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Still from Birds on IceTrailer · 2:10

Feature Narratives · Filmmaker Q&A · South Asia Premiere

Birds on Ice

Directed by Sahil H Shah

Screening at DIFF 2026

Thu29 to Thursday 29 Oct · Hermann Gmeiner Hall
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Runtime
86 min
Year
2026
Country
India
Language
Ladakhi
Subtitles
English
Premiere
South Asia

Synopsis

Tashi, a young Ladakhi girl, lives with her grandfather as they wait winter after winter for Tashi’s parents to return from grazing their animals. As they cling to their last shreds of hope, little Tashi dreams of playing Ice hockey in the harsh yet breathtaking natural rinks of the Ladakh Himalayas. However, grief, adversity and the harsh winter make this hard to achieve. Ultimately, it’s a story of friendship, of resistance, of the innocence that exists in complex relationships and the shared joy of playing.

Director

Sahil H Shah Sahil H ShahSahil is a self-taught filmmaker who began through street photography, drawn to human stories hidden in everyday life. Over the past decade, he has worked across advertising, music videos and branded films. This is his debut feature. Birds on Ice began as a documentary about ice hockey in Ladakh, but evolved into a…

Cast and crew

Producer
Sahil H Shah, Tanvi Aggarwal
Writer
Shaan Pasricha
Cinematographer
Srijan Chaurasia
Editor
Divyashree Samantaray
Sound
Kalhan Raina
Music
Joel Crasto, Tenzin Choegyal
Cast
Skitdon Samzang, N Chopal, Padma Chorol, Kunga Choskyab

Festivals and awards

  • Busan International Film Festival 2026

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