Dune: Part Two is gearing up to be a massive hit at the box office, following in the footsteps of its hugely successful predecessor. With a predicted debut of $170 million, fans can’t wait to see what’s in store. Timothée Chalamet leads the charge, giving MCU star Tom Holland a run for his money in the box office stakes.
Timothée Chalamet is currently starring in Dune: Part Two
Fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting this epic continuation of Frank Herbert’s saga. As excitement mounts, everyone’s wondering if Dune: Part Two will raise the bar for blockbuster movies.
Suggested“Sold a dream… delivered a nightmare”: Willy Wonka Inspired Event Ended With Children in Tears, Had Hundreds of Families Demanding Refunds
Dune: Part Two Anticipates A $170 Million Global Premiere
Dune: Part Two is about to hit theaters, and the buzz is real as it gears up for a global premiere,...
Timothée Chalamet is currently starring in Dune: Part Two
Fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting this epic continuation of Frank Herbert’s saga. As excitement mounts, everyone’s wondering if Dune: Part Two will raise the bar for blockbuster movies.
Suggested“Sold a dream… delivered a nightmare”: Willy Wonka Inspired Event Ended With Children in Tears, Had Hundreds of Families Demanding Refunds
Dune: Part Two Anticipates A $170 Million Global Premiere
Dune: Part Two is about to hit theaters, and the buzz is real as it gears up for a global premiere,...
- 2/29/2024
- by Muskan Chaudhary
- FandomWire
Taylor Swift just had a week where the biggest news wasn’t Travis Kelce.
Continuing to add to her billion-dollar empire, Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) bowed this week at #1 on the Billboard 200, Top Album Sales, Vinyl Albums and Top Streaming Albums charts. A somewhat breathless release from Swift’s Republic Records noted sales of more than 1.6 million units in the U.S. and more than 3.5 million globally.
This achievement notably makes her, “The First Artist To Score Six #1 Album Debuts With Over 1 Million Units Sold” in history, Republic claims.
1989 (Taylor’s Version) eclipsed the 2014 first-week sales of the original version of 1989. Each revised version of the albums has eclipsed the sales of its predecessor, becoming bigger with every successive release.
On Spotify, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is the “Biggest Album Debut on Spotify in 2023” with 176 million streams and “The Second Biggest Album Debut in Spotify History”—only behind her own Midnights.
Continuing to add to her billion-dollar empire, Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) bowed this week at #1 on the Billboard 200, Top Album Sales, Vinyl Albums and Top Streaming Albums charts. A somewhat breathless release from Swift’s Republic Records noted sales of more than 1.6 million units in the U.S. and more than 3.5 million globally.
This achievement notably makes her, “The First Artist To Score Six #1 Album Debuts With Over 1 Million Units Sold” in history, Republic claims.
1989 (Taylor’s Version) eclipsed the 2014 first-week sales of the original version of 1989. Each revised version of the albums has eclipsed the sales of its predecessor, becoming bigger with every successive release.
On Spotify, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is the “Biggest Album Debut on Spotify in 2023” with 176 million streams and “The Second Biggest Album Debut in Spotify History”—only behind her own Midnights.
- 11/5/2023
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
John Michael Montgomery suffered cuts and broken ribs when his tour bus crashed early Saturday.
Montgomery told fans in a Facebook post on the accident that he’s “doing well,” but will not be out on the road for a while. Montgomery and two other men were injured in the crash.
The accident happened as the bus was nearing Kentucky, Montgomery’s home state. The vehicle “veered off the interstate, struck an embankment, and overturned,” according to a report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The report says Montgomery was traveling in a 2001 Prevost Featherlite bus.
He wrote, “I am grateful to the medics and highway patrol for their quick response to this difficult situation.”
The next stop on his tour is scheduled for September 24 in Indiana.
Montgomery has more than 30 singles on Billboard’s country music charts, with seven No. 1 hits among them. Those include “I Love The Way You Love Me,...
Montgomery told fans in a Facebook post on the accident that he’s “doing well,” but will not be out on the road for a while. Montgomery and two other men were injured in the crash.
The accident happened as the bus was nearing Kentucky, Montgomery’s home state. The vehicle “veered off the interstate, struck an embankment, and overturned,” according to a report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The report says Montgomery was traveling in a 2001 Prevost Featherlite bus.
He wrote, “I am grateful to the medics and highway patrol for their quick response to this difficult situation.”
The next stop on his tour is scheduled for September 24 in Indiana.
Montgomery has more than 30 singles on Billboard’s country music charts, with seven No. 1 hits among them. Those include “I Love The Way You Love Me,...
- 9/11/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the North American rights to “One Fine Morning,” the latest film from French director Mia Hansen-Løve and starring Léa Seydoux, following its premiere last week at the Cannes Film Festival.
SPC also acquired the rights to distribute the film in Latin America and Middle East territories as part of the deal.
“One Fine Morning” played in the Director’s Fortnight section of Cannes and is Hansen-Løve’s return to the French language after last year’s “Bergman Island,” which played in competition at Cannes in 2021 and was distributed by IFC Films.
Also Read:
‘Corsage’ With Vicky Krieps Acquired by IFC Films Out of Cannes
The new film follows Sandra (Seydoux), a young mother who raises her daughter alone and pays regular visits to her sick father. While she and her family fight tooth and nail to get him the care he requires, Sandra reconnects with Clément,...
SPC also acquired the rights to distribute the film in Latin America and Middle East territories as part of the deal.
“One Fine Morning” played in the Director’s Fortnight section of Cannes and is Hansen-Løve’s return to the French language after last year’s “Bergman Island,” which played in competition at Cannes in 2021 and was distributed by IFC Films.
Also Read:
‘Corsage’ With Vicky Krieps Acquired by IFC Films Out of Cannes
The new film follows Sandra (Seydoux), a young mother who raises her daughter alone and pays regular visits to her sick father. While she and her family fight tooth and nail to get him the care he requires, Sandra reconnects with Clément,...
- 5/23/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Jodie Comer is set to make her UK stage debut in the premiere of Suzie Miller’s play Prima Facie.
The Killing Eve star will play Tessa in this one-person play, a young, brilliant barrister who loves to win and has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game, prosecuting, cross-examining and lighting up the shadows of doubt in any case. An unexpected event forces here to confront the lines where patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.
Prima Facie is directed by Justin Martin and performances begin on Friday April 15 at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a strict limited 9-week season.
Comer has most recently starred in 20th Century Studios’ Free Guy and The Last Duel, directed by Ridley Scott. She first hit the international scene with her role in Killing Eve. Next year she’s reunited...
The Killing Eve star will play Tessa in this one-person play, a young, brilliant barrister who loves to win and has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game, prosecuting, cross-examining and lighting up the shadows of doubt in any case. An unexpected event forces here to confront the lines where patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.
Prima Facie is directed by Justin Martin and performances begin on Friday April 15 at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a strict limited 9-week season.
Comer has most recently starred in 20th Century Studios’ Free Guy and The Last Duel, directed by Ridley Scott. She first hit the international scene with her role in Killing Eve. Next year she’s reunited...
- 10/1/2021
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Gillian Anderson, who can be seen on Netflix’s The Crown as Margaret Thatcher, has signed with UTA.
The Hollywood talent agency has signed the actress, who broke through in Fox’s The X-Files, in all areas. Deadline understands that Anderson had been without a U.S. agent but over the course of her career has been represented by WME and CAA.
It is a hot signing for UTA with Anderson scoring plaudits for her role in the British royal drama. She stars as the former Prime Minister alongside Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham-Carter in the fourth season of the show, which was created by Peter Morgan.
Anderson told Deadline earlier this year that she never hesitated at the prospect of playing a Pm who many consider tyrannical. “No hesitation at all,” she said. “There are a few things in life where, if they come your way, you just...
The Hollywood talent agency has signed the actress, who broke through in Fox’s The X-Files, in all areas. Deadline understands that Anderson had been without a U.S. agent but over the course of her career has been represented by WME and CAA.
It is a hot signing for UTA with Anderson scoring plaudits for her role in the British royal drama. She stars as the former Prime Minister alongside Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham-Carter in the fourth season of the show, which was created by Peter Morgan.
Anderson told Deadline earlier this year that she never hesitated at the prospect of playing a Pm who many consider tyrannical. “No hesitation at all,” she said. “There are a few things in life where, if they come your way, you just...
- 11/20/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, SXSW winner “Saint Frances” gets a home, Kyle Chandler gets cast, Jeannine Tang gets promoted, and the La Film School honors its graduates.
Acquisition
Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to SXSW winner “Saint Frances,” written by and starring Kelly O’Sullivan.
The film premiered at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival and won the Audience Award in the narrative feature competition as well as a special jury recognition for breakthrough voice.
Oscilloscope will release the film in theaters before a roll out to digital platforms. O’Sullivan plays a flailing 34-year-old who lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances (played by Ramona Edith-Williams), but an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication.
The film was produced by James Choi, Pierce Cravens, Ian Keiser, Eddie Linker, and Raphael Nash. Ryan Kampe of Visit Films negotiated the sale on behalf of the filmmakers.
Casting
Kyle Chandler will...
Acquisition
Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to SXSW winner “Saint Frances,” written by and starring Kelly O’Sullivan.
The film premiered at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival and won the Audience Award in the narrative feature competition as well as a special jury recognition for breakthrough voice.
Oscilloscope will release the film in theaters before a roll out to digital platforms. O’Sullivan plays a flailing 34-year-old who lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances (played by Ramona Edith-Williams), but an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication.
The film was produced by James Choi, Pierce Cravens, Ian Keiser, Eddie Linker, and Raphael Nash. Ryan Kampe of Visit Films negotiated the sale on behalf of the filmmakers.
Casting
Kyle Chandler will...
- 8/15/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
On Sunday, July 30, the United Nations World Day against Trafficking In Persons, organizations throughout the world will band together for a united day of action to end human trafficking and modern slavery.
Today, there are more than 45 million lives whose most essential and precious human rights have been stolen from them. Men, women, children—each one a life with infinite potential and possibility.
In partnership with the Un Voluntary Trust Fund and Charidy.com, the United for Freedom Giving Day will gather organizations and individuals committed to the cause to raise awareness, resources, and restore essential freedoms and human rights to countless lives.
With a united goal of $600,000 and 9 participating organizations, it will be a day of sweeping collective impact.
“Many people are unaware of the many faces of modern slavery. It can be a young boy or girl working in a sweatshop. Or entire families forced to work without pay,...
Today, there are more than 45 million lives whose most essential and precious human rights have been stolen from them. Men, women, children—each one a life with infinite potential and possibility.
In partnership with the Un Voluntary Trust Fund and Charidy.com, the United for Freedom Giving Day will gather organizations and individuals committed to the cause to raise awareness, resources, and restore essential freedoms and human rights to countless lives.
With a united goal of $600,000 and 9 participating organizations, it will be a day of sweeping collective impact.
“Many people are unaware of the many faces of modern slavery. It can be a young boy or girl working in a sweatshop. Or entire families forced to work without pay,...
- 7/29/2017
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
MaryAnn’s quick take… Snappy, snappish historical drama about the partition of India rings with sly humor, dry cynicism, and a smack of relevance for today’s divisive politics. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In 1947, Lord Louis “Dickie” Mountbatten, cousin to King George VI, was sent to India as its last viceroy, to rule in George’s stead — he was Emperor of India, of course — and to facilitate that nation’s transition to independence. And as depicted in Viceroy’s House, Gurinder Chadha’s snappy and later snappish drama about the handover, Mountbatten is initially a rather cheery midwife to the end of the British Empire. Hugh Bonneville (Paddington, The Monuments Men) brings a certain bonhomie to a man described as someone who “could charm a vulture off a corpse,” and Dickie and his wife,...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In 1947, Lord Louis “Dickie” Mountbatten, cousin to King George VI, was sent to India as its last viceroy, to rule in George’s stead — he was Emperor of India, of course — and to facilitate that nation’s transition to independence. And as depicted in Viceroy’s House, Gurinder Chadha’s snappy and later snappish drama about the handover, Mountbatten is initially a rather cheery midwife to the end of the British Empire. Hugh Bonneville (Paddington, The Monuments Men) brings a certain bonhomie to a man described as someone who “could charm a vulture off a corpse,” and Dickie and his wife,...
- 3/2/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Based on Neil Gaiman's novel of the same name, the Starz series American Gods will premiere on Sunday, April 30th (following its world premiere at SXSW) and is teased in new key art.
Press Release (via TheFutonCritic): Beverly Hills, Calif. - February 23, 2017 - Starz announced today that the highly-anticipated eight-episode first season of FremantleMedia North America produced Starz Original Series "American Gods," adapted from Neil Gaiman's acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel, will make its network premiere on Sunday, April 30th at 9Pm Et/Pt.
