Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 11: The second edition of the Himachal International Film & Art Festival (HiFAF), organised by Raja Singh Malhotra and Anurag Vashisht of the Soch Foundation, is set to take place from June 13 to 15 at Devlok in Kullu. The announcement was made during a press conference on Tuesday.
This year’s festival promises a vibrant mix of over 50 films, many of which are rarely seen on mainstream platforms. Highlights include ‘A Fly on the Wall’ by Sonali Bose, ‘Second Chance’ by Subhadra Mahajan, ‘Delhi Daak’ by Diwakar Das Roy, and ‘Bunnyhood’ by Mansi Maheshwari — which will be screened shortly after its showing at the Cannes Film Festival.
Adding to the lineup are classic gems like Mirch Masala and Guide, scheduled for evening screenings, while daily sessions will run from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, as per the festival organisers.
Beyond films, this edition emphasizes art education. Over 600 school students from areas including Sheubagh and Jana will engage in workshops on body movement, fashion, theatre, acting, dance, and visual arts. A special highlight is the filmmaking workshop using mobile phones, designed to teach children how to use camera techniques and storytelling to express themselves creatively.
A dedicated team from the National School of Drama (NSD) will guide the students through these sessions, enhancing the learning experience.
HiFAF 2024 will also echo with the sounds of independent music, featuring performances by Bharat Chauhan, Osho Jain, Salman Elahi, Vismay Patel, and Dream Not Band.
Adding star power to the event, a lineup of acclaimed personalities from Indian cinema will be present, including Adil Hussain, Pratibha Ranta, Raghuvir Yadav, Ketan Mehta, Deepti Naval, Sameer Sharma, Anand Patwardhan, Deepa Shahi, and Paritosh Sand, among others.