Busan Winner ‘Birds in the Dark’ to Close Dharamshala International Film Festival, Varun Grover’s ‘Damned’ Among New Titles

The Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) is preparing for a landmark 15th edition, bringing an eclectic and globally diverse celebration of independent cinema to the majestic mountains of northern India. Organizers have announced that Shashank Walia’s critically acclaimed debut feature, “Birds in the Dark,” will serve as the closing film of the festival, receiving its highly anticipated India premiere. The festival is scheduled to run from October 29 to November 1 at the picturesque Tibetan Children’s Village in Upper Dharamshala, a venue that has long served as the spiritual and physical home for the cinematic gathering.

“Birds in the Dark” offers a gripping narrative centered on a call center executive whose life takes a dangerous and surreal turn when a police informer mistakenly identifies him as a criminal suspect. The tension-filled drama has already begun making waves on the international festival circuit, having recently secured two prestigious prizes at the Busan International Film Festival earlier this month. Its selection as the closing night film underscores DIFF’s ongoing mission to spotlight bold, breakout talents in contemporary independent filmmaking.

The landmark 15th edition promises an expansive and thought-provoking program that bridges local narratives with international perspectives. Previously announced highlights include Rima Das’s “Not a Hero,” which is set to open the festival with its South Asia premiere. Das, known for her deeply authentic and intimate storytelling, brings another compelling work to the mountains, setting the tone for a four-day celebration of uncompromising cinema.

As the festival dates approach, organizers have unveiled a robust roster of additional feature-length titles, documentaries, and shorts that further enrich this year’s lineup. Among the new additions is “A Fox Under a Pink Moon,” a collaborative project by renowned Iranian filmmaker Mehrdad Oskouei and Afghan artist Soraya Akhlaghi. The film intimately documents Akhlaghi’s arduous journey and persistent attempts to cross borders and reach her mother in Austria, capturing themes of displacement, family, and resilience.

Also featured in the lineup is Paromita Vohra’s “Working Girls,” a documentary project that turns its lens toward the diverse, essential, and frequently overlooked labor performed by women across various sectors in India. By highlighting these invisible economic contributions, Vohra’s film engages with vital social discourse, a hallmark of the documentary curation at DIFF.

Audiences will also be treated to the South Asia premiere of Yashasvi Juyal’s “The Ink Stained Hand and The Missing Thumb.” Unfolding against the moody backdrop of a lonely highway toll booth in northern India, the narrative explores how sudden encounters with grief and lingering memory can shatter the monotony of daily routine. Continuing the exploration of the region’s dramatic landscapes, Ridham Janve’s “Hunter’s Moon” brings cinematic storytelling directly to the Upper Dhauladhar range, embedding its narrative deeply within the majestic geography that hosts the festival.

The shorts section of the festival boasts an equally compelling array of titles, anchored by the world premiere of Aastha Tiku’s “Dreamboat.” The program is further strengthened by Arun Fulara’s “Hudke ki Pyaang Pyaang” and Varun Grover’s “Damned,” showcasing the breadth of short-form storytelling thriving in the contemporary Indian independent scene.

Bina Paul, the festival’s director of programming, reflected on the curatorial philosophy that has sustained DIFF over its decade-and-a-half history. Curation has always been at the heart of DIFF, Paul explained, noting that the selection committee continually searches for distinctive voices, boundary-pushing filmmaking, and cinematic works that open up new ways of seeing and thinking. Over the years, this careful and considered approach has allowed DIFF to build a program that remains wonderfully diverse in geography, form, and subject matter, while staying entirely true to its foundational commitment to independent cinema.

The broader international and regional lineup features an impressive array of acclaimed titles. Oliver Laxe’s “Sirāt,” Shaunak Sen’s “Termite,” Gurvinder Singh’s “Rehmat,” Sara Dosa’s “Time and Water,” Dennis Harvey and Lars Lovén’s “Celtic Utopia,” and Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi’s “Shadowbox” are all part of the carefully curated roster. Notably, Shaunak Sen’s “Termite” is set to make its Asia premiere at the festival, while Gurvinder Singh’s “Rehmat” will have its India premiere, offering audiences exclusive first-look opportunities at some of the year’s most talked-about art-house works.

Beyond the screening rooms, DIFF continues to invest heavily in the future of regional filmmaking and community engagement. The festival’s Himalayan Film Fellows initiative, backed this year by Arthshila, is actively working with seven emerging filmmakers from the Indian Himalayan Region. These talented creators are being mentored on the development of their debut or sophomore fiction features by industry luminaries Dechen Roder, Umesh Kulkarni, and Dominic Sangma. This incubator program reinforces the festival’s dedication to nurturing indigenous voices from the mountain regions where the event takes place.

In addition to supporting aspiring directors, DIFF maintains a deep commitment to local audiences who may not typically have access to independent cinema. Partnering with the Royal Enfield Social Mission, the festival is successfully completing 24 community screenings around the Kangra district this year. These grassroots screenings have reached diverse local venues, including schools, nunneries, and even the district jail, bringing the communal magic of film to corners of society that are often isolated from mainstream cultural events.

The festival was originally founded in 2012 by independent filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, who envisioned a cultural hub in the foothills of the Himalayas where cinema could be experienced collectively and meaningfully. When they started DIFF, their goal was to create a space in Dharamshala where independent films could be experienced in a communal setting, and where filmmakers and audiences could spend time with each other far beyond the confines of the screening room.

Reflecting on the milestone 15th edition, Sarin and Sonam expressed their enduring enthusiasm for the project. Fifteen years later, that very spirit remains at the heart of the festival, they noted. They added that they are thrilled to welcome everyone back to the mountains for this year’s landmark edition, which honors both the journey of the past decade and a half and the vibrant future of independent cinema.

The 15th Dharamshala International Film Festival runs from October 29 to November 1 at the Tibetan Children’s Village in Upper Dharamshala, drawing cinephiles, directors, and artists from across the globe to the serene heights of the Indian Himalayas.