Starz also debuted the U.S. key art. Both announcements come ahead of the World Premiere and extended Q&A of the series at SXSW in March. The series will debut publicly at the festival on March 11 at 11 Am Ct at the Vimeo Theater in the Austin Convention Center followed by an extended Q&A moderated by Kcrw's Elvis Mitchell. Showrunners and cast in attendance will include Bryan Fuller,...
Press Release (via TheFutonCritic): Beverly Hills, Calif. - February 23, 2017 - Starz announced today that the highly-anticipated eight-episode first season of FremantleMedia North America produced Starz Original Series "American Gods," adapted from Neil Gaiman's acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel, will make its network premiere on Sunday, April 30th at 9Pm Et/Pt.
Starz also debuted the U.S. key art. Both announcements come ahead of the World Premiere and extended Q&A of the series at SXSW in March. The series will debut publicly at the festival on March 11 at 11 Am Ct at the Vimeo Theater in the Austin Convention Center followed by an extended Q&A moderated by Kcrw's Elvis Mitchell. Showrunners and cast in attendance will include Bryan Fuller,...
- 2/23/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The masterful and heart wrenching film about the trafficking of a thirteen year-old girl Sold is now available digitally on many different platforms. This award-winning narrative feature film is based on the best selling novel by Patricia McCormick of the same name. The film places the audience in the shoes of a child who is trafficked to a prison brothel. Ultimately, she must risk her life to gain back her freedom.
Sold is co-written and directed by Academy and Emmy award winner Jeffrey Brown. The film is produced by award-winning impact producer Jane Charles, and executive produced by two-time Academy Award winner, Emma Thompson. The film stars Gillian Anderson, David Arquette along with a great Indian and Nepali ensemble cast including Seema Biswas, Niyar Saikia, Priyanka Bose, Tillotama Some, Sushmita Mukerjee, Ankur Vikal and Parambrata Chatterjee.
One of the most amazing things about Sold is that by telling the story...
Sold is co-written and directed by Academy and Emmy award winner Jeffrey Brown. The film is produced by award-winning impact producer Jane Charles, and executive produced by two-time Academy Award winner, Emma Thompson. The film stars Gillian Anderson, David Arquette along with a great Indian and Nepali ensemble cast including Seema Biswas, Niyar Saikia, Priyanka Bose, Tillotama Some, Sushmita Mukerjee, Ankur Vikal and Parambrata Chatterjee.
One of the most amazing things about Sold is that by telling the story...
- 1/12/2017
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Our resident VOD expert tells you what's new to rent and/or own this week via various Digital HD providers such as cable Movies On Demand, Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play and, of course, Netflix. Cable Movies On Demand: Same-day-as-disc releases, older titles and pretheatrical Deepwater Horizon (action-drama; Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Kate Hudson; rated PG-13) Kevin Hart: What Now? (stand-up comedy; Kevin Hart, Halle Berry; rated R) The Birth of a Nation (drama; Nate Parker, Armie Hammer; rated R) The Accountant (drama-thriller; Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick; rated R) Max Steel (sci-fi adventure; Ben Winchell, Maria Bello; rated PG-13) Sold (drama; Gillian Anderson, David Arquette; rated PG-13) Claire in Motion (drama-thriller; Betsy Brandt, Anna Margaret...
Read More...
Read More...
- 1/11/2017
- by Robert B. DeSalvo
- Movies.com
The 2016 Illuminate Film Festival, which will take place June 1 – 5, 2016 in Sedona, Arizona has announced the official line up of films for the 3rd annual event. The only film festival of its kind, the Illuminate Film Festival offers a collection of over 20 feature length and short films from around the world, exploring the year’s best in conscious cinema, as well as eye opening and thought provoking panels and conversations that will expand minds and inspire dialogue.
“We are proud to be the world’s premier film festival for conscious cinema” said the festival’s Executive Director Danette Wolpert, “and continue to attract movie-lovers, spiritual seekers and conscious lifestyle enthusiasts from over 25 states and 8 countries. In our third year, we will offer audiences the opportunity to enjoy the world’s best life-affirming, mind-body-spirit focused films, experience radical transformation together and meet trailblazers in the emerging genre of conscious cinema.”
Illuminate will begin on June 1st, 2016 with a pre-Festival Launch Party and Free Outdoor Screening of work-in-progress "Be More," a stirring documentary film narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, about seven activists who make it their mission to create a more compassionate world. Their goal: To transform the lives of seventeen teenagers in seven days. Filmmaker Justin Haulbrook will be in attendance.
Opening Film on June 2nd, 2016 will be "Maya Angelou and Still I Rise," which portrays the vibrant spirit of an American Legend - author, poet, Grammy-winner, civil rights activist and shining example of what it is to be empowered moment by moment in one’s life. Directed by Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack, the film features interviews with Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones, Alice Walker and Hillary Clinton. Filmmaker Rita Coburn Whack will be in attendance.
The Festival’s Spotlight will be the emotional tour de force "Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru," directed by Academy Award® nominated Joe Berlinger. This film pulls back the curtain on the internationally renowned life and business strategist and his mammoth annual seminar, capturing the life changing transformations of the participants in real time. The Closing Film event will be a Sneak Peek of "Mantra: Sounds Into Silence," a film about the revolution underway in world Kirtan, yoga's call-and-response form of devotional music. Sneak peek clips of the film will be followed by a Q&A and live concert with world-renowned Kirtan sensation Jai Uttal. Filmmaker Georgia Wyss will be in attendance.
The Illuminate Film Festival will introduce the inaugural Conscious Visionary Award, an award honoring a pioneer in the world of conscious cinema, spirituality, and life achievement as a teacher and facilitator of human transformation. The award will be presented to the Hon. Dr. Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith for his unparalleled record of bringing hope, love and encouragement to millions of spiritual seekers, creating the Agape worldwide community of faithful parishioners, students, healers and teachers who carry his message forward, and his complete dedication to uplifting and inspiring humanity through his church, books, audio recordings and numerous film appearances.
Chaz Ebert has signed on as the keynote speaker for the Conscious Film Convergence and will speak on the role of transformational entertainment and its potential impact on humanity. Chaz, wife of the late Roger Ebert, is the CEO of several Ebert enterprises, including President of Ebert Productions and Chairman of the Board of The Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation, and Co-Founder and Producer of Ebertfest, the film festival now in its 18th year.
Other films in the lineup include:
"A New High" (2015), directed by Samuel Miron and Stephen Scott Scarpulla - Everyone defines their mountain. For the residents of a Seattle homeless shelter, it’s homelessness, addiction, abuse.... and the 14,400-foot Mt Rainier.
"The Connected Universe" (2016), directed by Malcom Carter – Returning after its sold out Sneak Peek at Illuminate 2015, this documentary featuring Nassim Haramein discovers the science behind the interconnection of all things in a magnificent, groundbreaking union of science and spirituality. (Private screening)
"From This Day Forward" (2015), directed by Sharon Shattuck – Filmmaker Sharon Shattuck examines the mystery at the heart of her upbringing – How her transgender father Trisha and her straight-identified mother Marcia stayed together against all odds – depicting a love that survived the most intimate of transformations.
More information Here
"Home Care" (2015), directed by Slávek Horák – The official 2016 Oscar entry for the Czech Republic, this appealing humanist tale follows Vlasta, a dedicated home nurse whose entire life is devoted to saving others, as she reluctantly ventures into spirituality and alternative medicine to find salvation for herself.
More information Here
"Icaros: A Visions" (2016), directed by Leonor Caraballo and Matteo Norzi - A film shaped like a shamanic journey utilizing the unique qualities of plant medicine, steeped in a psychoactive brew exploring fear and destiny in the jungle of the mind and the Amazon. (Southwest Premiere)
More information Here
"Love, Sweat & Tears" (2016), directed by Scott Jacobs – Dr. Pamela Dee Gaudry is on a mission to “Save The Menopausal Vaginas of America!” In this documentary, Gaudry marries medical facts with profound insights from some of today’s influential spiritual leaders such as Hon. Dr. Rev. Michael Beckwith and Rev June Gatlin, as well as riotous comedians Joan Rivers and Jenny McCarthy. (World Premiere)
More information Here
"Teal" The Making of a Spiritual Teacher" (2016), directed by Paola Marino – Referred to as “The Spiritual Catalyst” and dubbed the next Wayne Dyer, Teal Swan’s extrasensory gifts and connection to the spiritual realm are a light in the perpetual darkness of the modern age. (Work-In-Progress World Premiere)
More information Here
"Orange Sunshine" (2016), directed by William A. Kirkley – During the early 1960’s, a group of family, friends, and surfers formed a church centered around psychedelics. For The Brotherhood of Eternal Love, the mission was to enlighten the world, and the law was but a mere interference. (Arizona Premiere)
More information Here
"Planting Seeds of Mindfulness" (2016), directed by Gregory Kennedy-Salemi and Stuary Jolley –Based on the teachings of world renowned Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh, and featuring riveting music by Tina Turner, this live action-animated film about a teenager’s mindful journey is a powerful tool to help children, parents, teachers and communities develop the skills to promote peace within themselves and in the world around them. (World Premiere)
More information Here
"Pursuing Happiness" (2015), directed by Adam Shell – The desire to be happy is so intense that we spend an immeasurable amount of time and money in an effort to obtain it. This enchanting, revelatory documentary explores the happiest people in America and uncovers the secrets to their happiness.
More information Here
"Thank You For Your Service" (2016), directed by Tom Donahue – This gripping documentary about four Iraq War veterans struggling with Ptsd explores the healing aspects of meditation, native ceremony and equine therapy. Impactful interviews include former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, General David Petraeus and Mayor Rudy Guiliani. (Southwest Premiere)
More information Here
"The C Word" (2016), directed by Meghan O’Hara – Cancer is no laughing matter – but the archaic way we are battling it is. Executive produced and narrated by Morgan Freeman, this film explores hidden science, the absurdity of the status quo, and introduces a vibrant cast of characters changing the cancer game. (Southwest Premiere)
More information Here
"The Highest Past" (2011), directed by Jon Fitzgerald – Seven motorcycle riders share the journey of a lifetime along some of the most dangerous roads in the world, guided by a modern yogi and guru. (Cinema Revisited)
More information Here
"Tree Story" (2015), directed by Ward Serrill – A series of short documentary films that explore the relationship between humans and trees from every conceivable angle: the scientific, the mythical, the practical, the cultural, and the spiritual. (Festival World Premiere)
"Vegan" Everyday Stories" (2016), directed by Glenn Scott Lacey – Explore the lives of four remarkably different people who share a common thread – they’re all vegan. Follow an ultramarthon runner, a cattle rancher’s wife and an 8 year-old girl through their profound transformations. Featuring interviews with Moby, Russell Simmons and Ed Begley Jr. (World Premiere)
More information Here
Short Films:
"The Avadhut" directed by Jonathan Dubsky, Fenulla Jiwan, Zottomer Kenatarac (World Premiere)
"Catching Fire" directed by Ward Serrill (World Premiere)
"Forgotten Ritual" directed by Mirjam Hlastan (Us Premiere)
"Holistic Life Foundation" directed by Chris Farina (Southwest Premiere)
"Sister Jaguar's Journey" directed by Sande Zeig
"Today I Acknowledge" directed by Jessica Hahner (Arizona Premiere)
Conscious Film Convergence Panels and Workshops:
Spotlight Conversation: Norman Seeff On Creativity: The Power of A Dream
As a photographer for the most prolific artists of our time - Tina Turner, Johnny Cash, Jim Henson, Steve Jobs, Martin Scorsese and Will.I.Am, to name a few, Norman Seeff knows something about the creative process. Through his innovative methodology, he has developed a body of content exploring the roots of creativity, innovation and optimal performance and has identified schematics describing the archetypes of the creative process that function across all creative disciplines.
Behind The ‘Seen’ – Investing In Transformational Entertainment
Through this intimate dialogue on film finance moderated by Simon Kilmurry (Executive Director, International Documentary Association), hear from three savvy individuals who are committed to bringing transformational entertainment to mainstream audiences about the art and science of financing conscious and cause-based cinema. Guests include Geralyn Dreyfous of Impact Partners/Gamechangers, and producers Jane Charles of Greater Good Entertainment ("Sold") and Ilan Arboleda of CreativeChaos (Thank You For Your Service).
