1) Where does the festival take place?
The festival takes place at the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) in Upper Dharamshala. You can type ‘Tibetan Children’s Village’ on Google Maps and it will lead you straight there. Alternatively, you can find the location pin here.
You can consult the map of the festival premises here. If you want to know more about how to reach Dharamshala you can jump to the bottom of this page.
2) When does the festival take place? What are the general timings?
DIFF 2024 runs from 7 to 10 November.
The box office at the venue will open at 9 am and the day’s first screening will begin at 10:00 am. The last screening will end at around 9 pm.
3) How many screens are there?
There are a total of 4 screens at the festival. These are: Hermann Gmeiner Hall, Dekyi Tsering Hall, PictureTime 1 (Basketball Court) and PictureTime 2 (Football Ground).
4) Are there live events/ panels apart from the film screenings?
Yes, in addition to film screenings, DIFF hosts panel discussions, workshops and Q&As with filmmakers. Schedule coming soon.
5) Are there parking spots at the venue?
There is no parking within the TCV campus, but there are parking spots within 500m from TCV; near the Dal Lake and the parking area just down Satobari Road. However, we cannot guarantee parking availability and therefore recommend that you take public transport, including buses, autos and taxis that ply from McLeod Ganj to TCV.
6) Is there an auto/taxi service at the venue?
There is a local auto and taxi stand at Dal Lake, which is within walking distance from TCV.
7) Is smoking allowed inside the venue?
Since TCV is a functioning, residential school, smoking is not permitted inside the premises.
8) Can I volunteer at the festival?
DIFF is proud to be a volunteer-run festival. Every year, film enthusiasts from around the world join us in Dharamshala to put together an amazing festival. However, the application for the volunteer programme has closed for this year.
9) What are the different passes available? Can I upgrade my pass at the venue?
The different passes are Student Pass, Delegate Pass, Special Delegate Pass and DIFF Supporter Pass. Further details about these can be found here.
You can upgrade your pass at the venue by approaching the box office at any point in the festival.
10) Can I purchase a pass in person?
Yes, the box office at the venue opens at 9 am on all four days of the festival. Additionally, there will be a box office booth at M Hotel near McLeod Ganj Square from 5-6th November onwards, which will be operational between 10 am and 5 pm.
11) Are passes transferable?
Unfortunately, DIFF tickets are not transferable once bought.
12) Can I reserve a seat in advance?
There is no reserved seating for delegates. Special Delegate and DIFF Supporter Pass holders have priority access to the theatres on a first-come first-serve basis.
13) Do I have to book tickets for each film individually?
Any of the four DIFF passes give patrons access to all film screenings. In order to attend a screening, you only have to queue up at the screening hall.
14) Will all films be subtitled? In which language(s)?
All non-English films screened at DIFF will have English subtitles.
15) Can I bring my own food/ beverages to the screening?
DIFF offers a wide selection of food and beverage stalls at the venue, but patrons are requested not to take any of these inside the screening spaces.
16) How disability/ accessibility friendly is the venue?
The venue for DIFF 2024 is spread across a fairly large hilly terrain, so if you need assistance, please contact us beforehand so we can accommodate your requirements as best as possible.
17) Does DIFF have a safe space policy?
DIFF is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive space where everyone’s safety is valued. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory behaviour, abuse, harassment and assault. To find out more, please see our Safe Space Policy.
GETTING THERE
Dharamshala/McLeod Ganj is accessible via various forms of transport:
By Air:
The nearest airport is Kangra-Gaggal Airport (also known Dharamshala Airport), approximately 50 minutes by car to McLeod Ganj. It is served by regular flights from Delhi, Kullu and Chandigarh. Please note that flights can be exorbitantly priced during high season.
Amritsar has regular flights and is approximately a 5-hour drive from McLeod Ganj.
Chandigarh is another option and is approximately a 6.5 hour drive to McLeod Ganj.
By Train:
The railheads – Amb Andaura (2h 50 mins away by taxi) and Pathankot (3h 10 mins away by taxi) – are the closest to the venue. There is a convenient Vande Bharat express train that starts from Delhi at 5:50 AM and reaches Amb Andaura at 11:05 AM.
By Bus:
Dharamshala/McLeod Ganj is well-connected to the following cities:
Delhi (490 km)
Pathankot (90 km)
Jalandhar (193 km)
Amritsar (200 km)
Shimla (241 km)
Super-Deluxe Volvo buses make the nightly Delhi-Dharamshala and Dharamshala-Delhi run, a journey of around nine hours. There are multiple private and government-run buses available. We recommend DIFF’s travel partners, Bedi Travels, who run a fleet of comfortable, modern buses.
Contact: ops.beditravels@gmail.com / 9816611655, 9882115555
DIFF 2024 will be held at Tibetan Children’s Village, which is located close to the following places:
Naddi (1.5 km)
Dharamkot (5 km)
McLeodganj (3 km)
Bhagsu Nag (5 km)
About the Venue: The venue for the Dharamshala International Film Festival 2024 is the historical Tibetan Children’s Village, Upper Dharamshala, also known as TCV. It came into existence on May 17, 1960 when 51 children arrived to India from Tibet as refugees. Starting initially as a nursery, it gradually evolved into a small village with its own school and homes. Currently, it serves over 16,000 children in different locations throughout the country. More info here: https://tcv.org.in/
