The word Shantiniketan means “Abode of Peace”. It is built on the vision of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who wanted to create a space where people can interchange their ideas about art, culture and life in general. Bolpur’s air still breathes his energy, his passion and his free-thinking. People from all over the world come to Bolpur to participate in the Poush Mela and Vasant Utsav. Another unique feature of Bolpur is its lush greenery and Kopai River along the Sonajhuri forest in Khoai. The landscape purifies one’s soul.

The sole purpose of TIFF is to celebrate the joy of artistic creation in a land of beauty and intellect. Shantiniketan stands testimony to Tagore’s belief that the close connection between man and nature should be the founding principle of knowledge. TIFF showcases an outstanding presentation of independent filmmaking, while also building a strong sense of community around the art of visual storytelling.