Conscious Media & The Mainstream: Finding Your Audience
Media, industry outlets and tastemakers play an essential role in building buzz and excitement around new cinema titles as they seek to find their audiences, often defining their position in the marketplace. Join Corrine Bourdeau, President of 360 Degree Communications, Bill Goodykoontz, Film Critic Az Republic & Gannett News Service, Maya Zuckerman, Huffington Post writer, and Mark DeNicola of Collective Evolution as they reveal how to best leverage the media and how conscious cinema can be branded, marketed and presented to engage audiences and maximize box office.
Act of Transformation - A Screenwriter's Workshop
Emmy Award winning screenwriter Dev Ross conducts a workshop focused on the act of transforming a conscious concept into an engaging screenplay. First, Dev will discuss how a screenplay that sets out to raise consciousness can face inherent story problems, using Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” as a reference on how to avoid this mistake. Then, by using the model discussed in the first half, the audience will have the opportunity to participate in the creation of a three-act story outline based on audience-contributed ideas.
Distribution Therapy
Disabuse yourself from assumptions about what it’s like to tie the knot with a distributor! Get a rare chance to observe a series of conversations between filmmakers and their distributors. Join facilitator Shaeri Richards as she helps distributor-filmmaker pairs share their feelings in an entertaining format that will provide abundant wisdom on setting expectations, keeping the flame alive and when to call it quits with your distributor. Panelists: Nancy Gerstman, Co-founder/Co-president of Zeitgeist Films & filmmaker Jeremy Frindel ("One Track Heart"); Richard Lorber, CEO of Kino Lorber & producer Peter Rader ("Awake: The Life of Yogananda"); Richard Cohn, President of Beyond Words & filmmaker Patrick Solomon ("Finding Joe").
**New workshop announced!
Tools of Immersive Cinema – Virtual Reality Workshop with Sandy Smolan
Virtual Reality workshop by filmmaker Sandy Smolan entitled "Going Deep: Diving into Virtual Reality Content Creation." It will be an overview and demonstration of the technology used to create The Click Effect (Sundance 2016), a live-action, immersive Vr experience that follows two renegade marine science researchers as they attempt to free-dive a hundred feet below the ocean’s surface in a single breath to capture the “click” communication of dolphins and sperm whales.
The Launch Party and Free Outdoor Screening will take place at The Collective in the Village of Oak Creek. Festival screenings will take place at the Sedona Performing Arts Center and the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Festival parties will be hosted by Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, the Lodge at Sedona and Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen.
Illuminate Film Festival Major Sponsors
Principal: Science of Mind Magazine, ChocolaTree Organic Oasis & Sedona Chamber of Commerce
Producing: The Collective, The Lodge at Sedona, Sedona Real Inn & Suites, International Documentary Association, Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen & Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village
Supporting: Sedona Elite Properties, Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery,
Alive Mind Cinema, and Centers for Spiritual Living
Media Sponsors: Spirituality & Health Magazine, Om Times, Conscious Life News,
Collective Evolution and Sedona Now TV.
VIP All-Access passes offer unlimited access to all events, including opening and closing night gala presentations, spotlight screenings, Reel Healing “View & Do” screenings, VIP parties and receptions, and Conscious Film Convergence panels and conversations, and provide priority ticketing access into theaters. Early Bird passes on sale now! Cost until April 20 is $349 and $444 after. Conscious Film Convergence passes are $249.
To purchase passes, visit www.illuminatefilmfestival.com. Starting May 6, individual tickets can be purchased on a space-available basis. The full schedule of films exhibiting at the 2016 Illuminate Film Festival will be posted April 19. For more information, visit www.illuminatefilmfestival.com...
“We are proud to be the world’s premier film festival for conscious cinema” said the festival’s Executive Director Danette Wolpert, “and continue to attract movie-lovers, spiritual seekers and conscious lifestyle enthusiasts from over 25 states and 8 countries. In our third year, we will offer audiences the opportunity to enjoy the world’s best life-affirming, mind-body-spirit focused films, experience radical transformation together and meet trailblazers in the emerging genre of conscious cinema.”
Illuminate will begin on June 1st, 2016 with a pre-Festival Launch Party and Free Outdoor Screening of work-in-progress "Be More," a stirring documentary film narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, about seven activists who make it their mission to create a more compassionate world. Their goal: To transform the lives of seventeen teenagers in seven days. Filmmaker Justin Haulbrook will be in attendance.
Opening Film on June 2nd, 2016 will be "Maya Angelou and Still I Rise," which portrays the vibrant spirit of an American Legend - author, poet, Grammy-winner, civil rights activist and shining example of what it is to be empowered moment by moment in one’s life. Directed by Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack, the film features interviews with Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones, Alice Walker and Hillary Clinton. Filmmaker Rita Coburn Whack will be in attendance.
The Festival’s Spotlight will be the emotional tour de force "Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru," directed by Academy Award® nominated Joe Berlinger. This film pulls back the curtain on the internationally renowned life and business strategist and his mammoth annual seminar, capturing the life changing transformations of the participants in real time. The Closing Film event will be a Sneak Peek of "Mantra: Sounds Into Silence," a film about the revolution underway in world Kirtan, yoga's call-and-response form of devotional music. Sneak peek clips of the film will be followed by a Q&A and live concert with world-renowned Kirtan sensation Jai Uttal. Filmmaker Georgia Wyss will be in attendance.
The Illuminate Film Festival will introduce the inaugural Conscious Visionary Award, an award honoring a pioneer in the world of conscious cinema, spirituality, and life achievement as a teacher and facilitator of human transformation. The award will be presented to the Hon. Dr. Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith for his unparalleled record of bringing hope, love and encouragement to millions of spiritual seekers, creating the Agape worldwide community of faithful parishioners, students, healers and teachers who carry his message forward, and his complete dedication to uplifting and inspiring humanity through his church, books, audio recordings and numerous film appearances.
Chaz Ebert has signed on as the keynote speaker for the Conscious Film Convergence and will speak on the role of transformational entertainment and its potential impact on humanity. Chaz, wife of the late Roger Ebert, is the CEO of several Ebert enterprises, including President of Ebert Productions and Chairman of the Board of The Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation, and Co-Founder and Producer of Ebertfest, the film festival now in its 18th year.
Other films in the lineup include:
"A New High" (2015), directed by Samuel Miron and Stephen Scott Scarpulla - Everyone defines their mountain. For the residents of a Seattle homeless shelter, it’s homelessness, addiction, abuse.... and the 14,400-foot Mt Rainier.
"The Connected Universe" (2016), directed by Malcom Carter – Returning after its sold out Sneak Peek at Illuminate 2015, this documentary featuring Nassim Haramein discovers the science behind the interconnection of all things in a magnificent, groundbreaking union of science and spirituality. (Private screening)
"From This Day Forward" (2015), directed by Sharon Shattuck – Filmmaker Sharon Shattuck examines the mystery at the heart of her upbringing – How her transgender father Trisha and her straight-identified mother Marcia stayed together against all odds – depicting a love that survived the most intimate of transformations.
More information Here
"Home Care" (2015), directed by Slávek Horák – The official 2016 Oscar entry for the Czech Republic, this appealing humanist tale follows Vlasta, a dedicated home nurse whose entire life is devoted to saving others, as she reluctantly ventures into spirituality and alternative medicine to find salvation for herself.
More information Here
"Icaros: A Visions" (2016), directed by Leonor Caraballo and Matteo Norzi - A film shaped like a shamanic journey utilizing the unique qualities of plant medicine, steeped in a psychoactive brew exploring fear and destiny in the jungle of the mind and the Amazon. (Southwest Premiere)
More information Here
"Love, Sweat & Tears" (2016), directed by Scott Jacobs – Dr. Pamela Dee Gaudry is on a mission to “Save The Menopausal Vaginas of America!” In this documentary, Gaudry marries medical facts with profound insights from some of today’s influential spiritual leaders such as Hon. Dr. Rev. Michael Beckwith and Rev June Gatlin, as well as riotous comedians Joan Rivers and Jenny McCarthy. (World Premiere)
More information Here
"Teal" The Making of a Spiritual Teacher" (2016), directed by Paola Marino – Referred to as “The Spiritual Catalyst” and dubbed the next Wayne Dyer, Teal Swan’s extrasensory gifts and connection to the spiritual realm are a light in the perpetual darkness of the modern age. (Work-In-Progress World Premiere)
More information Here
"Orange Sunshine" (2016), directed by William A. Kirkley – During the early 1960’s, a group of family, friends, and surfers formed a church centered around psychedelics. For The Brotherhood of Eternal Love, the mission was to enlighten the world, and the law was but a mere interference. (Arizona Premiere)
More information Here
"Planting Seeds of Mindfulness" (2016), directed by Gregory Kennedy-Salemi and Stuary Jolley –Based on the teachings of world renowned Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh, and featuring riveting music by Tina Turner, this live action-animated film about a teenager’s mindful journey is a powerful tool to help children, parents, teachers and communities develop the skills to promote peace within themselves and in the world around them. (World Premiere)
More information Here
"Pursuing Happiness" (2015), directed by Adam Shell – The desire to be happy is so intense that we spend an immeasurable amount of time and money in an effort to obtain it. This enchanting, revelatory documentary explores the happiest people in America and uncovers the secrets to their happiness.
More information Here
"Thank You For Your Service" (2016), directed by Tom Donahue – This gripping documentary about four Iraq War veterans struggling with Ptsd explores the healing aspects of meditation, native ceremony and equine therapy. Impactful interviews include former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, General David Petraeus and Mayor Rudy Guiliani. (Southwest Premiere)
More information Here
"The C Word" (2016), directed by Meghan O’Hara – Cancer is no laughing matter – but the archaic way we are battling it is. Executive produced and narrated by Morgan Freeman, this film explores hidden science, the absurdity of the status quo, and introduces a vibrant cast of characters changing the cancer game. (Southwest Premiere)
More information Here
"The Highest Past" (2011), directed by Jon Fitzgerald – Seven motorcycle riders share the journey of a lifetime along some of the most dangerous roads in the world, guided by a modern yogi and guru. (Cinema Revisited)
More information Here
"Tree Story" (2015), directed by Ward Serrill – A series of short documentary films that explore the relationship between humans and trees from every conceivable angle: the scientific, the mythical, the practical, the cultural, and the spiritual. (Festival World Premiere)
"Vegan" Everyday Stories" (2016), directed by Glenn Scott Lacey – Explore the lives of four remarkably different people who share a common thread – they’re all vegan. Follow an ultramarthon runner, a cattle rancher’s wife and an 8 year-old girl through their profound transformations. Featuring interviews with Moby, Russell Simmons and Ed Begley Jr. (World Premiere)
More information Here
Short Films:
"The Avadhut" directed by Jonathan Dubsky, Fenulla Jiwan, Zottomer Kenatarac (World Premiere)
"Catching Fire" directed by Ward Serrill (World Premiere)
"Forgotten Ritual" directed by Mirjam Hlastan (Us Premiere)
"Holistic Life Foundation" directed by Chris Farina (Southwest Premiere)
"Sister Jaguar's Journey" directed by Sande Zeig
"Today I Acknowledge" directed by Jessica Hahner (Arizona Premiere)
Conscious Film Convergence Panels and Workshops:
Spotlight Conversation: Norman Seeff On Creativity: The Power of A Dream
As a photographer for the most prolific artists of our time - Tina Turner, Johnny Cash, Jim Henson, Steve Jobs, Martin Scorsese and Will.I.Am, to name a few, Norman Seeff knows something about the creative process. Through his innovative methodology, he has developed a body of content exploring the roots of creativity, innovation and optimal performance and has identified schematics describing the archetypes of the creative process that function across all creative disciplines.
Behind The ‘Seen’ – Investing In Transformational Entertainment
Through this intimate dialogue on film finance moderated by Simon Kilmurry (Executive Director, International Documentary Association), hear from three savvy individuals who are committed to bringing transformational entertainment to mainstream audiences about the art and science of financing conscious and cause-based cinema. Guests include Geralyn Dreyfous of Impact Partners/Gamechangers, and producers Jane Charles of Greater Good Entertainment ("Sold") and Ilan Arboleda of CreativeChaos (Thank You For Your Service).
Conscious Media & The Mainstream: Finding Your Audience
Media, industry outlets and tastemakers play an essential role in building buzz and excitement around new cinema titles as they seek to find their audiences, often defining their position in the marketplace. Join Corrine Bourdeau, President of 360 Degree Communications, Bill Goodykoontz, Film Critic Az Republic & Gannett News Service, Maya Zuckerman, Huffington Post writer, and Mark DeNicola of Collective Evolution as they reveal how to best leverage the media and how conscious cinema can be branded, marketed and presented to engage audiences and maximize box office.
