Name: Dharamshala
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Dharamshala International Film Festival, Dharamshala Overview

One of the leading independent film festivals of the county is the Dharamshala Film Festival, held every year in November. The festival is for filmmakers, volunteers and travellers from far and wide. Showcasing the best of Indian and international cinema, the DIFF provides a platform for hitherto unknown artists to take centre stage.

With strong themes that resonate with the audience, this one's a must for film lovers. Apart from being a celebration of art and independent cinema, the Dharamsala Film Festival also makes for the perfect break from Indian summers.

Dharamshala Film Festival 2020

2020 Dharamshala International Film Festival will begin on Thursday, 26 November and ends on Sunday, 29 November
Passes will be made available in August 2020

Venue of Dharamshala International Film Festival

Tibetan Children’s Village School, Dharamshala

Dharamshala Film Festival was initiated by filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam in 2012. Their primary motive was to give a platform for alternate cinema to the local communities. Dharamshala Film Festival also is known DIFF is presented by White Crane Arts and Media Trust which provides an impetus to contemporary art, cinema and independent media practices in the Himalayan terrain. They hope to encourage creative expression in the region through various events, spaces and opportunities.

Dharamshala International Film Festival Programme

The festival has some interesting display of creative work in contemporary art and cinema. The programme for 2020 is still to be announced.

In 2019, there were screenings of special narratives like Bamboo Dogs by Khavn, Bhonsle by Devashish Makhija; documentaries like A Long Way Home by Luc Schaedler, Boom for Real by Sara Driver and children’s films like Beauty by Christina Willings, Cross My Heart by Luc Picard. In 2018, Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short were also screened for the audiences.

A unique feature of the event is the Volunteer Programme. They get together hundreds of energetic people from all backgrounds and ages who help in making the event a success. One can register for the same and be a part of the event.

How To Reach Dharamshala International Film Festival 2020

Airways, roadways and railways well connect Dharamshala.
The nearest airport is located at Kangra, 15 kilometres from Dharamshala.
The railhead, Pathankot, is just two hours from the city.
Several buses and taxi services ferry people from Delhi and other nearby places.

The venue of the festival, Tibetan Children’s Village School is just a ten minutes drive through the forest from McLeod Ganj. There is a “pay-as-you-wish” shuttle which ferries people every half an hour to the venue during the day. A taxi can also be taken from McLeod Ganj.

It is advisable to stay in McLeod Ganj as it is loaded with hotels and restaurants.

Thus, the film festival is successful in its endeavours to bring contemporary art to the people of the hills and give them a platform to indulge in this form of expression.