Busan Winner ‘Birds in the Dark’ to Close Dharamshala Film Festival, Varun Grover’s ‘Damned’ Among New Titles

The 15th Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) will close with the India premiere of Shashank Walia’s debut feature “Birds in the Dark,” fresh from winning two prizes at the Busan International Film Festival. The film follows a call center executive mistaken for a suspect by a police informer, exploring identity and paranoia in contemporary India. The festival runs Oct. 29–Nov. 1 at the Tibetan Children’s Village in Upper Dharamshala, a venue that underscores the event’s commitment to Himalayan and independent cinema. Also newly announced is Varun Grover’s “Damned,” adding to a lineup that mixes emerging voices with established talent. DIFF continues to be a key platform for South Asian independent film, drawing global attention to stories rooted in the region’s social and political realities. The closing-night slot for “Birds in the Dark” signals strong industry confidence in Walia’s voice, and audiences can expect a thought-provoking finale to this year’s edition.