Act of Transformation - A Screenwriter's Workshop
Emmy Award winning screenwriter Dev Ross conducts a workshop focused on the act of transforming a conscious concept into an engaging screenplay. First, Dev will discuss how a screenplay that sets out to raise consciousness can face inherent story problems, using Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” as a reference on how to avoid this mistake. Then, by using the model discussed in the first half, the audience will have the opportunity to participate in the creation of a three-act story outline based on audience-contributed ideas.
Distribution Therapy
Disabuse yourself from assumptions about what it’s like to tie the knot with a distributor! Get a rare chance to observe a series of conversations between filmmakers and their distributors. Join facilitator Shaeri Richards as she helps distributor-filmmaker pairs share their feelings in an entertaining format that will provide abundant wisdom on setting expectations, keeping the flame alive and when to call it quits with your distributor. Panelists: Nancy Gerstman, Co-founder/Co-president of Zeitgeist Films & filmmaker Jeremy Frindel ("One Track Heart"); Richard Lorber, CEO of Kino Lorber & producer Peter Rader ("Awake: The Life of Yogananda"); Richard Cohn, President of Beyond Words & filmmaker Patrick Solomon ("Finding Joe").
**New workshop announced!
Tools of Immersive Cinema – Virtual Reality Workshop with Sandy Smolan
Virtual Reality workshop by filmmaker Sandy Smolan entitled "Going Deep: Diving into Virtual Reality Content Creation." It will be an overview and demonstration of the technology used to create The Click Effect (Sundance 2016), a live-action, immersive Vr experience that follows two renegade marine science researchers as they attempt to free-dive a hundred feet below the ocean’s surface in a single breath to capture the “click” communication of dolphins and sperm whales.
The Launch Party and Free Outdoor Screening will take place at The Collective in the Village of Oak Creek. Festival screenings will take place at the Sedona Performing Arts Center and the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Festival parties will be hosted by Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, the Lodge at Sedona and Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen.
Illuminate Film Festival Major Sponsors
Principal: Science of Mind Magazine, ChocolaTree Organic Oasis & Sedona Chamber of Commerce
Producing: The Collective, The Lodge at Sedona, Sedona Real Inn & Suites, International Documentary Association, Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen & Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village
Supporting: Sedona Elite Properties, Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery,
Alive Mind Cinema, and Centers for Spiritual Living
Media Sponsors: Spirituality & Health Magazine, Om Times, Conscious Life News,
Collective Evolution and Sedona Now TV.
VIP All-Access passes offer unlimited access to all events, including opening and closing night gala presentations, spotlight screenings, Reel Healing “View & Do” screenings, VIP parties and receptions, and Conscious Film Convergence panels and conversations, and provide priority ticketing access into theaters. Early Bird passes on sale now! Cost until April 20 is $349 and $444 after. Conscious Film Convergence passes are $249.
To purchase passes, visit www.illuminatefilmfestival.com. Starting May 6, individual tickets can be purchased on a space-available basis. The full schedule of films exhibiting at the 2016 Illuminate Film Festival will be posted April 19. For more information, visit www.illuminatefilmfestival.com...
- 4/18/2016
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
When Gillian Anderson signed on to be part of the upcoming film Sold about the human rights issue of sex trafficking, she quickly realized the role would mean more to her than most. "It really wasn't saying yes to the role," Anderson tells People. "It was saying yes to being a part of the global conversation, saying yes to being an activist in this movement against trafficking to help get people educated." The film, based on the best-selling novel by Patricia McCormick, tells the harrowing story of a young girl who risks her life in a desperate attempt for freedom...
- 4/4/2016
- by Jodi Guglielmi, @JodiGug3
- PEOPLE.com
When Gillian Anderson signed on to be part of the upcoming film Sold about the human rights issue of sex trafficking, she quickly realized the role would mean more to her than most. "It really wasn't saying yes to the role," Anderson tells People. "It was saying yes to being a part of the global conversation, saying yes to being an activist in this movement against trafficking to help get people educated." The film, based on the best-selling novel by Patricia McCormick, tells the harrowing story of a young girl who risks her life in a desperate attempt for freedom...
- 4/4/2016
- by Jodi Guglielmi, @JodiGug3
- PEOPLE.com
Brutal yet sensitively rendered, putting a human face, if a fictional one, on an issue that rarely gets one. Almost Dickens for the 21st century. I’m “biast” (pro): I’m desperate for movies about girls and women
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
I have not read the source material
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
A movie based on a young-adult novel about child sex trafficking? Oh dear. But Sold is… Well, it’s not exactly a newsflash that there are children in the world who are sex slaves, nor that there are men in the world who will pay to rape children. Sold is hardly entertaining in the way that we generally mean when we talk about movies. Perhaps the best word to describe this brutal yet sensitively rendered film is enlightening, for putting a human face, if a fictional one, on an issue that rarely gets one.
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
I have not read the source material
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
A movie based on a young-adult novel about child sex trafficking? Oh dear. But Sold is… Well, it’s not exactly a newsflash that there are children in the world who are sex slaves, nor that there are men in the world who will pay to rape children. Sold is hardly entertaining in the way that we generally mean when we talk about movies. Perhaps the best word to describe this brutal yet sensitively rendered film is enlightening, for putting a human face, if a fictional one, on an issue that rarely gets one.
- 4/1/2016
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Sold, a hard-hitting film about child sex trafficking based on the book by Patricia McCormick, has been garnering rave reviews at film festivals all over the world. This award winning film, directed by Jeffrey D Brown tells the unforgettable story of a girl who risks everything for freedom after being trafficked from her mountain village in Nepal to a brothel in India.
One of the coolest things is that the film is being used as a conduit for change and to raise awareness and money to help eradicate this human rights tragedy. One of the main campaigns they have going on now is at Indiegogo (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sold-a-film-about-child-trafficking#/). With the money they raise there, the makers are not only going to get the film released in as many theaters as possible in March of 2016, but also to support the effort to rescue and rehabilitate children that were trafficked.
One of the coolest things is that the film is being used as a conduit for change and to raise awareness and money to help eradicate this human rights tragedy. One of the main campaigns they have going on now is at Indiegogo (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sold-a-film-about-child-trafficking#/). With the money they raise there, the makers are not only going to get the film released in as many theaters as possible in March of 2016, but also to support the effort to rescue and rehabilitate children that were trafficked.
- 12/3/2015
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
To create the sounds of Sold, director Jeffrey D. Brown worked with composer and musician John McDowell. Mr. McDowell seemed a perfect fit for Sold because he previously worked on and created the acclaimed soundtrack for the Oscar winning documentary Born in Brothels. For Sold, he took his work for Born Into Brothels and created a new sound full of harmony while keeping to the roots of Indian classical music and it perfectly frames the scenes in the film.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4JAr_UOg-e
Recently the film ran a campaign on Indiegogo, which was an extension of their efforts to raise money not only to get the film released to more theaters in March, but also to raise money to support and fight child trafficking. Though the time is over, in an exciting event, the film’s campaigning is once again being highlighted on Indiegogo (http://igg.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4JAr_UOg-e
Recently the film ran a campaign on Indiegogo, which was an extension of their efforts to raise money not only to get the film released to more theaters in March, but also to raise money to support and fight child trafficking. Though the time is over, in an exciting event, the film’s campaigning is once again being highlighted on Indiegogo (http://igg.
- 12/1/2015
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
It is a film that has inspired people to act, to work and to raise awareness of the human rights tragedy of human and child trafficking and sex slavery. We are talking about the hard hitting film Sold. Based on Patricia McCormick’s book of the same name, the award winning film tells the unforgettable story of a girl who risks everything for freedom after being trafficked from her mountain village in Nepal to a prison brothel in India. Sold places the audience in her shoes to give voice to the millions of children who disappear every year. Directed by Jeffrey D Brown and Produced by Emma Thompson, Sold stars Gillian Anderson, David Arquette, Seema Biswas, Sushmita Mukerjee, Tillotama Shome, Parambrata Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose, Ankur Vikal and many others. The film had its premiere at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and has gone on to affect audience at more than 25 films festivals.
- 11/13/2015
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Oscar-winning Director, Jeffrey Brown, started the Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for his film Sold last week, in an effort to heighten awareness of child trafficking and to rescue & rehabilitate children. Based on the international bestselling novel by Patricia McCormick, Sold tells the story of an extraordinary thirteen-year-old girl who is trafficked across the Nepal-India border and forced to work in a brothel in Kolkata, India.
Educating a child to the age of 16 reduces their risk of being trafficked by 80%. This is why funds raised through Indiegogo will be used to spread trafficking awareness through the film's release, and to prevent child trafficking through education in areas where children are most at risk, including India and areas affected by Nepal's recent earthquake.
The campaign highlights perks rewarded to funders, including packages with the acclaimed stars of Sold, three nights in London and breakfast with Gillian Anderson, Karaoke with David Arquette at his new club, Blind Dragon, in West Hollywood, and other rewards upon donation, including a chance to win a free trip to his/her choice of India or Nepal. Learn more about these perks and take action here.
Charities and Organizations fighting against Human Trafficking have come out in support of the film and Indiegogo campaign, including Childreach International, Walk Free, Ecpat, United Way, Rotary Clubs International and Stolen Youth.
Sold has been awarded the Jury Award, Best Narrative Feature, Audience Award, Best Feature and was shown as the opening screening in four film festivals in 2014.
Director Jeffrey Brown says, “The more funds we raise, the more cities we will open our film in and the bigger impact we will have. We are using our film to support initiatives which will keep girls from being trafficked by keeping them in school in vulnerable communities."
Join this special campaign to help prevent child trafficking here.
Educating a child to the age of 16 reduces their risk of being trafficked by 80%. This is why funds raised through Indiegogo will be used to spread trafficking awareness through the film's release, and to prevent child trafficking through education in areas where children are most at risk, including India and areas affected by Nepal's recent earthquake.
The campaign highlights perks rewarded to funders, including packages with the acclaimed stars of Sold, three nights in London and breakfast with Gillian Anderson, Karaoke with David Arquette at his new club, Blind Dragon, in West Hollywood, and other rewards upon donation, including a chance to win a free trip to his/her choice of India or Nepal. Learn more about these perks and take action here.
Charities and Organizations fighting against Human Trafficking have come out in support of the film and Indiegogo campaign, including Childreach International, Walk Free, Ecpat, United Way, Rotary Clubs International and Stolen Youth.
Sold has been awarded the Jury Award, Best Narrative Feature, Audience Award, Best Feature and was shown as the opening screening in four film festivals in 2014.
Director Jeffrey Brown says, “The more funds we raise, the more cities we will open our film in and the bigger impact we will have. We are using our film to support initiatives which will keep girls from being trafficked by keeping them in school in vulnerable communities."
Join this special campaign to help prevent child trafficking here.
- 10/26/2015
- by Erin Grover
- Sydney's Buzz
Kerem Sanga’s The Young Kieslowski earned Best American Independent Feature award as the 18th Sonoma International Film Festival came to a close.
Afia Nathaniel’s Dukhtar (pictured) was named Best World Feature and Galen Knowles’ Far From Home won best documentary.
Best Narrative Short went to God Has His Head In The Clouds by Gianluca Sodaro, Cindy Allen’s Fish Out of Water won Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short was presented to Jack Anderson for Wirecutters.
The Stolman Audience Award of $1,000 for Best American Independent Feature went to The Week by John W Mann and Jon Gunn, while Jeffrey Brown’s Sold claimed the $1,000 A³ Audience Award for world cinema prize and Cowspiracy by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn took the $1,000 A³ Audience Award for best documentary.
“We are already looking forward to our 19th,” said festival executive director Kevin W McNeely. “Our 18th reached a new high of films from around the world...
Afia Nathaniel’s Dukhtar (pictured) was named Best World Feature and Galen Knowles’ Far From Home won best documentary.
Best Narrative Short went to God Has His Head In The Clouds by Gianluca Sodaro, Cindy Allen’s Fish Out of Water won Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short was presented to Jack Anderson for Wirecutters.
The Stolman Audience Award of $1,000 for Best American Independent Feature went to The Week by John W Mann and Jon Gunn, while Jeffrey Brown’s Sold claimed the $1,000 A³ Audience Award for world cinema prize and Cowspiracy by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn took the $1,000 A³ Audience Award for best documentary.
“We are already looking forward to our 19th,” said festival executive director Kevin W McNeely. “Our 18th reached a new high of films from around the world...
