Says Cinema Serves as a Powerful Medium of Cultural Exchange and Social Dialogue
Awards Ceremony Marks Grand Finale of Three-Day Celebration of Global, National and Regional Cinema
Governor Shri Kavinder Gupta presented awards to winning filmmakers at the prestigious Awards Ceremony of the 12th International Film Festival of Shimla (IFFS), marking the grand culmination of the three-day celebration of cinema at the historic Gaiety Cultural Complex, Shimla.The Governor honoured filmmakers whose works were selected for recognition across the International, National and State categories, celebrating excellence in documentary, short film, animation, student cinema and emerging forms of filmmaking, including AI-generated cinema.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor congratulated all the award-winning filmmakers and participants and appreciated the festival for providing a platform where filmmakers from different countries, Indian states and diverse cultural backgrounds could come together and share their stories with audiences.The Awards Ceremony brought together filmmakers, delegates, film enthusiasts, students and cinema lovers, providing a fitting conclusion to the 12th edition of the festival.
Shri Kavinder Gupta said that the participation of films from different parts of India, Indian languages and various countries had given the festival a truly international character, while its focus on regional and Indian-language cinema reflected the country’s rich cultural diversity. He added that Himachal Pradesh, with its rich folk traditions, music, dance, handicrafts and natural beauty, offered immense possibilities for filmmakers, making such a festival in Shimla an important platform to showcase the State’s cultural identity to the country and the world.
The Governor appreciated the festival’s emphasis on interactions between filmmakers and audiences, master classes and knowledge exchange, particularly for young filmmakers and students. He said that while digital technology and new media platforms had opened new opportunities for young talent to take their stories to a wider audience, originality, social sensitivity and creative integrity remained equally important. Congratulating the organisers, partner institutions, film selection team and all those associated with the festival, he expressed hope that the International Film Festival Shimla would continue to connect filmmakers from India and across the world, provide a wider platform to Himachal’s cultural heritage and encourage emerging talent. He said the success of a film festival should also be measured by the new ideas and meaningful dialogues it creates, and expressed the hope that Shimla would continue to emerge as an important centre for creativity, culture and dialogue on world cinema.
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
The third and final day of IFFS featured a diverse line-up of international, national and regional films across three screening sessions.The morning session showcased 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 an eclectic selection of 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 a wide range of themes, from culture and human relationships to social realities, environment and contemporary forms of storytelling.
