Dev Bhoomi International Film Festival
Where Cinema Meets the Land of the Gods
A celebration of independent cinema set against the extraordinary landscapes of Himachal Pradesh.
Festival Structure & Filmmaker Experience
Dev Bhoomi International Film Festival (DBIFF) is an annual film festival held in the culturally rich and picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Following the successful completion of its inaugural edition, DBIFF returns for its second edition, continuing its mission of bringing independent filmmakers, cinema lovers, artists, industry professionals, and local audiences together through the shared experience of cinema.
DBIFF is designed as more than an awards event. It is a physical, filmmaker-focused film festival where officially selected films are presented to live audiences and filmmakers have opportunities to interact, exchange ideas, celebrate their work, and experience the culture and hospitality of Himachal Pradesh.
Festival Structure
The festival is anticipated to include:
Opening Ceremony
Welcoming participating filmmakers, guests, jury members, artists, and audiences.
Official Film Screenings
Featuring selected feature films, short films, documentaries, animation, music videos, and other eligible categories from India and around the world.
Filmmaker Interactions & Q&A Sessions
Wherever participating filmmakers are available, allowing audiences to engage directly with the people behind the films.
Panel Discussions and Conversations on Cinema
Bringing together filmmakers, artists, writers, technicians, and other industry professionals to exchange ideas and experiences.
Networking Opportunities
Where participating filmmakers can meet fellow creators, jury members, guests, and cinema enthusiasts in an informal and welcoming festival environment.
Cultural Experiences
Introducing visiting filmmakers and guests to the traditions, arts, people, and unique character of Himachal Pradesh.
Awards & Recognition Ceremony
Celebrating outstanding films and achievements across the festival's announced categories.
Closing Ceremony
Bringing filmmakers, guests, organizers, and audiences together to conclude and celebrate the festival.
The Team
Festival Founder
Pawan Sharma
Festival Programming Director
Subhransu Das
Esteemed Guests
Distinguished Guests of Honour
Rajesh Jais
Rajesh Jais, a talented Indian actor, has showcased his versatility in films like "Tu Jhoothi Mai Makkar," "Mili," "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi," "Rocket Singh," "Airlift," and "Raazi." He also starred in acclaimed web series such as "Scam 1992," "Paatal Lok," "Panchayat," and "Rana Naidu," earning critical acclaim.
Aditya Shrivastav
Aditya Srivastava is an Indian actor known for his role as Senior Inspector Abhijeet in C.I.D. He has starred in films like "Satya," "Gulaal," "Lakshya," "Paanch," "Black Friday," "Kaalo," "Super 30," and "Dil Se Pooch Kidhar Jana Hai."
Sanjay Mishra
Sanjay Mishra is a versatile Indian actor known for his exceptional comic timing and profound performances in films like Ankhon Dekhi and Masaan. With a career spanning over two decades, he has become a respected figure in both Bollywood and independent cinema, celebrated for his unique and impactful roles.
Hemant Pandey
Hemant Pandey is a celebrated Indian actor and comedian renowned for his memorable portrayal of "Pandeyji" in the iconic television series Office Office. With a career spanning television, films, theatre, and stand-up comedy, he has entertained audiences with his exceptional comic timing, versatility, and authentic performances in projects such as Krrish, Ready, and Yaariyan.
Recognition
Awards & Honours
Dev Bhoomi Lifetime Excellence Awardees — celebrating extraordinary contributions to art, culture and literature.
Dev Bhoomi Lifetime Excellence Awardee
Murari Sharma
Dev Bhoomi Lifetime Excellence Awardee
Birbal Sharma
Dev Bhoomi Lifetime Excellence Awardee
Prof. Shukla Sharma
Dev Bhoomi Lifetime Excellence Awardee
Ganga Ram Raji
Dev Bhoomi Lifetime Excellence Awardee
Revati Saini
Dev Bhoomi Lifetime Excellence Awardee
Umesh Bharadwaj
Dev Bhoomi Lifetime Excellence Awardee
Nand Lal Chandel
What Filmmakers Can Expect
For DBIFF, filmmakers are not simply submission numbers. We want filmmakers whose work becomes part of the festival to feel that they are participants in a celebration of cinema.
Selected filmmakers can expect their work to be considered for presentation within a professionally organized festival environment, alongside films representing different regions, languages, cultures, and cinematic perspectives.
Filmmakers attending the festival will have opportunities to meet audiences, interact with other filmmakers, participate in conversations and networking activities, attend festival screenings and ceremonies, and experience Himachal Pradesh beyond the screening venue.
Our aim is to create an atmosphere where emerging filmmakers can share the same platform with experienced professionals and where meaningful conversations can continue beyond the cinema hall.
A Festival in the Dev Bhoomi
The identity of DBIFF is closely connected with its home.
Himachal Pradesh is popularly known as "Dev Bhoomi" — the Land of the Gods. Surrounded by mountains, temples, traditional communities, art, music, and extraordinary landscapes, the region provides a distinctive setting for filmmakers and audiences to come together.
DBIFF aims to gradually develop into an annual destination for independent cinema — a festival where filmmakers come not only to screen their films and receive recognition, but also to meet, exchange ideas, discover new stories, experience Himachal Pradesh, and build lasting creative relationships.
Following the successful completion of our first edition, we look forward to welcoming filmmakers and cinema lovers to the second edition of Dev Bhoomi International Film Festival and continuing to build a festival community that grows stronger every year.