MUMBAI: The inaugural edition of the Ladakh Film Festival would be held in Leh from 15-17 June next year with the aim to draw attention of the world and the world cinema towards the pristine beauty of Ladakh.

The festival, also nicknamed the Highest Altitude film festival, will be held 13,500 feet above the sea level and would be chaired by veteran director Shyam Benegal, who will head the jury.

The festival has been categorised into four sections namely World Cinema, Indian Cinema, Competition and Ladakh. While the World Cinema category is open only to International Films, the Indian Cinema section is open only to films made in India. The competition section will include feature films, short films, animation films and documentary films while the Ladakh section will include only those films that are made by the residents of Ladakh or the films made on Ladakh.

Along with the entertainment the festival will also talks business. The organisers of the festival will also set up ‘Film Shoppe‘ on the lines of Film Bazaar where filmmakers can market their films to the International film studios, film producers, film buyers and satellite channels.

The festival is being organised by Kerala-based former doctor turned film writer and director Melwyn Williams Chirayath, along with his business partner Meghna Dubey.