SHIMLA: The 12th International Film Festival of Shimla (IFFS) concluded on Sunday with the Awards Ceremony at the historic Gaiety Cultural Complex, where the Governor of Himachal Pradesh presented awards to the winning filmmakers.
The Governor honoured filmmakers whose works were selected for recognition in the International, National and State categories. The awards covered documentary, short film, animation, student cinema and emerging forms of filmmaking, including AI-generated cinema.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor congratulated the award-winning filmmakers and participants. The Governor also appreciated the festival for providing a platform for filmmakers from different countries, Indian states and diverse cultural backgrounds to come together and share their stories with audiences.
The ceremony was attended by filmmakers, delegates, film enthusiasts, students and cinema lovers, marking the culmination of the three-day festival.
Awards Across International, National and State Categories
International Category
– Best Long Documentary: Far From Home
– Best Short Documentary: The Sound of the Soul
– Special Jury Award – Short Documentary: The Everest Dream
– Best Short Film: Renewal
– Special Jury Award – Short Film: The Mould
– Best Animation Film: The Rusty Fish
– Special Jury Award – Animation Film: Milo
– Best AI Film: Coexistence
– Best Student Film: Eternal Kinship
– Special Jury Award – Student Film: Lullaby
National Category
– Best Long Documentary: The Genesis of Rasa
– Best Short Documentary: Coal Diggers of India
– Best Short Film: Halgi
– Special Jury Award – Short Film: Nyingma. Through Her Eyes
– Special Jury Award – Short Film: An Oyster Life
State Category
– Best Short Film: Tenfa
– Special Jury Award – Short Film: Chupi Roh
Diverse Film Line-up on Final Day
The third and final day featured international, national and regional films across three screening sessions.
The morning session screened the long documentaries Far From Home and The Genesis of Rasa. The afternoon session featured short and animation films, including Renewal, The Mould, The Rusty Fish, Milo, Halgi and Tenfa.
The evening session presented AI, student, documentary and regional cinema, including Coexistence, Eternal Kinship, Lullaby, The Sound of the Soul, The Everest Dream, Coal Diggers of India, Nyingma. Through Her Eyes, An Oyster Life and Chupi Roh.
The films explored themes including culture, human relationships, social realities, environment and contemporary forms of storytelling.
The three-day festival brought together filmmakers and films from across the world and different parts of India, providing a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue through cinema.
Audiences watched films representing diverse languages, cultures and filmmaking traditions and also participated in special interactions, masterclasses and sessions with filmmakers and cinema personalities.
The festival also continued its “Cinema Behind the Bars” initiative, under which selected films were taken to prison audiences as a medium of creative engagement and social connection.
With the Governor presenting awards to the winning filmmakers, the 12th International Film Festival of Shimla concluded on a celebratory note, highlighting independent cinema, emerging filmmakers and diverse cinematic voices.
