Shimla: International Film Fest returns with global cinema, creative exchanges

Cinephiles thronged the historic Gaiety Theatre on Sunday as the curtains rose on the 11th International Film Festival of Shimla, where nine carefully curated films captivated audiences with powerful stories from India and abroad.

The screenings opened with Ker, an Iranian film by Sajad Soleymani, weaving a gripping tale of a young man forced to conceal his beloved to avert disaster. Equally engaging was Kapil Tanwar’s Hindi feature Ru Ba Ru, followed by Laal from filmmaker Dr Sumeet Sanjay Patil. Another Iranian gem, Three Monkeys by Parviz Shojaei, enthralled viewers, while Ketal Pal’s The Garland of Ghughuti, Shraddha Pasi Jairath’s Us and Aranya Sahay’s Humans in Loop brought diverse themes to the screen. From Himachal itself, Naveen Kumar ‘Chakshu’ presented Dhruv Tara alongside Rajiv Thakur’s poignant short The Last Drop.

Adding sparkle to the festival, acclaimed Bollywood and Marathi actress Chhaya Kadam engaged in a heartfelt interaction with the audience. Reflecting on her cinematic journey, she emphasised the value of dedication, passion and authenticity in acting, inspiring aspiring filmmakers and artistes in attendance.

The festival’s highlight was a masterclass led by Iranian filmmakers Amin Yousefi, Mehrdad Akbari, Mahtab Salimi and Hamidah Rasouli. They shared invaluable insights into screenwriting, VFX and the evolving craft of filmmaking, offering both seasoned cinephiles and budding directors a rare chance to learn from global voices.

Originally envisioned as a three-day celebration from September 5 to 7, the festival was rescheduled in light of the relentless monsoon rains and widespread damage across Himachal. Yet, its eventual return reaffirmed cinema’s power to connect, inspire & heal.