Mandi ADC inaugurates 4-day film festival, 40 movies to be screened, focus on local artistes
The Newz Radar
MANDI: The four-day Himachal International Film Festival officially began on Thursday (June 27, 2024) at the Cultural Hall of Mandi city.
Organised by Kala Entertainment with support from Ratna Singh Sarraf & Sanj, this marks the first time Mandi has hosted a film festival. The event was inaugurated by Mandi ADC Rohit Rathore, with special guests actor Akhilendra Mishra and director Aditya Home in attendance.
On the first day, four notable personalities from Mandi district were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards. These included Sundar Lohia and Krishan Kumar Nutan for their contributions to literature, Som Dev Kashyap for his work in music and renowned theatre artiste Prof Ramesh Ravi. They were presented with shawls, caps, mementos and cash prizes. Actor Akhilendra Mishra commended the organisers for initiating such an event in Mandi. He noted that efforts by local businessman Raja Singh Malhotra, renowned director Pawan Sharma and others from Kala Entertainment and Ratna Singh Sarraf & Sanj could pave the way for more opportunities for art enthusiasts if replicated in other cities.
ADC Rathore, who attended the festival as the chief guest, congratulated the organisers. He stated that this first-of-its-kind event would provide audiences with the chance to watch rare films and offer local artistes valuable learning opportunities. This is a matter of pride for Himachal Pradesh, particularly Mandi.
Organiser Raja Singh Malhotra addressed the audience, stating that the purpose of starting Kala Entertainment is to provide a platform for individuals working in the arts to showcase their talent. Additionally, the festival aims to highlight the effort and teamwork involved in filmmaking. He assured that such initiatives would continue in the future.
During the festival, actor Akhilendra Mishra, director Aditya Home and artistes Sapna Sand, Gagan Pradeep Sharma and Pihu were also honoured. Forty films are being screened free of charge during this four-day film festival.
