The 1st Shimla International Film Festival for Documentary Short and Animation Films would be organised by Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Mumbai in collaboration with Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Government of Himachal Pradesh from 18th to 20th March, 2011 at Gaiety Theatre Complex, Shimla.

The films which would be exhibited during the period at Gaiety are Pum Pum, Whose is this Song, Vietnam Symphony, The Elephant Boy, Zero Degrees of Separation, Salata Baladi, Ali and the Ball and Burma V.J. Reporting from Closed country.

The Festival aimed to showcase some of the best and award winning documentary, short and animation films from India and abroad, apart from films of filmmaker from Shimla. This film festival will provide an appropriate forum for film makers, film technicians and artistes of Shimla to discover and discuss the current and latest trends and techniques in this creative art. SIFF-2011 aims to prove as a useful platform for the film lovers for exchange of ideas.

The inaugural function will be followed by screening of films at Gaiety Theatre Complex on 18th March, 2011 at 10.00 a.m. Subsequent screening of the films will be held from 18th to 20th March, 2011 from 10.00 am to 8.00 p.m.

The highlights of the festival are package of selected Award Winning Films of Mumbai International Film Festival and best of Films Division Documentary films, animation films and films on Himachal Pradesh. In addition to these, two films entitled ‘For Whom The Jingle Bells’ and ‘Spot the Difference’ directed by Shri Vivek Mohan from Himachal Pradesh will be screened during the festival. Total 23 hours films will be shown in the festival. The entry to the Film Festival is free.