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The hill town of Shimla will host the 12th edition of its international film festival this week, bringing a concentrated three-day run of world cinema to the historic Gaiety Theatre from Sept. 25–27. The event’s unusually broad lineup — featuring filmmakers from 33 countries alongside delegates from 15 Indian states — makes it a rare opportunity for local audiences to see diverse cinematic voices in one place.
Why this festival matters now
Film festivals are not just screenings; they drive conversations about culture, craft and distribution. For Shimla, the festival raises the town’s profile as a cultural destination and gives regional storytellers a visible stage to reach national and international peers.
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Organisers say the programme is intended to foster exchange between filmmakers and audiences, and to open pathways for collaborations that extend beyond the three days of screenings.
What’s on the slate
Screenings and panel events will include a wide mix of feature films, shorts and discussions. Two headline interactions scheduled for the opening day are expected to draw particular attention from local viewers and the media.
- Amit Rai — writer-director of the commercially notable film OMG 2 — will take part in an on-stage conversation on Sept. 25, reflecting on his work and storytelling choices.
- Sharib Hashmi — an actor recognised for roles in Filmistaan, The Family Man and other films — is also set to engage with audiences the same day.
The festival programme brings together submissions from countries across Asia, Europe, the Americas and beyond. Representative nations on the roster include Iran, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Nepal, the United States, South Korea, Australia, China, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Palestine, Thailand and Ukraine.
On the domestic side, filmmakers and cinema professionals are arriving from a wide cross-section of India: Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Manipur, Odisha, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh among them.
Organisers and aims
The event is being run in partnership with the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Himachal Pradesh’s Department of Language and Culture, and the Himalayan Velocity collective. Festival director Pushp Raj Thakur described the dozen-plus years of the event as a chance to “build bridges between storytellers” and to give regional films a stage alongside international entries.
For readers planning to attend: the festival’s concentrated schedule means multiple sessions each day, with opportunities for Q&A and networking. Local audiences who care about independent and world cinema will find the programme particularly relevant.
