Three Day Dev Bhoomi Film Festival In Mandi Begins With Grand Opening

Himachal Pradesh: The second edition of the three-day Dev Bhoomi International Film Festival (DBIFF) commenced with a grand opening ceremony at the Sanskriti Sadan in Mandi, popularly known as "Chhoti Kashi."

The mega cultural event brings together acclaimed Bollywood actors, independent filmmakers, screenwriters, and cinema enthusiasts from across the nation to celebrate meaningful regional cinema.  The festival was formally inaugurated by Tarun Shridhar, Chairman of the Food and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), alongside renowned Bollywood veterans including Sanjay Mishra, Aditya Srivastava, Rajesh Jais, and Hemant Pandey.  

Moving Beyond Scenic Backdrops to Real Human StoriesAddressing the gathering during the inaugural session, chief guest Tarun Shridhar emphasized that cinema acts as a powerful mirror to society. He strongly urged the local filmmakers and creative artistes of Himachal Pradesh to move past using the majestic snow-capped mountains merely as picturesque backdrops.

Instead, he encouraged them to deeply explore the raw realities, unique deity traditions, local folklore, and contemporary social challenges faced by the residents of the Himalayan belt.  

"Art should not only reflect society but also give it a constructive direction. Filmmakers must bring the indigenous stories of hill life to global screens." - Tarun Shridhar, Chief GuestFestival Director Pawan Sharma highlighted that art transcends political and religious boundaries, providing a unified platform for multi-lingual narratives.

Over the course of the three-day festival, more than 25 short films and documentaries across diverse genres will be screened.  The opening day concluded with an enthusiastic response from local cinema lovers during the screening of the short films Gular Ke Phool and Birthday Cake.

 Alongside screenings, the event features specialized masterclasses on screenplay writing, acting workshops, and a special interactive segment at Mandi’s historic Clock Tower Complex.