- 4/1/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Texas is not just for cowboys anymore. The first Dallas-Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (Dfw Saff) is coming next month. Described as the "first-ever festival of South Asian independent cinema in North Texas," the event will be held at the Angelika Film Center in Plano (Shops at Legacy) from Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1. The festival will present 14 shorts, documentaries, and narrative features, kicking off with Mahesh Pailoor's Brahmin Bulls, a father-son drama that stars Mary Steenburgen, Justin Bartha, Sendhil Ramamurthy (TV's Heroes) and Indian veteran actor Roshan Seth. The centerpiece presentation will be sex-traffic drama Sold, starring Gillian Anderson and David Arquette, produced by Emma Thompson and directed by Jeffrey D. Brown. Closing things out will be the world premiere...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 1/30/2015
- Screen Anarchy
The re-launched Hollywood Film Festival (Hff), now under the auspices of Slamdance co-founder Jon Fitzgerald’s philanthropic CineCause, will run from October 16-19.
CineCause acquired Hff earlier this year after Fitzgerald served as executive director in 2013.
According to a press release the goal of the event going forward will be to showcase socially-conscious films and grow into a leading festival “without the help of typical glitz and glamour”, celebrating creative artists, activists and industry leaders who support causes around the world.
“The word Hollywood is synonymous with celebrity and glamour,” said Fitzgerald. “But Hollywood is filled with people who care about global problems and who recognise the power of celebrity, cinema and storytelling and how this power can help create change.”
“Many of Hollywood’s celebrities back important causes and several will participate in our festival this year. Sharon Stone produced My Name Is Water. Emma Thompson executive produced and narrates Sold [pictured], which stars Gillian Anderson and David Arquette...
CineCause acquired Hff earlier this year after Fitzgerald served as executive director in 2013.
According to a press release the goal of the event going forward will be to showcase socially-conscious films and grow into a leading festival “without the help of typical glitz and glamour”, celebrating creative artists, activists and industry leaders who support causes around the world.
“The word Hollywood is synonymous with celebrity and glamour,” said Fitzgerald. “But Hollywood is filled with people who care about global problems and who recognise the power of celebrity, cinema and storytelling and how this power can help create change.”
“Many of Hollywood’s celebrities back important causes and several will participate in our festival this year. Sharon Stone produced My Name Is Water. Emma Thompson executive produced and narrates Sold [pictured], which stars Gillian Anderson and David Arquette...
- 8/27/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Socially-conscious films bearing the names of Sharon Stone, Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson will take center stage at the 18th annual Hollywood Film Festival, which will run from Oct. 16-19 at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood. Jon Fitzgerald, whose advocacy organization CineCause acquired the festival from its founder Carlos de Abreu earlier this year, is planning to remake the festival by focusing on social activism. The film line-up includes the world premiere of the documentary My Name is Water, about a college students search for answers, written and directed by Justin Arana and produced by Stone; Sold,
read more...
read more...
- 8/27/2014
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bollywood legend Nana Patekar closed the annual London Indian Film Festival on Thursday night, which has now entered into its fifth year. The actor was invited to attend the closing gala, where his film Hemalkasa was screened to a full house at Cineworld Haymarket. The film is based on a true story of a married couple, who practice medicine in the village of Hemalkasa and educate villagers on health, as well as looking after abused animals. The director of the film Samruddhi Porey also attended the event, as well as a number of special guests which included Sunny and Shay, Asad Shan, Asjad Nazir, Jeffrey Brown and many more.
Both Nana and Samruddhi took part in a Q&A after the film’s screening with Eastern Eye Editor Asjad Nazir, where they spoke about the film and their experiences of making it. “The moment the script came to me, it...
Both Nana and Samruddhi took part in a Q&A after the film’s screening with Eastern Eye Editor Asjad Nazir, where they spoke about the film and their experiences of making it. “The moment the script came to me, it...
- 7/21/2014
- by Bodrul Chaudhury
- Bollyspice
Oscar winning director Jeffrey D Brown’s hard-hitting child trafficking drama Sold, executive produced by Emma Thompson and starring Gillian Anderson, which opened the 5th edition of the London Indian Film Festival (July 10-17), has won the festival’s Pure Heaven audience award.
Jeffrey D Brown said, “It’s really amazing. I hadn’t really anticipated this at all. I’m really grateful, humbled and speechless. I really hope this galvanises more people to see the film so that we can help the kids who’ve been through this ordeal and we can end this travesty around the globe.” Brown and producer Jane Charles are in advanced discussions with distributors with a view to securing a global release for Sold in early 2015.
The runner up for the audience award was Samruddhi Porey’s Hemalkasa, the festival’s closing night film starring Indian cinema icon Nana Patekar. The film is a...
Jeffrey D Brown said, “It’s really amazing. I hadn’t really anticipated this at all. I’m really grateful, humbled and speechless. I really hope this galvanises more people to see the film so that we can help the kids who’ve been through this ordeal and we can end this travesty around the globe.” Brown and producer Jane Charles are in advanced discussions with distributors with a view to securing a global release for Sold in early 2015.
The runner up for the audience award was Samruddhi Porey’s Hemalkasa, the festival’s closing night film starring Indian cinema icon Nana Patekar. The film is a...
- 7/18/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
The festival’s Short Film Competition winner was Shubhashish Bhutiani’s Kush.
Jeffrey D Brown’s child trafficking drama Sold, starring Gillian Anderson, has won the London Indian Film Festival’s Pure Heaven audience award.
The film, which centres around a young Nepali girl’s struggle for survival after being sold into prostitution, opened the 5th edition of the London Indian Film Festival, which ran July 10-17. It is executive produced by Emma Thompson.
The runner up for the audience award was Samruddhi Porey’s Hemalkasa, the festival’s closing night film starring Indian cinema icon Nana Patekar.
The festival’s Satyajit Ray Foundation Short Film Competition was won by Shubhashish Bhutiani’s Kush. The award carries a cash prize of £1000.
Festival director Cary Sawhney said: “We’ve grown by at least 30% this year and we’re getting global films! We’ve got Hollywood films in the festivals, Indian films, British films, Bangladeshi...
Jeffrey D Brown’s child trafficking drama Sold, starring Gillian Anderson, has won the London Indian Film Festival’s Pure Heaven audience award.
The film, which centres around a young Nepali girl’s struggle for survival after being sold into prostitution, opened the 5th edition of the London Indian Film Festival, which ran July 10-17. It is executive produced by Emma Thompson.
The runner up for the audience award was Samruddhi Porey’s Hemalkasa, the festival’s closing night film starring Indian cinema icon Nana Patekar.
The festival’s Satyajit Ray Foundation Short Film Competition was won by Shubhashish Bhutiani’s Kush. The award carries a cash prize of £1000.
Festival director Cary Sawhney said: “We’ve grown by at least 30% this year and we’re getting global films! We’ve got Hollywood films in the festivals, Indian films, British films, Bangladeshi...
- 7/18/2014
- by sarah.cooper@screendaily.com (Sarah Cooper)
- ScreenDaily
Iconic actor Nana Patekar, known for his brilliant performances in The Pool, Parinda and Ab Tak Chappan, as well as displaying his lighter side in Bollywood blockbusters like Welcome, is all set to take London by storm when he visits the city for the World Premiere of director Samruddhi Porey’s Hemalkasa, the Closing Night Film of the 5th London Indian Film Festival (Liff, July 10-17). The film details the inspirational lives of Magsasay Award winning couple Dr Prakash Baba Amte and Mandakini Amte who dedicated their lives towards improving the lot of the tribal people in Western India.
Nana Patekar said: “I appreciate the Liff selection committee because by selecting Hemalkasa they have shown that only an expert jeweller has an eye for a real diamond. I believe here Liff is the real expert jeweller. This is not merely a film but an inspirational message for the world and...
Nana Patekar said: “I appreciate the Liff selection committee because by selecting Hemalkasa they have shown that only an expert jeweller has an eye for a real diamond. I believe here Liff is the real expert jeweller. This is not merely a film but an inspirational message for the world and...
- 7/16/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
[This review is taken from the London premiere, as part of the 5th annual London Film Festival, featuring a special Q&A with the director, producer and actress Gillian Anderson].
Sold is based on the award winning 2006 book by Patricia McCormick, brought to the screen by first time director Jeffrey D Brown. The story is the single tale of a young girl called Laxmi from Nepal, who is sold into sexual slavery and trafficked into India. However, these facts and figures put into context just how many Laxmi’s there are worldwide:
* There are 5.5 million people trafficked each and every year
* 20,000 of these are children from Nepal
* The sex slave trade is a $1.5 billion dollar annual industry
* It is the 2nd highest illegal trade in the world
In the words of the director, Sold is intended more as a movement, rather than simply a film. It was inspired by the award winning documentary ‘Born into Brothels’ (based in Calcutta) and by films such as Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay. If you know, or loved either of those, or films of those backdrops,...
Sold is based on the award winning 2006 book by Patricia McCormick, brought to the screen by first time director Jeffrey D Brown. The story is the single tale of a young girl called Laxmi from Nepal, who is sold into sexual slavery and trafficked into India. However, these facts and figures put into context just how many Laxmi’s there are worldwide:
* There are 5.5 million people trafficked each and every year
* 20,000 of these are children from Nepal
* The sex slave trade is a $1.5 billion dollar annual industry
* It is the 2nd highest illegal trade in the world
In the words of the director, Sold is intended more as a movement, rather than simply a film. It was inspired by the award winning documentary ‘Born into Brothels’ (based in Calcutta) and by films such as Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay. If you know, or loved either of those, or films of those backdrops,...
- 7/13/2014
- by Anjum Shabbir
- Bollyspice
The London Indian Film Festival opened with a bang last Thursday evening at it’s home location in central London. In its 5th exclusive year, BollySpice is proud to once again be of its main supporters.
Welcomed by traditional dhol players was guest of honour Gillian Anderson (Scully from X-Files), whose film Sold was opening this year’s ceremony. The film is a hard hitting tale of child sex trafficking, where Gillain plays a real life American photographer. The film was completely ‘sold’ out and was followed by a special audience Q&A with Gillain and the film’s director and producer.
Also gracing the red carpet was actress Amy Jackson, who is no stranger to Bollywood, having starred in a film and been in her very own Bollywood romance! There was also Bollywood’s very own Santosh Sivan, talented director and cinematographer, who will be delivering a masterclass at the festival.
Welcomed by traditional dhol players was guest of honour Gillian Anderson (Scully from X-Files), whose film Sold was opening this year’s ceremony. The film is a hard hitting tale of child sex trafficking, where Gillain plays a real life American photographer. The film was completely ‘sold’ out and was followed by a special audience Q&A with Gillain and the film’s director and producer.
Also gracing the red carpet was actress Amy Jackson, who is no stranger to Bollywood, having starred in a film and been in her very own Bollywood romance! There was also Bollywood’s very own Santosh Sivan, talented director and cinematographer, who will be delivering a masterclass at the festival.
- 7/13/2014
- by Anjum Shabbir
- Bollyspice
Gillian Anderson attended the opening night gala premiere of Sold at the London Indian Film Festival on Thursday (July 11).
The Fall star was welcomed by a group of dhol players, as she took to the red carpet at the Cineworld Haymarket in central London.
Directed by Jeffery Brown, Sold, tells the story of Laxmi (Niyar Saikia), a young Nepali girl who is sent away by her family to work as a domestic servant in Kolkata, only to find she has been trafficked into a brothel.
Anderson plays the Us photographer who learns of Laxmi's plight and helps local agencies spearhead a dangerous mission to rescue her.
Describing her experience of the film, Anderson said: "Working on this sensitively-told film and with young women who have themselves experienced the unbelievable trauma of abduction and trafficking has opened my eyes to the horrors these young people face on a daily basis, as...
The Fall star was welcomed by a group of dhol players, as she took to the red carpet at the Cineworld Haymarket in central London.
Directed by Jeffery Brown, Sold, tells the story of Laxmi (Niyar Saikia), a young Nepali girl who is sent away by her family to work as a domestic servant in Kolkata, only to find she has been trafficked into a brothel.
Anderson plays the Us photographer who learns of Laxmi's plight and helps local agencies spearhead a dangerous mission to rescue her.
Describing her experience of the film, Anderson said: "Working on this sensitively-told film and with young women who have themselves experienced the unbelievable trauma of abduction and trafficking has opened my eyes to the horrors these young people face on a daily basis, as...
- 7/11/2014
- Digital Spy
First a video
There may be no human rights issue in the modern world that is harder to visualize than the enslavement and sale of children, but that is story told in Sold, which is now having its European premiere at the London Indian Film Festival after opening in Los Angles earlier this year. Based on Patricia McCormick’s book of the same title and compiled based on real-life stories, Sold is a hard-hitting but hope filled saga of a young girl named Lakshmi who is sold into a prison brothel. Through her eyes, we experience her horrors but also the moments of goodness and hope that give her the courage to ultimately escape. It is a powerful tale, and the film and the issues it exposes has changed the lives of everyone involved.
