Dehradun (Uttarakhand), June 15: The second edition of the Himachal International Film and Art Festival (HiFAF) kicked off with great enthusiasm in Devlok near Manali, offering a vibrant blend of cinema, creativity, and community participation.
One of the key highlights of the three-day festival was a special initiative involving over 350 school children, including 50 special needs students. The organisers provided hands-on workshops in filmmaking, dance, acting, modelling, costume design, and even mobile phone cinematography.
The young participants were also taken on a guided tour of the festival setup and engaged in live film screenings, giving them direct exposure to the cinematic world. A unique mud sculpting activity allowed them to express their creativity by shaping figures on a mud wall.
HiFAF founders Raja Singh Malhotra and Anurag Vashisht emphasized that the initiative aimed to inspire and educate the next generation about careers in film and the arts.
Children like Rashita Singh, Nenika Gupta, and special needs students Dharmendra Kumar and Raksha shared how the experience broadened their understanding of the industry.
The festival was inaugurated by Vivek Bhatia, Managing Director of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, who praised the event for promoting Himachal Pradesh’s cultural identity and nurturing young filmmakers. He was honoured at the event by the festival founders with a traditional shawl, cap, and memento.
Celebrities including Ketan Mehta, Raghuveer Yadav, Deepti Naval, Pratibha Ranta, Sameer Sharma, and Saqib Ayub graced the event, adding star power to the cultural celebration.
Organisers also announced plans to scale up future editions of HiFAF, aiming to make it a major platform for creative talent from Himachal and beyond.