First Himachal International Film Festival was inaugurated at Sanskriti Sadan Mandi on Thursday, which would continue till June 30 .
Additional Deputy Commissioner Mandi Rohit Rathore, acclaimed actor Akhilesh Mishra, who played the role of ‘Kroor Singh” in Chnaderkanta TV serial, film actress Sapna who left her mark in films like Chillar Party, Bareilly Barfi, Janhit Mein Jari, Haseen Dilruba, Telugu film Director and Hindi film producer Aditya, film actor from Mandi Gagan Pradeep and Director of the festival – film Director Pawan Sharma, lighted a lamp to inaugurate were present on the occasion of inauguration ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion Akhilendra Mishra said, “The Himachal film festival is a very good beginning and starting it from Mandi, the cultural capital of Himachal, would be a good launching pad.”
The chief guest of the function, ADC Rohit Rathore said, “Himachal International Film Festival being organized in a city like Mandi is a matter of pride for everyone and Pawan Sharma – a local lad, who has made his name in acting and film director in Bollywood has made Mandi more famous by organizing a film festival here.”
Film festival director Pawan Sharma said in his emotional speech said,” Organizing a film festival in Mandi is like a dream coming true for me as this an effort to payback debt of his alma – mater and hoped young aspirants to learn film making and working in the film industry would draw inspiration from the festival; besides the audience would get an opportunity to watch prize winning and fabulous films not available on OTT and cinemas.”
Lifetime Achievement Awards were also conferred on writer and litterateur Prof. Sunder Lohia, writer KK Nutan, music director SD Kashyap and doyen of stage acting in Mandi Prof. Ramesh Ravi (retd) on the occasion.