Filmmakers, cinema enthusiasts and audiences engage with compelling stories from India and across the world at Gaiety Cultural Complex
Shimla, September 26, 2026:
The 12th International Film Festival Shimla (IFFS 2K26) continued its vibrant celebration of independent cinema on the second day of the three-day festival at the historic Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex, Shimla.
Day Two brought together filmmakers, artists, students, film enthusiasts and audiences for a diverse cinematic experience featuring feature films, short films, documentaries and animation from India and several countries across the world. The day’s programme also featured an engaging interactive session with acclaimed writer-director Amit Rai, along with a dedicated masterclass on the craft and practice of filmmaking.
One of the major highlights of the day was a special interactive session with writer-director Amit Rai, known for directing and writing the critically discussed film OMG 2.
During the session, Rai spoke about the challenges and possibilities of contemporary filmmaking, the importance of storytelling, writing for the screen and translating a script into a compelling cinematic experience. He also interacted with students, aspiring filmmakers and members of the audience, responding to questions about filmmaking, creative choices and the changing landscape of Indian cinema. The session was moderated by noted journalist and Film Critic Nonika Singh.The session was followed by a felicitation ceremony honouring Amit Rai for his contribution to Indian cinema.
A dedicated one-hour masterclass was also organised at the Conference Hall, providing cinema enthusiasts and emerging filmmakers an opportunity to explore various aspects of film production and storytelling.The masterclass formed an important part of IFFS’s ongoing effort to create opportunities for learning and direct interaction between established filmmakers and the next generation of cinema practitioners.
The second day featured screenings across MP Theatre, Gothic Theatre and Conference Hall, presenting films representing different languages, cultures, genres and cinematic approaches.
At MP Theatre, the morning session featured films including The Mushrooms by Srija Barua Nalawade, Coal Diggers of India by Ashutosh Popat Jare, Toy Gun by Parshuram Thingnam, Eet Ki Deodhi by Vaishnavi Shrivastava, Koutuhol (Curiosity) by Anindita Naskar, The Rusty Fish by Milad Fathiani, Hope by Ramu Kannan and Kakori by Kamlesh Mishra.
The afternoon programme included The Genesis of Rasa by Harish K M, Tenfa by Nihaarika Thungz Negi, Chupi Rah by Disha Bhardwaj, Raanphool (Wildflower) by Preitesh Pramod Ghag, The Crow’s Requiem by Samraat Rohit Thakur, Echoes of the Last Shelter by Rajesh Bhatia and Bharat Arora, Halgi by Rohit Ravindra Jadhav, Dry Bushes by Mohammad Niloofar, Paswaar (Caress Me) by Shayar Kamal Gandhi, Showtime by Lam Can-zhao, Schist, A Precious Stone by Rui Russo and We Shall Go to Viana by Flávio Cruz.
The Gothic Theatre programme opened with documentaries and short films including Beyond the Genocide by Zion Sulaiman Mukasa Matovu, Survival on a Living River by Rajen Das, Blue Sadness by Phil Good, Coexistence by Myungson Chung, Farewellday by Farzad Ranjbar-Nazari, Milo by Venkatesh Balasubramanian, Where Hope Stands Tall by Pradip Pokhrel and The Dots of a Case by Rana Sajjadi.
The afternoon session featured the Marathi feature film GAMAN, directed by Manoj Madhukar Naiksatam, and the Garhwali feature film Dholi, directed by Dinesh P. Bhonsle. These were followed by short films including The End of Times by Diego Guareño Genesta, The End by Ajitesh Sharma, The Alter Echo by Santanu Biswas and Beyond the Door by Carolina D’Antas.
The Conference Hall hosted the masterclass and a special documentary showcase. The documentary programme included Harvest Party at Camp Two by Reaa Puri, Coming Home by Sriya Sarkar, The Last Resort by Sarita Khurana, Friends of Jilipibala by Debalina Majumder, Our Body Ours by Sonali Gulati, A Matter of Faith by Elber Xavier and Alandroal Border Village by Rui Russo.
The diverse programming on Day Two reflected the central spirit of IFFS — bringing together cinematic voices from different regions, languages and cultural backgrounds on a common platform.
From independent Indian productions in Hindi, Marathi, Garhwali, Manipuri, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati and Bengali to films from Iran, Portugal, France, South Korea, Rwanda, Uganda, Nepal, Mexico, Brazil, China, Switzerland and Spain, the day’s screenings offered audiences an opportunity to experience a broad spectrum of contemporary filmmaking.The festival also continued to provide space for animation and emerging cinematic technologies, including AI-based filmmaking, alongside conventional documentary and narrative forms.
Organised by Himalayan Velocity in collaboration with NFDC, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Department of Language, Art & Culture, Government of Himachal Pradesh, International Film Festival Shimla is dedicated to creating a platform for independent filmmakers, encouraging meaningful audience engagement and promoting cinematic exchange between India and the international filmmaking community. The festival’s three-day programme at the historic Gaiety Cultural Complex features films from 33 countries and 15 Indian states, alongside masterclasses, filmmaker interactions and special sessions with noted personalities from the world of cinema.
