The Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Sikkim, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, and the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), will organise the first edition of the Sikkim International Film Festival (SIFF) from March 19–22 in Gangtok.
The four-day festival will showcase a curated programme of national and international cinema, bringing together filmmakers, artists, critics and audiences while positioning Sikkim as an emerging destination for filmmaking and cultural exchange.
The initiative reflects the Government of Sikkim’s growing focus on strengthening the State’s creative and cultural industries under the leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. The festival is envisioned as a step towards expanding opportunities in film, culture and the creative economy.
The festival programme will include screenings across several sections such as Indian Panorama, World Cinema, Documentary Cinema, a Special Focus on North East India, and a showcase of AI-driven cinema. A total of 42 films from 19 countries will be screened, including 15 international premieres, presenting a diverse range of storytelling traditions from around the world.
The festival will open with Boong, a Manipuri film by BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Laxmipriya Devi. The programme will also feature a Gala Presentation of the Malayalam film Anomie and the Nepali film Bokshi, with members of the lead cast and crew expected to attend the screenings.
Filmmakers and crew members from the official selection will engage with audiences through post-screening Q&A sessions. The festival will also host more than 40 industry professionals—including producers, actors, journalists and distributors—who will participate in the SIFF Market and industry discussions.
A key component of the festival is the SIFF Market organised in collaboration with Creative Economy Forum, which aims to encourage collaboration between filmmakers and industry professionals while highlighting emerging stories and talent from the Himalayan region. Over two days, the market will host masterclasses, fireside conversations and industry panels.
Among the participating industry professionals are filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, actor Roshan Mathew, actor Abhishek Banerjee, producer Nitin Tej Ahuja, COO Dharma Cornerstone Artists Agency Rajeev Masand, along with actor Bhavna Menon, producer and distributor Ranjan Singh, film producer Jomon Jacob, actor Shubhangi Dutt and producer Mohit Choudhury, among others.
Annapurna Alley, Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department and Festival Director, said, “The Sikkim International Film Festival is envisioned not only as a celebration of cinema but also as an important step towards positioning Sikkim as a destination for storytelling, creative collaboration and cultural exchange.”
Yougan Tamang, Press Secretary to the Chief Minister and PR & Communications Head of the festival, said, “The festival creates an important platform for filmmakers, artists, students and audiences to engage with cinema while opening new opportunities for local talent and strengthening Sikkim’s presence in the national and international film landscape.”
The festival will take place across multiple venues in Gangtok and will feature screenings, discussions, masterclasses and industry interactions over four days.
Supriya Suri, Artistic Director of the Sikkim International Film Festival, who leads the festival’s curatorial and industry vision, said in a statement, “The vision is to bring filmmakers, producers, distributors and cultural institutions together, curating cinema that positions Sikkim as a vibrant meeting point for creative exchange across the Himalayan region.”
