Chandigarh January 28, 2025- Sikhlance, which is celebrating 26 years globally, is returning to Chandigarh for its 6th consecutive year. The festival will be held on February 15, 2025 at Tagore Theatre. The festival, which started in 2020, is now held in 16 cities including the US, Canada and India. This information was given by Ojasvi Sharma, award-winning director and head of Sikhlens Festival India.
Talking about the growth of the festival, Ojasvi Sharma said, “Sikhlens is not just a platform to present stories, but it is a movement that connects cultures and creates meaningful dialogues through the universal language of art and cinema. Every year, our aim is to push the boundaries and present films that inspire, educate and unite.”
*Key attractions:*
1. *Curated programs:* Young filmmakers and artists are provided guidance and resources through programs like Digital Voices, Project S and Community Voices.
2. *Audience:* This year, over 2,000 audiences are expected to attend. Over 101 films have been screened in India in the last five years.
3. *This year's selection:*
- 20 films from 10 countries, including India, America, Pakistan, Canada and Turkey.
- Major films like Saka Sirhind: Shaheedi of Younger Sahibzade, which highlights the history of Punjab and was the dream project of the foreign father of the founder of SikhLens.
*List of Featured Films (Selected):*
- Rising Above: The Kamal Singh Story (UK) – Ameet Kaur
- Saka Sirhind: Martyrdom of Younger Sahibzade (India) – Pradeep Singh Matharu
- The Patka Box (Canada) – Davinder Singh
- Kartarpur Corridor: Collective Memories, Connected Histories (Turkey-Pakistan) – Zeynep Gul Unal
This year, Sikhlens is launching Sikhlens Animation, which will provide new possibilities and opportunities for creators in the field of animation. The festival is committed to inspiring mutual dialogue and cultural unity.