Yesterday we heard from Producer Jane Charles about Sold and now I would like to present...
There may be no human rights issue in the modern world that is harder to visualize than the enslavement and sale of children, but that is story told in Sold, which is now having its European premiere at the London Indian Film Festival after opening in Los Angles earlier this year. Based on Patricia McCormick’s book of the same title and compiled based on real-life stories, Sold is a hard-hitting but hope filled saga of a young girl named Lakshmi who is sold into a prison brothel. Through her eyes, we experience her horrors but also the moments of goodness and hope that give her the courage to ultimately escape. It is a powerful tale, and the film and the issues it exposes has changed the lives of everyone involved.
Yesterday we heard from Producer Jane Charles about Sold and now I would like to present...
- 7/9/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
There are some films that are just more than the images onscreen and Sold is one of those films. It not only takes you on the journey of Lakshmi, a thirteen-year-old Nepali girl who is sold into prostitution in India, and her tale of survival, escape and hope, it also puts you in the middle of the global issue of human trafficking.
Sold, based on the book by Patricia McCormick, was directed by Jeffrey D Brown and produced by Jane Charles. The film also had noted actress Emma Thompson on board as exectuive producer. Featuring Gillian Anderson and David Arquette, the film also boasts a cast that includes Seema Biswas, Sushmita Mukerjee, Tillotama Shome, Parambrata Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose, Ankur Vikal and many others. Sold has been creating a buzz and moving people to act at festivals in La and Albuquerque and the next stop is the London Indian Film Festival.
Sold, based on the book by Patricia McCormick, was directed by Jeffrey D Brown and produced by Jane Charles. The film also had noted actress Emma Thompson on board as exectuive producer. Featuring Gillian Anderson and David Arquette, the film also boasts a cast that includes Seema Biswas, Sushmita Mukerjee, Tillotama Shome, Parambrata Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose, Ankur Vikal and many others. Sold has been creating a buzz and moving people to act at festivals in La and Albuquerque and the next stop is the London Indian Film Festival.
- 7/8/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
For the last five years, the London Indian Film Festival has showcased a unique selection of films from all over India. As they say, going way Beyond Bollywood, Liff brings cutting edge films from some of the world’s most innovative filmmakers. Led by festival director Mr Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Liff has grown to become Europe’s biggest Indian film festival. This year, once again, they are bringing the cool and eclectic along with hard hitting and moving films during the week long festival that runs July 10th through the 17th. We caught up with Mr Sawhney to get the scoop on what audiences will see when they experience Liff this year.
How would you describe the London Indian Film Festival?
London Indian Film Festival is dedicated to profiling the best of new independent films from India and its neighbours. I am glad to say we caught the wave early...
How would you describe the London Indian Film Festival?
London Indian Film Festival is dedicated to profiling the best of new independent films from India and its neighbours. I am glad to say we caught the wave early...
- 7/7/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
The London Indian Film Festival (Liff, July 10-17) will host a Screen Talk with the multifaceted Farhan Akhtar and a Masterclass with the award-winning Santosh Sivan at the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank.
Akhtar has come to the world’s attention over the last decade, as multiple award winning director, producer, and actor, straddling an impressive range of roles, from long distance runners to rockstars. He also commands audiences of thousands, at his live music shows, as he continues to juggle a career as a musician and songwriter, with his incredibly successful film industry career. He started his career as director. His directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hai was a runaway hit. He went on to direct the remake of Don and its sequel, Don 2. Besides that he has produced many successful films. As an actor he has won critical acclaim for his performances in Rock On, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Akhtar has come to the world’s attention over the last decade, as multiple award winning director, producer, and actor, straddling an impressive range of roles, from long distance runners to rockstars. He also commands audiences of thousands, at his live music shows, as he continues to juggle a career as a musician and songwriter, with his incredibly successful film industry career. He started his career as director. His directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hai was a runaway hit. He went on to direct the remake of Don and its sequel, Don 2. Besides that he has produced many successful films. As an actor he has won critical acclaim for his performances in Rock On, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
- 7/6/2014
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Showcasing as the Opening Night film for the London Indian Film Festival is Sold, which tells the story of one girl who becomes a victim of human trafficking. Set in India and Nepal, where many such stories take place, Sold is about an extraordinary thirteen year old girl named Lakshmi. To her horror and ours she is sold into prostitution. Though she has lost her freedom and must cope with degradation at the hands of both clients and captors, Lakshmi retains her personal sense of honor and dignity. Lakshmi begins to put a plan in motion, and hopes to become one of the lucky ones to break the chains and escape – but first she must be willing to risk her life. It is the indomitability of her spirit that forms the heart of Sold.
Produced by Emma Thompson, along with Jane Charles, the Jeffrey D Brown directed film is based...
Produced by Emma Thompson, along with Jane Charles, the Jeffrey D Brown directed film is based...
- 7/6/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
The London Indian Film Festival (Liff, July 10-17) and The Walt Disney Company are delighted to announce that Madhur Mittal, the star of Million Dollar Arm, will participate in an exclusive Q&A alongside producer Mark Ciardi at the film’s UK Premiere at Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue on July 14. Million Dollar Arm, which also stars Jon Hamm, Suraj Sharma, Lake Bell, Alan Arkin, Bill Paxton is the London Indian Film Festival’s Centrepiece Gala.
Madhur Mittal’s breakthrough role was in Danny Boyle’s multiple BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire and thereafter he made a mark in Treasure Island.
The multi-talented Mark Ciardi is a producer whose credits include Invincible, Tooth Fairy, The Game Plan and Secretariat, The Rookie, Me, Myself & Irene and Fever Pitch.
Now in its fifth year, the London Indian Film Festival is the largest South Asian film festival in Europe. The festival opens with Sold,...
Madhur Mittal’s breakthrough role was in Danny Boyle’s multiple BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire and thereafter he made a mark in Treasure Island.
The multi-talented Mark Ciardi is a producer whose credits include Invincible, Tooth Fairy, The Game Plan and Secretariat, The Rookie, Me, Myself & Irene and Fever Pitch.
Now in its fifth year, the London Indian Film Festival is the largest South Asian film festival in Europe. The festival opens with Sold,...
- 7/4/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Renowned cinematographer Santosh Sivan will conduct a Masterclass at the upcoming London Indian Film Festival on July 11 at the BFI (British Film Institute) Southbank.
Sivan is the only Indian member of the American Society of Cinematographers. He shot to prominence on the national stage with Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi and is celebrated for his work on Roja, Dil Se, Iruvar and Kaala Pani. His international credits include Bride & Prejudice and Mistress of Spices. Sivan debuted as a director with Halo, followed by Malli, both films aimed at children. His next film, The Terrorist, premiered at BFI London Film Festival.
Director, producer and actor Farhan Akhtar will also deliver a talk at the same festival.
The London Indian Film Festival (July 10-17) will open with Jeffrey Brown’s Sold and close with Hemalkasa directed by Samruddhi Porey.
Also read: London Indian Film Festival unveils lineup...
Sivan is the only Indian member of the American Society of Cinematographers. He shot to prominence on the national stage with Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi and is celebrated for his work on Roja, Dil Se, Iruvar and Kaala Pani. His international credits include Bride & Prejudice and Mistress of Spices. Sivan debuted as a director with Halo, followed by Malli, both films aimed at children. His next film, The Terrorist, premiered at BFI London Film Festival.
Director, producer and actor Farhan Akhtar will also deliver a talk at the same festival.
The London Indian Film Festival (July 10-17) will open with Jeffrey Brown’s Sold and close with Hemalkasa directed by Samruddhi Porey.
Also read: London Indian Film Festival unveils lineup...
- 6/24/2014
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Hemalkasa to close London Indian Film Festival
The 2014 London Indian Film Festival, that will be held from July 10-17, unveiled its lineup. While Jeffrey Brown’s Sold will open the festival, Marathi-language film Hemalkasa directed by Samruddhi Porey will be screened as the closing film.
Featuring Nana Patekar, Sonali Kulkarni and Mohan Agashe; the film is a biopic that follows the selfless journey of Dr. Prakash Baba Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte, a couple who dedicated their lives to a project for the development of tribal people of Maharashtra. This is the world premiere of Hemalkasa.
Praveen Morchhale’s Barefoot to Goa, Amit V Masurkar’s Sulemani Keeda, Shilpa Ranade’s Goopi Gawaiiya Bagha Bajaiiya, Anup Singh’s Qissa, Kaushik Ganguly’s Apur Panchali and Kr Manoj’s Virgin Talkies are some of the well-known films that will be screened at the festival.
Also screened will be Kannada...
The 2014 London Indian Film Festival, that will be held from July 10-17, unveiled its lineup. While Jeffrey Brown’s Sold will open the festival, Marathi-language film Hemalkasa directed by Samruddhi Porey will be screened as the closing film.
Featuring Nana Patekar, Sonali Kulkarni and Mohan Agashe; the film is a biopic that follows the selfless journey of Dr. Prakash Baba Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte, a couple who dedicated their lives to a project for the development of tribal people of Maharashtra. This is the world premiere of Hemalkasa.
Praveen Morchhale’s Barefoot to Goa, Amit V Masurkar’s Sulemani Keeda, Shilpa Ranade’s Goopi Gawaiiya Bagha Bajaiiya, Anup Singh’s Qissa, Kaushik Ganguly’s Apur Panchali and Kr Manoj’s Virgin Talkies are some of the well-known films that will be screened at the festival.
Also screened will be Kannada...
- 6/15/2014
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Get ready London film fans! The fabulous London Indian Film Festival, running July 10th – 17th, will bring you an eclectic and cool mix of films! Now Europe’s largest platform for Indian cinema, the London Indian Film Festival returns to the Capital, in association with Pure Heaven, the British Film Institute, and official Hotel Partner Grange Hotels, celebrating the exploding movement of Indian Independent cinema and bringing to UK audiences a rare selection of cutting-edge films from some of the Indian subcontinent’s hottest independent talents. Going way beyond Bollywood, the festival presents a kaleidoscope of new films that challenge, shock, generate debate and present a more realistic view of India and the subcontinent today, in all its diversity.
The festival has many highlights and will showcase Emma Thompson’s Sold and Million Dollar Arm, which stars Jon Hamm and also boasts a bevy of Bollywood stars! The festival will stretch citywide,...
The festival has many highlights and will showcase Emma Thompson’s Sold and Million Dollar Arm, which stars Jon Hamm and also boasts a bevy of Bollywood stars! The festival will stretch citywide,...
- 6/12/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Fifth edition runs July 10-17 and will also feature the UK premiere of Million Dollar Arm.
Sold will receive its European premiere as the opening film of this year’s London Indian Film Festival.
Executive produced by Emma Thompson and starring Gillian Anderson, Jeffrey D. Brown’s film tells the story of a young Nepali girl who is trafficked to Kolkata, India.
Thompson commented: “It is wonderful to have our film premiered at London Indian Film Festival, to raise awareness of child-trafficking, which is an issue close to my heart and is shockingly on the increase world-wide. We hope that this film willmake people think and highlight the support for key charities such as The Helen Bamber Foundation and others working in this difficult area in India, Nepal and elsewhere.”
Other highlights of the festival include the UK premieres of Craig Gillespie’s Million Dollar Arm, starring Jon Hamm and Suraj Sharma, and [link=nm...
Sold will receive its European premiere as the opening film of this year’s London Indian Film Festival.
Executive produced by Emma Thompson and starring Gillian Anderson, Jeffrey D. Brown’s film tells the story of a young Nepali girl who is trafficked to Kolkata, India.
Thompson commented: “It is wonderful to have our film premiered at London Indian Film Festival, to raise awareness of child-trafficking, which is an issue close to my heart and is shockingly on the increase world-wide. We hope that this film willmake people think and highlight the support for key charities such as The Helen Bamber Foundation and others working in this difficult area in India, Nepal and elsewhere.”
Other highlights of the festival include the UK premieres of Craig Gillespie’s Million Dollar Arm, starring Jon Hamm and Suraj Sharma, and [link=nm...
- 6/11/2014
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
Hard-hitting feature Sold will have its red carpet European Premiere at the opening of the Fifth annual London Indian Film Festival (10 – 17 July). Based on the bestselling novel Sold by Patricia McCormick, the film is a powerful drama based on real life events, and tells of a young Nepali girl’s struggle for survival after being sold into prostitution in Kolkata, and an American photographer (Gillian Anderson), who, against the odds, attempts to rescue her and other young women. The X Files and The Fall star Gillian Anderson is expected to participate in a Q&A in London at the film’s opening night amongst other talent.
