NEW DELHI: The third Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) has launched the DIFF Film Fellows initiative for Himalayan filmmakers to encourage young filmmakers.

The festival to be held from 30 October to 2 November, will take applicants who are 25 years of age or younger and the applications have to be sent in by 31 August.

Though the films can be of any genre, the programme is targeted specifically at filmmakers from the Indian Himalayan regions including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and the hill regions of West Bengal and Assam.

Five filmmakers will be selected to attend DIFF 2014 and participate in its various events, including screenings of the best of contemporary independent cinema. Master classes and workshops will be held by visiting filmmakers and industry professionals.

The selected participants will be able to engage in special one-on-one mentorship sessions with these visiting filmmakers.

The programme covers train fares, food and lodging for the selected participants for the duration of the festival.