Tucked away in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh, the fifth edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival kicks off today. Bringing together various pieces of cinematic brilliance, the festival promises to be an engaging affair - both for the indie cinema enthusiasts and the filmmakers who’ve travelled hours and miles to grace the 4-day-event.
Despite the fact that most of the films have already won accolades in diverse film festivals, the charm and the excitement surrounding their screening still remains intact. As we gear up to witness the presentation of masterpieces in the scenic locales of Dharamshala, we bring you a list of most-awaited films of this year’s
lineup.
Raam Reddy’s Thithi
This isn’t the first time that Reddy’s Kannada film is being screened but the fact that it has received such rave reviews in the past has got everyone’s curiosities piqued. A dramatic comedy – more of a sattire – about how three generations of sons react to the death of the oldest in their clan – is what the film is about. While the film is based on the death of a man named Century Gowda, it’ll be interesting to see how three storylines intertwine without distracting the viewer from the main plot.
Vetri Maaran’s Visaranai (Interrogation)
One of the most talked about films is India’s Oscar entry Visaranai which will draw the curtains for the extravaganza. Based on a true incident that occurred in Guntur in 1983, the story revolves around the lives of four innocent boys who find themselves caught up in a never-ending web of police, corruption and socio-political blackmailing.
Sean McAllister’s A Syrian Love Story
Filmed over 5 years, the film assays the journey of two comrades – Amer and Raghda – who’re totally in love with each other. The director, who’ll always be conducting master classes at the ongoing DIFF, has been awarded the Grand Jury prize at this year’s Sheffield Documentary Festival.
Pushpa Rawat’s Mod (The Turn)
The filmmaker has attempted to offer a glimpse into the lives of young men who’re often spotted at the water tanks in her neighborhood of Pratap Vihar, Ghaziabad. Referred to as ‘no-gooders’ of the society, the narrative explores the fragile world they end up creating for themselves.
Tenzin Dasel, Remi Caritey’s Royal Cafe
The plot highlights the stereotypes of Tibetans who’re living in exiles with an aim to bring to notice the simple realities of their life. It chronicles the journey of a young Tibetan woman who abandons her humdrum life in Paris to pursue her dream of becoming a filmmaker.
Bauddhayan Mukherji’s The Violin Player
It is a film that is sure to attract aspiring Bollywood buffs in great numbers. The film offers an insight into a day in the life of a Bollywood session violinist – who ends up finding expression in the most unlikely place.
Sanjeev Kumar’s Mane De Phere (The Circles Of The Mind)
Revolving around the life of an orphan, who grows up being a responsible citizen of this society but forgets about his own personal needs, the film explores the idea of Schizoprenia.
Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami's Sonita
Of a free-spirited 18-year-old woman living in the poor suburbs of Tehran, the film shows her rising against all odds. Despite her conservative patriarchal family and various obstacles that she faces in Iran, she fights to live her life on her own terms on conditions.
Pampaka Towira’s The Island Funeral
Another film focusing on the battle of a woman to live on her own terms and to exist in a society guided by the patriarchs is The Island Funeral. It talks you along the journey of a young Muslim girl, who takes a road trip, but ends up being a target of the radical conflict between different political ideologies.
Mickey Lemele’s The Last Dalai Lama?
The film aims at answering a very significant question: will there be a fifteenth in Dalai Lama’s lineage or will he be the last? In order to answer the question, the filmmakers have weaved the archives - interviews, footages – into a tale.
Steffi Giaracuni's Didi Contractor: Marrying the Earth to the Building
Hosted in the Kangra Valley, the film documents the creations of Didi Contractor, an American-born architect, who has tried to blend the rural traditions with modern domestic needs in order to build houses. Even at the age of 86, the protagonist works day and night to convert her designs into dreams.
Umesh Kulkarni’s Highway
Coming from different walks of life, the characters take a Mumbai-Pune journey in their own vehicles. How they cross paths, how their lives intertwine and how some thought-provoking questions arise when they’re made to see their own reflection in today’s time. Through a road journey, the filmmaker have tried to answer some deepest doubts of life’s journey.
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