The Sikkim International Film Festival (SIFF) 2026 concluded on a high note on Sunday evening with a valedictory ceremony held after the final screenings at the festival venue. The closing proceedings commenced following the screening of Tara: The Lost Star and Dhokbu: The Keeper, which marked the final films of the festival. Chairman, Sikkim Music, Drama, Dance and Film Board, Tashi Tshering Bhutia, in his address, described the hosting of an international film festival in Sikkim for the first time as a matter of immense pride for the state. Bhutia lauded the Information and Public Relations Department, under the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who is also the Minister In charge of the department, for its dedicated efforts, adding that despite being a relatively small department, it had demonstrated exemplary coordination and management.
He highlighted the festival as a significant platform for local filmmakers and expressed special gratitude to Dr Manoj Rai, Chief Coordinator of the event.
Bhutia further informed that correspondence had already begun regarding the certification for Nepali language films in Sikkim and stressed the need for a single-window system to facilitate filmmaking activities. He expressed confidence that the festival would grow in scale in the coming years and proposed the idea of organizing a separate platform exclusively for local filmmakers with awards at a smaller scale. Chairman of Information and Public Relations Department, Ashit Rai, expressed a profound sense of achievement, stating that the festival served as a confluence of creative minds over the past four days. Rai extended gratitude to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for his continued faith in the department and for his vision of a Viksit Sikkim.
He noted that the introduction of a red carpet at the festival marked a new beginning and expressed hope that it would become a defining feature in the years ahead. He further thanked the Department, fellow chairpersons, filmmakers, and the media fraternity, adding that it was now time to move forward by building on the lessons learned to strengthen the creative economy.