12th International Film Festival of Shimla Opens with a Grand Celebration of Global Cinema

12th International Film Festival of Shimla (IFFS) opened today at the historic Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex, Shimla, with a vibrant celebration of Indian and international cinema. The three-day festival inaugurated by Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Language, Art & Culture, Government of Himachal Pradesh. Among the prominent guests at the festival are acclaimed actor Manoj Joshi, actor Sharib Hashmi, and filmmaker-writer Amit Rai, who are participating in special sessions and interactions with audiences.

Lullaby, a short film from Azerbaijan directed by Ayan Mammadowa was the inaugural film of the festival. This was a war film and speaks about blood soaked town of Karabakh conflict  and two soldiers who are forced to unlikely alliance after chance encounter on front lines. The Producer of the film interacted with the audience after the screening of this film. 

One of the major attractions of the inaugural day was a special interactive session with acclaimed actor Manoj Joshi .

During the session, Joshi interacted with the audience and shared experiences from his journey in Indian cinema, acting and the craft of performance. The session provided young filmmakers, students and cinema lovers an opportunity to engage directly with the veteran actor.The session was moderated by Ashwani Sharma, Senior Journalist, Outlook.

Another major highlight of the day was the special interaction with actor Sharib Hashmi. Hashmi spoke about his journey as an actor, his experiences in films and digital entertainment, and the changing landscape of Indian cinema. He also responded to questions from the audience, making the session an engaging exchange between the actor and young cinema enthusiasts.The session was moderated by Nonika Singh, noted journalist, film and art critic and author.

The inaugural day also featured a special Masterclass at the Conference Hall, providing an opportunity for participants and emerging filmmakers to understand different approaches to documentary filmmaking. The session was complemented by screenings of documentary works, encouraging discussion on storytelling, visual expression and the role of documentary cinema in reflecting society and human experiences. The festival premises witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, emerging filmmakers, film lovers and delegates throughout the day. The interactions with established film personalities provided young participants an opportunity to learn directly from professionals working in the industry.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by filmmakers, actors, cinema professionals, students, film enthusiasts and audiences from different parts of the country.

The first day featured an extensive line-up of films at the MP Theatre and Gothic Theatre of the Gaiety Cultural Complex. The programme included feature films, short films, documentaries and animation from India as well as several countries across the world.

The opening-day screenings included films such as Mania Instrument, Daddu Ki Kahaniyan, Raspberry Sorbet, Self  Assessment and The Everest Dream, along with several other international and Indian films.

The diverse selection offered audiences an opportunity to explore different cinematic traditions, social themes and storytelling styles from across the globe. The official festival programme lists films from countries including Iran, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Poland, Nepal, Portugal, Ukraine, Bhutan, Canada, Mexico, South Korea and India.

The festival is designed not only as a platform for film screenings but also as a space for dialogue, learning, networking and cultural exchange among filmmakers and audiences.

Festival Director Pushp Raj Thakur said that the response on the inaugural day reflected the growing interest in independent and international cinema in Himachal Pradesh. He said that the participation of filmmakers and films from 33 countries and 15 Indian states has added a strong international and national dimension to this edition of the festival.

The festival will continue on September 26 and 27 with a wide range of film screenings, masterclasses and filmmaker-audience interactions.

A special interactive session with filmmaker and writer Amit Rai, director and writer of OMG 2, is scheduled on September 26. The festival will also continue its programme of international and Indian film screenings across the Gaiety Cultural Complex.

This Film Festival is being organized under the joint aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Government of India), the Department of Language and Culture (Government of Himachal Pradesh), and Himalayan Velocity.