Satt Geet”, screening at DIFF 2021. They would also discuss the challenges of finding financing and distribution and the future of independent cinema, she said.

Sarin said documentary magazine’s managing editor Bedatri Choudhury would moderate a discussion between filmmakers Anam Abbas, Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh titled “The Revolution Will Be Documented”, where they discuss their individual careers documenting grassroot activist movements and how to navigate ethics and empathy when working with at-risk communities who stand on the precipice of change.

Tibetan filmmakers Tenzin Tsetan Choklay and Ngawang Choephel discuss Choephel’s new film, “Ganden: A Joyful Land”, screening at DIFF 2021. They will also explore Choephel’s lifelong work of preserving Tibet’s cultural heritage and the importance of Tibetan storytelling on the screen.

Filmmakers in the programme

The acclaimed independent filmmakers part of this year’s special programming include Hansal Mehta (Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story), Anup Singh (Qissa), Pushpendra Singh (Laila Aur Satt Geet), Ngawang Choephel (Ganden: A Joyful Land), Anam Abbas (This Stained Dawn) and Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas (Writing With Fire)

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