Ladakhi Film 'Birds on Ice' Poster Released, Set for World Premiere at Busan Film Festival

The much-awaited poster of the Ladakhi feature film "Birds on Ice" was formally released by the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, at PVR Leh.

The film, directed by filmmaker Sahil H. Shah, has been selected for the 'A Window on Asian Cinema' section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival and is set to have its world premiere in Busan, South Korea, in October 2026.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra congratulated the producer, director, cast and crew of Birds on Ice for taking a story rooted in Ladakh and its ice-hockey culture to an international platform.

He appreciated the team's efforts to showcase Ladakh's sporting spirit, local talent and unique winter landscape through cinema and extended his best wishes to the entire team for the film's screening at the Busan International Film Festival.

Kundra expressed hope that the film would further highlight Ladakh's growing passion for ice hockey and its potential as a destination for winter sports and creative storytelling.

Speaking on the occasion, producer and director Sahil H. Shah shared the journey behind the making of Birds on Ice and the challenges involved in filming in Ladakh's harsh winter conditions. He spoke about working in sub-zero temperatures and praised the dedication of the cast and crew in bringing the story to the screen.

The film was shot over two months in Ladakh in demanding winter conditions and features a predominantly Ladakhi cast and crew.

Birds on Ice explores the world of ice hockey in Ladakh through a coming-of-age story and features Indian national ice-hockey player Padma Chorol in her acting debut. Chorol plays Paami, an ice-hockey coach and national team player whose experiences are closely connected to the film's portrayal of the sport and its aspirations in Ladakh.

The selection of Birds on Ice for the Busan InternationalFilm Festivalmarks an important international platform for Ladakhi-language cinema. The film is set to introduce Ladakh's sporting culture, distinctive landscape and local voices to audiences from across the world.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival is scheduled to be held from October 6 to 15, 2026, in Busan, South Korea.

The event was attended by DGP, UT Ladakh, Anand Jain; Secretary, Education/Youth Services & Sports, Bhanu Prabha; Secretary, Tourism, Sanjeet Rodrigues; former Chief Executive Councillor, Tashi Gyalson; BJP UT President Tashi Khachu; senior officers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP); and other guests, along with members of the film's cast and crew.