Dharamshala (Arvind Sharma),
The acclaimed film Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and selected as India’s official entry for the 2026 Oscars, will open the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) 2025. The festival will be held in Dharamshala from October 30 to November 2.
Announcing this at a press conference today, ADM Shilpi Bekta said the festival continues its successful partnership with the Sydney Film Festival for the second consecutive year. Two celebrated Australian films and their filmmakers will also participate in this year’s edition, she added.
Bekta informed that the festival will feature a wide range of national and international films, drawing participants and audiences from across India and abroad.
Renowned filmmaker Kiran Rao will engage in a special conversation on her cinematic journey, the evolution of independent cinema, and the importance of telling bold, meaningful stories. A masterclass by acclaimed actor Adil Hussain will explore techniques for authentically portraying diverse characters across cultures.
Adding a global dimension, Andrei A. Tarkovsky, son of the legendary Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, will also attend the festival to discuss his father’s cinematic legacy.
Bekta credited Bina Paul, the festival’s programming director, for curating this year’s diverse lineup, which includes films from Bhutan, Norway, India, Canada, the UK, Ireland, the US, France, Spain, Germany, and several other countries.
Festival directors Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam stated that DIFF has now firmly established itself as one of India’s leading independent film festivals, known for celebrating creative storytelling and global cultural exchange.
