The European Union will join the Sikkim International Film Festival (SIFF) 2026 as a Programme Partner, organisers announced, bringing films and filmmakers from Europe to Gangtok when the festival runs from March 19 to 22. Representatives from at least ten EU filmmaking countries are expected to participate, with around ten films from member nations set to be screened at multiple venues across the city.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang‑Golay and the state’s Information and Public Relations department welcomed the partnership as a boost to Sikkim’s cultural profile. In a media statement, Chief Minister’s press secretary Yougan Tamang said the move opens new avenues for local artists and filmmakers to engage with international peers and audiences.
Yougan described the EU tie‑up as part of a wider push to strengthen people‑to‑people ties between Europe and India following discussions at the recent EU–India Summit. He said the collaboration will let “audiences in Gangtok experience diverse cinematic voices and perspectives from across Europe,” fostering cultural dialogue through film.
SIFF 2026 is an official initiative of the Government of Sikkim, coordinated by the Information and Public Relations department under secretary Annapurna Alley. The festival has been organised with the leadership of Tashi Tshering Bhutia, chairperson of the Sikkim Film Promotion Board, IPR chairman Ashit Rai, and the department’s team, the statement said.
The initiative also has support from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). Organisers say SIFF is intended as a curated international platform for the Himalayan region that will “bring distinguished global cinema to audiences in Sikkim and the North‑Eastern region.”
By attracting filmmakers, artists and industry professionals to Gangtok, the festival aims to promote local storytelling, encourage creative exchange and raise Sikkim’s profile on the film‑tourism map, officials added, noting the partnership could create new opportunities for collaboration and growth in the state’s creative economy.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/european-union-set-to-join-sikkim-international-film-festival-as-programme-partner
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