PictureTime sets up three inflatable theatres at Dharamshala film festival

The inflatable theatre in Dharamshala. Pics/By Special Arrangement

A film festival should have as wide a reach as possible. With that belief, Sushil Chaudhary, founder of PictureTime, has led operations of the 15th edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF). For its ongoing season, PictureTime has set up three inflatable theatres that accommodate up to 600 viewers.

Talking to mid-day from Dharamshala, Chaudhary said, "This year, we have expanded our presence to three inflatable theatres, each with a seating capacity of 140 to 200 people. With more parallel screenings, more films can reach a larger audience. Technology must never come between the filmmaker and audience. We verify every DCP [Digital Cinema Package] and its decryption key, test projection, and calibrate sound to suit each screening hall."

Sushil Chaudhary

Setting up each theatre, he shared, takes approximately two to three hours. "It is waterproof and anchored to withstand mountain winds. The same technology was used to operate the world's highest-altitude theatre in Leh, at 12,000 feet and temperatures as low as -28°C. If it can work in such challenging conditions, it can bring cinema to underserved towns across India," he explained.