Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Sept 13: Ladakh International Film Festival (LIFF) was jointly organized by Minister for Urban Development, Nawang Rigzin Jora, veteran Bollywood lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh Rigzin Spalbar today at Sindhu Sanskriti Kendra Leh amid galaxy of personalities from all walks of life.
The 3-day festival being organized for second consecutive year features an elaborate programme ranging from screening famous international, national and local films and documentaries of selected films. To inspire the Ladakhi filmmakers, selected local films under special Ladakh section are also being screened.
Nawang Rigzin Jora in his address expressed immense pleasure and joy over organizing such an important and successful event for second year in succession, and he felt that Ladakh being chosen as the venue for such international film festival is a matter of great pride for J&K in general and Ladakh in particular.
Minister said, “Cinema in general had great impact on Ladakh’s economy in terms of attracting tourists in large number particularly after the film “3 Idiots” which was shot in Ladakh, and great film personalities like Gulzar, Aparna Sen, Vishal Bharadwaj and Rakysh Om Prakash visiting this region only reinforces such development”.
He expressed hope that the filmmakers would continue to consider Ladakh an ideal place for shooting their forthcoming projects, which he said would ultimately help in the growth of Ladakh’s economy. He expressed gratitude for having such an important event organized in Ladakh by a team led by Melvyn, the festival director.
On the occasion, CEC Rigzin Spalbar urged upon the filmmakers to choose this as an important theme in their future ventures. The other objective of holding the LIFF here is an attempt to bring Ladakh on the map of world tourist destination so as to make it an important destination for national and international filmmakers besides it is for the local aspirants to learn a great deal from such experiences, he added. Spalbar appreciated the spirit of Melvyn and Meghna in making the festival a great success with primary objective to sensitize the people about the significance of clean and unique environment through the medium of cinema.
Gulzar in his address expressed joy over participating in such an event being held at an altitude considered as the highest in the world. He said, it is a beginning of a new era of opportunities wherein the young filmmakers particularly from Ladakh could explore new ideas. He was also happy for his debut film “Mere Apnay” being screened as the premiere show of the festival.
The festival was also attended by Afghanistan Ambassador in India Rabdali and he felt that the cinema is an important medium or significant cultural exchanges and reviving historical ties.
Renowned filmmakers such as Arpana Sen, Vishal Bardwaj, Rakysh Om Prakash also spoke on the occasion and praised the unique beauty of Ladakh. They expressed hope to make best use of their experience to this highest altitude location in their future projects.
The Festival Director Melvyn in his welcome address said that LIFF apart from making Ladakh a hub of International films committed to preserve the fragile ecology of this isolated region by sensitizing the younger generations through an online social campaign.
The Executive Councillor Agri. Sonam Dorjey, Executive Councillor Tourism, Mohammad Shafi Lassu, MLC, Narbu Gyalchan, former MP, P. Namgyal, Councillors, DC, Leh, Simrandeep Singh, SP, Leh, Vivek Gupta, film personalities, films makers from Bollywood and local film industry and top ranking civil officers attended the inaugural function.
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