One of India’s most alternative, off beat and eclectic film festivals held once a year in McLeod Ganj in Dharmshala, the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) was first started in 2012. Conceptualized by filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam of White Crane Films as a means of bringing quality contemporary, independent Indian and World Cinema to the culturally diverse location of Dharamshala. On 17, 23 and 26 October, we present a selection of the finest films presented at DIFF 2016

 

Sonita (Germany/Switzerland)

(90 min; 2015; HD; English subtitles)

Director: Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami

 

Multiple award winner including IDFA Audience Award & DOC U! Award, Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival 2015; Audience Award – World Cinema Documentary & Grand Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival 2016; SOS – Kinderdörfer Award, Munich International Documentary Festival (DOK. fest) 2016; among others

 

Sonita is an 18-year-old female, an undocumented Afghan illegal immigrant living in the poor suburbs of Teheran. She is a feisty, spirited, young woman who fights to live the way she wants, as an artist, singer and musician in spite of all the obstacles she confronts in Iran and her conservative patriarchal family