Shimla: The 12th International Film Festival Shimla (IFFS 2K26) continued its three-day celebration of independent cinema on its second day at the historic Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex. The day saw active participation from filmmakers, artists, students, and cinema enthusiasts, who gathered for a wide range of film screenings and interactive sessions.
A major highlight of the day was a special interactive session with writer-director Amit Rai, known for his work on OMG 2. During the interaction, Rai shared insights into the challenges and opportunities in contemporary filmmaking, screenwriting, and translating scripts onto the screen. Moderated by film critic and journalist Nonika Singh, the session included an Q&A with students and aspiring filmmakers. Rai was subsequently felicitated for his contributions to Indian cinema.
Masterclass and Global Film Screenings
Alongside the interactive session, a dedicated one-hour masterclass was conducted at the Conference Hall, focusing on the craft of filmmaking and production techniques. The initiative aimed to facilitate direct interaction between established directors and emerging cinema practitioners.
Screenings took place simultaneously across the MP Theatre, Gothic Theatre, and Conference Hall. The line-up featured feature films, short films, documentaries, and animation representing diverse regional languages, including Marathi, Garhwali, Manipuri, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Hindi, and Bengali.
Notable regional screenings included the Marathi feature GAMAN, directed by Manoj Madhukar Naiksatam, and the Garhwali feature Dholi, directed by Dinesh P. Bhonsle. International entries featured titles from countries such as Iran, Portugal, France, South Korea, Rwanda, Uganda, Nepal, Mexico, Brazil, China, Switzerland, and Spain. The schedule also incorporated works exploring animation and emerging cinematic tools, such as AI-assisted filmmaking.
Promoting Independent Cinema
Organised by Himalayan Velocity in collaboration with the NFDC, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and the Department of Language, Art & Culture, Himachal Pradesh, the three-day festival showcases works from 33 countries and 15 Indian states. The event continues to serve as a platform for independent directors and cross-cultural cinematic exchange.
