Dharamshala: Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration attended the opening night of the 15th Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) as the chief guest on Wednesday evening at Hermann Gmeiner Hall, Tibetan Children’s Village School, Upper Dharamshala.
During the event, Sikyong began his speech by congratulating Tenzing Sonam and Ritu Sarin, founders of the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF), for their 15 years of dedicated efforts in sustaining and organising the festival. He also warmly welcomed the guests attending the festival and visiting Dharamshala, the exile home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
Highlighting the role of Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School, Sikyong noted its vital contribution to educating and nurturing generations of Tibetan children in exile, many of whom have grown up, studied and lived in India, with some going on to serve in the Central Tibetan Administration. He also reflected on the many children who have spent years away from their parents and families in Tibet, growing up and pursuing their education in exile without seeing their loved ones for extended periods.
Sikyong briefly recounted the early years of the Tibetan exile community, its current demographic census and introduced the Central Tibetan Administration, highlighting its democratic system of governance established under the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He also emphasised Tibet’s global environmental significance, particularly its rivers and its importance as the “Third Pole.”
Speaking about cinema and language, Sikyong shared that watching Hindi films had helped him improve his Hindi. Having been born and raised in South India, he said he considered himself a Kannadiga and could also speak a little Tamil and Kannada. He further spoke of his emotional connection to Tibet, explaining that he sometimes visits India’s border regions, including Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, to catch a glimpse of Tibet from across the border.
Concluding his speech, Sikyong encouraged festival attendees to visit the Central Tibetan Administration and explore The Tibet Museum during their stay in Dharamshala. He also highlighted the festival’s contribution to the local economy, noting that DIFF brings “economic vibrancy” to the region. While local businesses benefited from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s presence in Dharamshala, Sikyong said the film festival helped transform this dynamic by bringing renewed activity and visitors to the town.
Following Sikyong’s address, renowned Tibetan artist Techung performed a traditional song, accompanied on stage by students from Tibetan Children’s Village School, who joined him in singing Never Lose Courage. The performance was followed by the screening of Not a Hero, directed by Rima Das, as the opening-night feature film of DIFF.
