Press Release
Press Release Issued by the Press Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim
Information & Public Relations Department
CM Prem Singh Tamang’s Vision Elevates Sikkim’s Creative Ecosystem; European Union Set to Join Sikkim International Film Festival as Programme Partner.
In a significant development for Sikkim’s growing cultural and creative landscape, the European Union is set to join the Sikkim International Film Festival (SIFF) 2026 as a Programme Partner, marking an important step towards strengthening cultural collaboration and artistic exchange between Europe and India. This milestone reflects the visionary leadership and continued encouragement extended to artists and creative communities in Sikkim by Hon’ble Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golay, who has consistently championed the growth of arts, cinema, fashion, and cultural expression in the state. As the Minister-in-Charge of the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim, his commitment to nurturing creative talent and building global cultural connections has opened new avenues for artists and filmmakers from the region.
The collaboration with the European Union aligns with the broader agenda of strengthening people-to-people engagement and cultural ties between Europe and India, as envisioned during the EU–India Summit earlier this year. Through this partnership, audiences in Gangtok will experience diverse cinematic voices and perspectives from across Europe, fostering dialogue and deeper cultural understanding through the medium of film. Representatives from at least ten EU filmmaking countries are expected to participate, with around ten films from member nations scheduled to be screened at various venues in Gangtok from 19th to 22nd March 2026.
The Sikkim International Film Festival is an official initiative of the Government of Sikkim and has been made possible through the collective efforts of the Information and Public Relations Department under the guidance of its Secretary, Smt. Annapurna Alley, along with the leadership of Tashi Tshering Bhutia, Chairperson of the Sikkim Film Promotion Board, IPR Chairman Ashit Rai, and the dedicated team of the department. The initiative has been supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and NFDC.
Envisioned as a curated international platform in the Himalayan region, SIFF 2026 aims to bring distinguished global cinema to audiences in Sikkim and the North-Eastern region of India while simultaneously promoting local storytelling and creative exchange. By bringing filmmakers, artists, and industry professionals from around the world to Gangtok, the festival will not only celebrate cinema but also place Sikkim more prominently on the global cultural and film tourism map, opening new opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and the growth of the state’s creative economy.
In a significant development for Sikkim’s growing cultural and creative landscape, the European Union is set to join the Sikkim International Film Festival (SIFF) 2026 as a Programme Partner, marking an important step towards strengthening cultural collaboration and artistic exchange between Europe and India. This milestone reflects the visionary leadership and continued encouragement extended to artists and creative communities in Sikkim by Hon’ble Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golay, who has consistently championed the growth of arts, cinema, fashion, and cultural expression in the state. As the Minister-in-Charge of the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim, his commitment to nurturing creative talent and building global cultural connections has opened new avenues for artists and filmmakers from the region.
The collaboration with the European Union aligns with the broader agenda of strengthening people-to-people engagement and cultural ties between Europe and India, as envisioned during the EU–India Summit earlier this year. Through this partnership, audiences in Gangtok will experience diverse cinematic voices and perspectives from across Europe, fostering dialogue and deeper cultural understanding through the medium of film. Representatives from at least ten EU filmmaking countries are expected to participate, with around ten films from member nations scheduled to be screened at various venues in Gangtok from 19th to 22nd March 2026.
The Sikkim International Film Festival is an official initiative of the Government of Sikkim and has been made possible through the collective efforts of the Information and Public Relations Department under the guidance of its Secretary, Smt. Annapurna Alley, along with the leadership of Tashi Tshering Bhutia, Chairperson of the Sikkim Film Promotion Board, IPR Chairman Ashit Rai, and the dedicated team of the department. The initiative has been supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and NFDC.
Envisioned as a curated international platform in the Himalayan region, SIFF 2026 aims to bring distinguished global cinema to audiences in Sikkim and the North-Eastern region of India while simultaneously promoting local storytelling and creative exchange. By bringing filmmakers, artists, and industry professionals from around the world to Gangtok, the festival will not only celebrate cinema but also place Sikkim more prominently on the global cultural and film tourism map, opening new opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and the growth of the state’s creative economy.