The Himalayan Film Festival 2023: "Jaane Jaan" and "Last Days of Summer" To Be Opening Films

The Himalayan Film Festival 2023:

The Himalayan Film Festival is all set to bring together the best of Indian cinema for audiences from September 29th to October 3rd, 2023, in Leh.

The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 is organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) of the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh, in collaboration with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh.

The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 has now announced the opening of the festival with a double bill: Netflix India's "Jaane Jaan," directed by Sujoy Ghosh, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Vijay Varma, and Ladakhi short film "Last Days of Summer," directed by Stenzin Tankong.

After an overwhelming response at the International Film Festival of India and the New York Indian Film Festival, Avinash Arun Dhaware’s "Three of Us," starring Shefali Shah, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Swanand Kirkire, will be the closing film at the film festival.

Director Sujoy Ghosh said, “It’s an honour to be a part of The Himalayan Film Festival 2023. As fellow warriors, we all must be inspired by the efforts of THFF and similar festivals to take films to every part of the world. That is so fantastic, and we should all walk together because nothing unites us more than a good film. My film Jaane Jaan, which is slated to release on Netflix India, will be screened at the festival, and I could not be happier."

The leading lady, Kareena Kapoor Khan, shared, "I am super excited that Jaane Jaan by Netflix India is going to screen at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 in Ladakh, which happens to be one of my most favourite places. It's an absolutely wonderful place, and I have such a deep connection with it."

Jaideep Ahlawat added, "I am so happy that my film, Jaane Jaan by Netflix India, is the opening film of this amazing film festival. I’m sure you will love the entire film—the cast, the location, my look in the film, and the story. We have worked so hard on this film, and I hope you will love it."

Vijay Varma expressed, "I’m so excited that my film Jaane Jaan by Netflix India is opening the wonderful The Himalayan Film Festival 2023. It was an honour to work with such an incredible cast and crew, and I can’t wait for all of you to watch this film."

Stenzin Tankong, director and co-producer of Last Days of Summer, added, "No honour is bigger, and no platform is more important than my home here in Ladakh to showcase my film. The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 is my home. The film deals with real issues that my community faces due to climate change. The nomadic culture of Changthang is on the brink of extinction. I would like for the world to come together in understanding our issues, issues of one of the remotest regions, the rarest of cultures and heritage of India, and the world at large."

Avinash Arun Dhaware, director of Three of Us, said, "I am extremely happy and elated to be a part of The Himalayan Film Festival 2023. This will be my first trip to Leh, Ladakh. And what could be a better opportunity for me to visit this beautiful, spiritually enlightened land than with the screening of my film, Three Of Us, which is extremely personal to me for many reasons. I am looking forward to interacting, receiving, and celebrating the spirit of Ladakh and its people."

Shefali Shah, starring in Three of Us, said, “Three of Us is extremely close to my heart. It's a very delicate film, and we put our heart and soul into making this film; there is no other way of creating this beautiful piece of art. I hope you all feel all that we felt while creating this film."