Director Jeffrey D. Brown, Executive Producer Emma Thompson and Producer Jane Charles have worked tirelessly to bring this film to the screen researching every aspect of the story in depth with charities which deal directly with child trafficking in India including: Apne Aap, New Light,...
Director Jeffrey D. Brown, Executive Producer Emma Thompson and Producer Jane Charles have worked tirelessly to bring this film to the screen researching every aspect of the story in depth with charities which deal directly with child trafficking in India including: Apne Aap, New Light,...
- 4/25/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
A family birthday and an important cause helped David Arquette reunite his family - including ex-wife Courteney Cox - at a Hollywood premiere Tuesday night. Arquette, 42, stars in the new indie film Sold, which sheds light on the horrors of the global sex-trafficking trade. When Arquette explained to his ex how important the subject matter was, she immediately told him, "I'm in," the actor told People. "That's the support I get from my family. When it's really important you ask for their love and support, and they came out really big for me tonight." Arquette's whole family, including Cox, 49, her partner Johnny McDaid,...
- 4/10/2014
- by William Keck
- PEOPLE.com
This year the 12th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) includes a lineup of narrative and documentary features and short films. The impressive program reflects the rich diversity of Indian cinema, as well as the future of Indian filmmaking, with cutting-edge filmmakers and emerging voices bringing their acclaimed films to Los Angeles.
The festival is widely recognized as the premiere showcase of groundbreaking Indian cinema globally. Iffla will run April 8-13 at ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles, the festival’s home since its inception. Jadoo, an exploration of family bonds amidst two feuding brothers’ restaurants in England, will screen as the festival’s Closing Night Gala. The film is written and directed by Iffla alum Amit Gupta, and first premiered at the 2013 Berlinale. It features a wonderful ensemble cast that includes Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison, and Madhur Jaffrey. As previously announced, Iffla will open with Jeffrey D. Brown’s Sold, produced by Jane Charles and executive produced by Emma Thompson.
Iffla 2014 wil l present more than 33 films, including three world premieres, six North American premieres, six U.S. premieres, and 16 Los Angeles premieres. The films feature 10 different languages, from Hindi to Marathi, to Russian to Bengali. Additionally, Iffla supports American, Australian, British, Canadian, and European diaspora filmmakers from nine different countries telling their stories.
“I'm thrilled and proud that Iffla's line-up this year includes an especially diverse range of cinematic experiences, covering many regions of India and the diaspora,” said Iffla’s Artistic Director Jasmine Jaisinghani. "We would like to thank our Programming Advisor in India, Uma Da Cunha, for helping our programming team source some of these exceptional films."
Program highlights include: the North American premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s latest, Ugly an intense, masterfully directed psychological thriller that premiered in the 2013 Director’s Fortnight section of Cannes; Liar's Dice, the remarkable directorial debut of South Indian actress Geetu Mohandas that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; Anup Singh’s latest feature Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost, starring Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire), winner of Netpac Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Dioraphte Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam; the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival Hank and Asha , an exploratory, romantic look at two people bonding in the digital age by newcomer James E. Duff; Nagraj Manjule’s Fandry, a highly praised debut feature for its multilayered emotion and realism on the subject of caste discrimination; Brahmin Bulls starring Roshan Seth (Gandhi, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Mississippi Masala) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Beauty and the Beast, Heroes) as an estranged father and son unexpectedly brought together to confront the family’s past; and Siddharth, a nuanced look at a family whose son goes missing, by lauded Canadian director and Iffla alum Richie Mehta (Amal).
The festival's feature documentary competition includes an eclectic mix of films from established and upcoming filmmakers that consider India's unique traditions and dynamic future. The films include: the world premiere of
The Auction House , an intimate and funny look at two brothers trying to keep their anachronistic family business going in the digital age; festival favorite Powerless, which depicts intense struggles over electricity in a mid-size Indian city; Faith Connections, Iffla alum Pan Nalin's beautiful and rare look at the Kumbh Mela; and the National Award-winning Shepherds of Paradise, about an arduous, mountainous trek through an animal drive in the Kashmiri winter.
The Bollywood by Night series returns this year with Bombay Talkies and Monsoon Shootout. Premiering at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Bombay Talkies is a quartet of short films that celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema. The omnibus film features work by four of India’s most exciting contemporary directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, and Anurag Kashyap, as well as a stellar cast that includes Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, and Katrina Kaif. Monsoon Shoutout is a thrilling debut by Iffla alum writer/director Amit Kumar about how a split-second decision made by a rookie police officer has rippling effects in his life and the lives of those around him.
The shorts competition showcases a diverse selection of 15 films that include narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated works. Highlights of this year’s program include Academy Award® shortlisted Kush; Sundance award winner Love.Love.Love.; and the world premiere of acclaimed director Umesh Kulkarni’s The Fly.
Festival Passes and Gala tickets are currently on sale at the festival's website.
For more information, please visit:
Website: www.indianfilmfestival.org.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ indianfilmfestival
Twitter: https://twitter.com /iffla
Tumblr: http://indianfilmfestival.tumblr.com/
About Iffla
Now in its 12th year, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) is a nonprofit organization devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, honoring entertainment industry business executives, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora.
Opening Night Gala
Sold
Los Angeles Premiere
USA/2014/97min
Director: Jeffrey D. Brown
Producer: Jane Charles
Executive Producer: Emma Thompson
Screenwriters: Joseph Kwong, Jeffrey D. Brown
Composer: John McDowell, Sammy Chand, Salim & Sulaiman Merchant
Cast: Susmita Mukherjee, Seema Biswas, Tillotama Shome, Niyar Saikia, Priyanka Bose, Ankur Vikal, Parambrata Chatterjee, Gillian Anderson, David Arquette
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Jeffrey D. Brown adapts Patricia McCormick’s novel Sold – a National Book Award finalist – into a vivid, harrowing and inspiring story of a young girl’s resilience in the face of unspeakable cruelty.
Closing Night
Jadoo
Los Angeles Premiere
UK/2013/84 mins
Director: Amit Gupta
Producers: Amanda Faber, Isabelle Georgeaux, Richard Holmes, Nikki Parrott
Screenwriter: Amit Gupta
Composer: Stephen Warbeck
Cast: Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison, Madhur Jaffrey
Set in Leicester, England, Amit Gupta’s culinary comedy charts the chaos that ensues when young Shalini gets engaged to her longtime boyfriend Mark. The fact that Mark is not Indian is the least of Shalini’s concerns. Her father Raja and uncle Jagi have been at war for years. After a legendary falling out that caused them to close their family restaurant, each man opened his own establishment – directly across the street from one another! Shalini’s dream wedding would see both men put aside their differences and prepare the feast together, but resentment runs deep and neither man can hear mention of the other’s name without a spike in blood pressure. Both the prospect of disappointing their beloved Shalini and the threat of a new, hip restaurant opening in the area force Raja and Jagi to work together – but for how long? In this uproariously funny and heartfelt exploration of family bonds, shared history and gastronomic perfection, Gupta’s cast is endlessly appealing. Plus, there’s enough mouth-watering Indian food on display to have your stomach growling before the credits roll.
Feature Films
Before My Eyes (Ankhon Dekhi)
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2013/107min
Director: Rajat Kapoor Producer: Manish Mundra
Screenwriter: Rajat Kapoor
Cast: Sanjay Sanjay Mishra, Seema Pahwa, Rajat Kapoor, Taranjeet, Maya Sarao
Celebrated writer, director, and actor Rajat Kapoor (Midnight’s Children, Monsoon Wedding, Mixed Doubles, Mithya) paints an offbeat yet thought-provoking portrait of domestic life in modern day Delhi when an incident prompts head of the family Bauji to reject anything he himself has not experienced, much to the exasperation of his extended family but to the delight of his newfound philosopher disciples. Balancing the comical and the existential, both Bauji and the film ask the basic question, ‘Can you know truth without true experience?’
Brahmin Bulls
Los Angeles Premiere
USA/96min/2013
Director: Mahesh Pailoor
Producer: Yoshinobu Tsuji
Screenwriters: Anu Pradhan, Mahesh Pailoor
Cast: Sendhil Ramamurthy, Roshan Seth, Mary Steenburgen, Justin Bartha, Cassidy Freeman, Monica Raymund, Michael Lerner
Mahesh Pailoor's tender, funny, and touching debut tells the story of estranged father and son Ashok and Sid, who reunite at Sid's Los Angeles home when Ashok arrives unexpectedly. Each man is keeping secrets from one another, and when the truth is revealed, parent and child must work even harder to close the rift between them.
Fandry
North American Premiere
India/2013/103min
Director: Nagraj Manjule
Producers: Vivek Kajaria, Nilesh Navalakha
Screenwriter: Nagraj Manjule
Cast: Kishor Kadam, Chhaya Kadam, Somnath Awghade, Suraj Pawar, Rajshree Kharat, Sakshi Vyavhare, Aishvarya Shinde, Nagraj Manjule
Marathi poet Nagraj Manjule's impressive debut feature tells the story of Jabya, a Dalit boy, and his family's struggle against daily prejudice in their Maharashtra village. Jabya's carefree childhood desires and antics are soon stifled by his family's "untouchable" status, and the film's gradual transformation into an insightful and damning look at caste discrimination builds from a murmur to a defiant roar. Refusing to reduce his Dalit characters to victims – most explicitly at the film's explosive conclusion - Manjule's socially reflective film has received critical acclaim in India.
Hank and Asha
Los Angeles Premiere
USA/2013/73min
Director: James E. Duff
Producers: James E. Duff, Julia Morrison
Screenwriters: James E. Duff, Julia Morrison
Cast: Mahira Kakkar, Andrew Pastides
James E. Duff's feature directorial debut, the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival, is an endearing tale of a long-distance connection in the digital age. Hank and Asha, two aspiring filmmakers separated by an ocean, connect with one another through video messages and quickly find themselves heading towards romance. That is, until Asha reveals some surprising news. Duff has created a captivating ode to the new possibilities open to us now that the world's gotten smaller.
Liar's Dice
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2013/104min
Director: Geetu Mohandas
Producers: Alan McAlex, Ajay G. Rai
Screenwriter: Geetu Mohandas
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Geetanjali Thapa, Manya Gupta
Established actress Geetu Mohandas steps behind the lens for her bracing directorial debut. A woman named Kamala and her daughter journey from their remote Himalayan village to Delhi in search of Kamala's missing husband. They find a guide in an unfriendly wanderer whose interest may lie more in his personal gain than in any help he can offer them. Beautifully shot by Rajeev Ravi (Gangs of Wasseypur), Mohandas' film evokes a hazardous world where answers may never be clear and a helping hand always comes at a price.
Phoring
North American Premiere
India/2013/128min
Director: Indranil Roychowdhury
Producers: Anasua Roychowdury, Sugata Bal
Screenwriters: Indranil Roychowdhury, Sugata Sinha
Cast: Akash Adhikary, Sohini Sarkar, Sourav Basak, Ritwick Charaborty, Shankar Debnath, Senjuti Roymukherjee
Indranil Roychowdhury's stunning feature debut is an evocative, unpredictable tale of confused adolescence in a struggling North Bengal town. Phoring, an imaginative adolescent boy, and his beautiful new teacher Doel form a close friendship that soon arouses doubt and suspicion when Doel's presence in the town is revealed to have less-than-noble origins. Roychowdhury accomplishes a tricky feat with his first film by luring us with the promise of an inspirational teacher-student story before ultimately delivering a much more complex and truthful account of the joys and pains of growing up.
Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost (2013)
Los Angeles Premiere Germany-India-Netherlands/2013/109min
Director: Anup Singh
Producers: Bero Beyer, Johannes Rexin, Bettina Brokemper, Thierry Lenouvel
Screenwriter: Anup Singh, Madhuja Mukherjee
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Tisca Chopra, Tillotama Shome, Rasika Dugal
Set in 1940s Punjab, Anup Singh’s latest feature Qissa details the aftermath of the Indo-Pakistan Partition through the experiences of one Sikh family, headed by Umber (Irrfan Khan). Following the family’s forceful displacement from their village, Umber’s desire for a male heir is stronger than ever. When his wife gives birth to their fourth daughter, Kanwar, Umber makes the fateful decision to raise her as a boy. This tragic choice ends up dividing the family in violent ways, and provokes a series of increasingly unsettling situations for Kanwar as she grows up. While in a sense a ghost story, the source of pain and suffering is all too real.
