The scenic town of Mandi, popularly known as “Chhoti Kashi,” is set to host the second edition of the Dev Bhoomi International Film Festival (DBIFF) from July 3 to 5 at Sanskriti Sadan. The three-day event will bring together filmmakers, actors, artistes and cinema enthusiasts from across the country for the celebration of film, art and culture.Addressing mediapersons, festival organiser and film director Pawan Sharma announced that 25 short films would be screened during the festival. The line-up will include films made by filmmakers from Himachal Pradesh, providing a platform to showcase local talent alongside productions from other regions.The festival is expected to witness the participation of several prominent personalities from the Indian film industry, including actors Aditya Srivastava, Yashpal Sharma, Rajesh Jais, Sanjay Mishra and Hemant Pandey. According to Sharma, the event will go beyond film screenings and offer visitors an opportunity to understand the finer aspects of filmmaking and acting.Delegate passes will be issued for participants and a variety of activities will be conducted daily from 11 am to 8 pm during the festival. Sharma emphasised that every attendee would be considered both a guest and a host, encouraging active participation in the cultural celebration.Apart from film screenings, the festival will feature master classes and appreciation courses on filmmaking, acting and screenplay writing. A special programme will also be organised at Mandi’s historic Clock Tower Complex.Individuals who have made significant contributions to literature, art, writing, journalism and photography will be honoured during the festival. Sharma noted that the festival aims to further strengthen Mandi’s identity on the national cultural map.