Dharamshala’s week long online film fest: six of the Oscar entries for 2021 the main draw

In some happy news for the cinephiles, Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) will launch its year-round programme for 2021 with the DIFF Virtual Viewing Room: Films from the Oscar Season. The week-long programme that runs for one week, from April 2 to 8 2021 is being organised in collaboration with Gratitude Films Inc. The films are available for pre-sales individually or as part of an ‘All Films Pass’ on online.diff.co.in

The selection of six films curated by well-known festival programmer, consultant and producer, Anu Rangachar, are the official entries to the 2021 Oscars with some of them having been shortlisted and nominated. The lineup includes Apples (dir. Christos Nikou|Greece), Atlantis (dir. Valentyn Vasyanovich|Ukraine), The Dissident (dir. Bryan Fogel|USA), Night of the Kings (dir. Philippe Lacôte|Ivory Coast), Quo Vadis, Aida? (dir. Jasmila Žbanic|Bosnia), and Two of Us (dir. Filippo Meneghetti|France).

Apples premiered at the Venice International Film Festival 2020, screened at Toronto International Film Festival and was Greece’s official Oscar entry for the Best International Feature category.

Atlantis is the winner of the Best Film in the Horizons section at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival. The film screened at Toronto International Film Festival, the International Film Festival of Rotterdam, and was Ukraine’s official Oscar entry for the Best International Feature Film category.

The Dissident had its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was shortlisted for the Best Feature Documentary for the 2021 Oscars.

Night of the Kings premiered at the 2020 Venice International Film Festival, won the Amplify Voices Award at 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, featured in the Spotlight section of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, screened at the 2020 New York Film Festival, won the Youth Jury Award at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam and was Ivory Coast’s official Oscar entry for the Best International Feature Film category.

Quo Vadis, Aida? is nominated in the Best International Feature Film category of the 2021 Oscars. The film premiered at the 2020 Venice International Film Festival, screened at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, and won the Audience award at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam.

Two of Us premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, screened at the BFI London Film Festival and the International Film Festival of Rotterdam and was France’s official Oscar entry for the Best International Feature Film category.

Speaking about the first screening package for DIFF Virtual Viewing Room, Festival Director Ritu Sarin said, “As the pandemic continues to rage across the world, DIFF is programming a series of online film packages throughout the year so that our audiences can continue to have the opportunity to watch a wide range of films from the comfort of their homes. We’re really excited to be collaborating with Gratitude Films Inc., and long-term DIFF friend and supporter, veteran film programmer Anu Rangachar, who has curated the initial offering of six outstanding films from the Oscar season.”

Talking further about this collaboration, Anu Rangachar added, “I launched my company Gratitude Films during the pandemic and I am excited to be collaborating towards this programme of the DIFF Virtual Viewing Room to bring some of the most talked about Oscar contenders this year from around the world to audiences in India.”