9th edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival to be held online

With there being no clarity on when the country will open up completely during these COVID-19 pandemic times, the organizers of the ninth edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) have decided to hold the festival online. 

The organizers have partnered with the international online platform SHIFT72 for its digital edition, which will take place from 29 October to 4 November. 

The festival director Ritu Sarin said in an official statement, “The decision to take DIFF online was not an easy one to make. So much of what DIFF is about has to do with its location and its intimate character."

"In the end, we decided that we had to keep DIFF going digitally, not only to give filmmakers a much-needed platform but also to connect with our audiences. We are very excited that people from all over South Asia will be able to view films from home this year!" she continued.

Filmmaker Asif Kapadia, producer Guneet Monga and actor Adil Hussain, will be part of the inaugural DIFF Board of Advisors. Joining them will be Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, chairwoman of Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary and former Vodafone global CEO Arun Sarin.

Speaking about the festival, Monga said, “DIFF is a special film festival. It is run by Ritu and Tenzing [Sonam, co-director] with so much love and passion! Every filmmaker should experience the joy of being at DIFF. Although this year we are forced to come together virtually, the independent spirit of the festival will remain at its heart.”