Siddharth
Los Angeles Premiere
Canada-India/2013/96min
Director: Richie Mehta
Producers: David Miller, Steven N. Bray
Screenwriter: Richie Mehta
Cast: Rajesh Tailang, Tannishtha Chatterjee
A celebrated Iffla alum, Canadian director Richie Mehta returns to the festival with a heartbreaking story of parents Mahendra and Suman, whose son goes missing after being sent to work 200 miles north of Delhi. Carried by powerful yet restrained performances from Rajesh Tailang and Tannishtha Chatterjee as the parents, Mehta and cast capture the dignity of those facing the unthinkable. Mehta's chance encounter with a man searching for his lost son alerted him to the underreported plight of the families of 44,000 children estimated missing in India every year.
Ugly
North American Premiere
India/2013/128mins/Dcp
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Writer: Anurag Kashyap
Producers: Vikas Bahl, Madhu Mantena, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vivek Rangachari, Arun Rangachari
Cast: Rahul Bhatt, Ronit Roy, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Anshika Shrivastava
When ten-year-old Kali disappears from her father Rahul's car on the busy streets of Mumbai, the events that follow quickly spiral out of control and plunge into a morass of corruption and violence. Rahul and Kali's mother, Shalini, are divorced. Shalini is now married to Shoumik, the local police chief. When Shoumik learns that his stepdaughter is missing, he and Rahul clash in a breathless race to find the girl. With intricate plotting and vivid characterizations, Iffla alum Anurag Kashyap fashions a story that's sure to keep the heart racing.
Writers (Sulemani Keeda)
North American Premiere
India/2013/90min
Director: Amit V Masurkar
Writer: Amit V Masurkar
Producer: Datta Dave
Cast: Naveen Kasturia, Mayank Tewari, Aditi Vasudev and Karan Mirchandani
Writing partners Dulal and Mainak dream of shaking up Bollywood in director Amit Masurkar's slacker comedy. The two young men take a job from the wealthy, oddball son of a famous B-movie producer, but soon fear they're on the path to selling out. Masurkar's film captures the creative spirit of Andheri West, a Mumbai suburb where writers, directors, and actors come from all over India with the dream of working in the film industry, and is a sweet taste of things to come from the new "hindie" cinema.
Documentary Features
The Auction House: A Tale of Two Brothers
World Premiere
UK/2014/85min
Director: Ed Owles
Producers: Ed Owles, Giovanna Stopponi
The auction houses of Kolkata used to be where the rich and famous found the right high-end objects to decorate their homes. Today, the family-owned Russell Exchange is the last, and oldest, one to remain in India. Director Ed Owles follows two brothers, with the older brother moving back to Kolkata from London with hopes of using his Western business acumen to bring the Exchange into the 21st century. However, in a country radically transformed by technology and a rising youth culture, it may already be too late.
Faith Connections
Los Angeles Premiere
France-India/2013/115min/Dcp
Director: Pan Nalin
Producers: Raphaël Berdugo, Gaurav Dhingra, Pan Nalin, Virginie Lacombe
Every three years, Hindus gather at one of four rotating sites for Kumbh Mela, a religious celebration of faith and devotion marked by bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganges. With 100 million people at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, the pilgrimage is said to be the largest gathering on the planet. Iffla alum Pan Nalin crafts a moving and unique view of the mass gathering and presents unique stories of how individuals came to be there to share in the belief of the divine.
Powerless (Katiyabaaz)
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2013/82min
Director: Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar
Producers: Fahad Mustafa, Deepti Kakkar, Judy Tam, Leopold Koegler
Screenwriter: Fahad Mustafa
In Kanpur, a city of three million that has seen better days, one of the only ways for many residents to get electricity is to steal it. Co-directors Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar focus their attention on the likes of pirate engineers like Loha Singh and first female CEO at the local power authority Ritu Maheshwari. Coupled with beautiful photography of the intricately tied together powerlines of the city and a pulsating original score, they present a unique documentary about current-day India and its future battles over limited resources.
Shepherds of Paradise
U.S. Premiere
India/2013/50min
Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Cinematographer/Editor: Raja Shabir Khan
Composer: Bilal Iran
Nomadic herder Gafoor has to lead his large flock of goats, sheep, cows and horses across Jammu all the way to Kashmir so they can graze. Director Raja Shabir Khan presents lives few have ever seen, let alone lived, with simple beauty and real terror in a film that has won major National Awards in India. A cinematic wonder that must be seen to truly understand, Shepherds of Paradise is a testament of the power of film to transport us to other lands and experiences.
Bollywood By Night
Bombay Talkies
North American Premiere
India/117min/2013
Directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap
Producers: Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Guneet Monga
Screenwriters: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan , Rani Mukerji, Katrina Kaif, Randeep Hooda, Saqib Saleem, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
A quartet of short films directed by four of India’s most exciting contemporary filmmakers celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema in this omnibus film. Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap crafts a tale of ordinary people whose love of movies profoundly alters the course of their lives. Each story beautifully captures how lovers of cinema can’t help but carry that fascination into their day-to-day life. Haven’t we all wished, at one time or another, that our lives were more like a film?
Monsoon Shootout
Los Angeles Premiere
India-uk-Netherlands/2013/88min
Director: Amit Kumar
Producers: Trevor Ingman, Guneet Monga, Martijn De Grunt
Screenwriter: Amit Kumar
Cast: Vijay Varma, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Geetanjali Thapa
A split-second decision made by a rookie police officer propels writer/director Amit Kumar’s debut feature, which fascinatingly splinters into three separate, equally pulse-pounding scenarios. In a secluded alley drenched in the pouring rain, principled cop Adi aims his gun at Shiva, a vicious gangster on the run. What Adi decides to do next will reverberate throughout his personal and professional life in ways he could never imagine. Kumar thus explores the ripple effect our choices have, and how we unknowingly alter the lives of those around us.
Shorts
Aarti
Shorts Program 2
World Premiere
USA/2013/4min
Director: David Walter Lech
Producer: Terrie Samundra
A hypnotic look into the nightly “ceremony of light” ritual in a Hindu temple in Sheikhupur, Punjab.
Alchemy
Shorts Program 2
U.S. Premiere
India/2013/5min
Directors: Pranay Patwardhan, Shivangi Ranawat, Janmeet Singh
Producer: Pritesh Varia
A bold and vibrant song to the intricate fabric of modern day India, a kaleidoscope of voices, colors and traditions.
Bhiwani Junction
Shorts Program 1
Los Angeles Premiere
USA/2013/18min
Director: Abhi Singh
Producer: Abhi Singh
A poignant documentary portrait of Himanshu, a 12-year old boxer, whose formidable commitment to the sport makes his lofty dreams to become an Olympic champion appear well within reach.
Black Rock (Kaatal)
Shorts Program 1
U.S. Premiere
India/2012/22min
Director: Vikrant Pawar
Producer: Film and Television Institute of India
Two young lovers spend one last afternoon together. A beautiful meditation on the ephemeral nature of young love that has won three of India’s National Film Awards.
The Fly (Makhi)
Shorts Program 2
World Premiere
India/2013/31min
Director: Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni
Producer: Film and Television Institute of India
Employed as a Fly Killer in an upscale restaurant, Pipal must ensure a fly-free environment by smacking dead the flies that buzz over the patrons’ heads. When a nearby drainage is closed and the source of the fly infestation eradicated, Pipal must find a way to produce enough live flies to save his job, in this delightfully absurdist commentary on urban India’s emerging work culture.
Beloved (Humsafar)
Shorts Program 2
U.S. Premiere
India/2012/6min
Directors/Writers: Swapnil Awate, Laura Erbacher
Producer: Dsk Supinfocom
A sweeping single shot takes us on the breathtaking animated journey of two lovers and their eternal pursuit of harmony.
Jaya
Shorts Program 2
USA/2013/19min
Director: Puja Maewal
Producer: Puja Maewal
Young Jaya is able to survive the gruesome gang life in the unforgiving streets of Mumbai by posing as a boy. When she meets a wealthy businessman who looks like he could be the father who abandoned her, she sets out to reclaim her identity, in this engrossing drama that was shortlisted for a Student Academy Award®.
Kush
Shorts Program 1
India/2013/25min
Director: Shubhashish Bhutiani
Producer: Shubhashish Bhutiani
A bus full of schoolchildren boisterously makes its way back from a field trip when the news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards breaks. As violence quickly erupts across the country, Kush, the only Sikh student in the class, must find a way to escape the unquenchable fury of retribution, in this gripping drama that was shortlisted for an Academy Award®.
Little Gypsy (Kachho Gadulo)
Shorts Program 1
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2012/6min
Directors: Saptesh Chaubal, Pranay Patwardhan, Shivangi Ranawat
Producer: D.S.K. Supinfocom
Inspired by the folk traditions of various parts of India, this stunning animated film sweeps us into a mythical journey that celebrates the power of play and imagination.
Love.Love.Love.
Shorts Program 2
Los Angeles Premiere
Russian Federation/2013/12min
Director: Sandhya Daisy Sundaram
Producers: Tanya Petrik, Guillaume Protsenko
An intimate ode to the wondrous force of love, as it takes new shapes and forms through the endless Russian winters. Love. Love.Love. won the Short Film Special Jury Award for Non-Fiction at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
Outpost
Shorts Program 1
U.S. Premiere
India-usa/2013/17min
Director: Shiva Shankar Bajpai
Producer: Aditi Anand
In the barren desert of the India-Pakistan border, two lone army guards on the opposite sides of the line yearn for booze, mosquito repellent and some human contact, in this humorous glimpse into the absurdity of rigid immaterial divides.
Presence
Shorts Program 2
U.S. Premiere
India/2012/17min
Directors: Ekta Mittal, Yashaswini Raghunandan
Producers: Ekta Mittal, Yashaswini Raghunandan
Long days and nights spent within the bellies of the rising structural beasts that rapidly transform the city of Bangalore bring on visions of ghosts that speak of the construction workers’ memories, longings and fears, in this haunting meditation on the migrant experience.
Skin Deep
Screens with Writers
U.S. Premiere
India/2013/20min
Director: Hardik Mehta
Producers: Devang Bhavsar, Niraj Kothari
Sanjay and Sushma plan to elope to escape a looming arranged marriage. They are in love and their future together shines bright and perfect and filled with possibility--that is, as long as an extra piece of skin that complicates their sex life gets fixed in what should be a routine medical procedure. But Mumbai’s electricity gods have other plans in store for them.
Small Yellow Field (Tau Seru)
Shorts Program 1
Los Angeles Premiere
Australia-India/2013/8min
Director: Rodd Rathjen
Producer: Rodd Rathjen
In the remote vastness of the Himalayas, a young nomad's curiosity lies beyond the horizon. This stunningly photographed film made its world premiere at Cannes Critics’ Week.
The Puppet (Tamaash)
Screens with Shepherds Of Paradise
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2013/32min
Directors: Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh
Producers: Datta Dave, Chaitanya Hegde, Omar Nissar Paul, Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh
A mysterious puppet offers young Anzar the chance to escape his father’s relentless punishments over his poor school grades by granting him the power to inflict misfortune on his nemesis, his brilliant classmate, Sadat. However, his newfound peace is short-lived as Sadat falls severely ill and Anzar comes to realize that the puppet’s powers are spiraling out of his control...
The festival is widely recognized as the premiere showcase of groundbreaking Indian cinema globally. Iffla will run April 8-13 at ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles, the festival’s home since its inception. Jadoo, an exploration of family bonds amidst two feuding brothers’ restaurants in England, will screen as the festival’s Closing Night Gala. The film is written and directed by Iffla alum Amit Gupta, and first premiered at the 2013 Berlinale. It features a wonderful ensemble cast that includes Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison, and Madhur Jaffrey. As previously announced, Iffla will open with Jeffrey D. Brown’s Sold, produced by Jane Charles and executive produced by Emma Thompson.
Iffla 2014 wil l present more than 33 films, including three world premieres, six North American premieres, six U.S. premieres, and 16 Los Angeles premieres. The films feature 10 different languages, from Hindi to Marathi, to Russian to Bengali. Additionally, Iffla supports American, Australian, British, Canadian, and European diaspora filmmakers from nine different countries telling their stories.
“I'm thrilled and proud that Iffla's line-up this year includes an especially diverse range of cinematic experiences, covering many regions of India and the diaspora,” said Iffla’s Artistic Director Jasmine Jaisinghani. "We would like to thank our Programming Advisor in India, Uma Da Cunha, for helping our programming team source some of these exceptional films."
Program highlights include: the North American premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s latest, Ugly an intense, masterfully directed psychological thriller that premiered in the 2013 Director’s Fortnight section of Cannes; Liar's Dice, the remarkable directorial debut of South Indian actress Geetu Mohandas that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; Anup Singh’s latest feature Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost, starring Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire), winner of Netpac Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Dioraphte Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam; the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival Hank and Asha , an exploratory, romantic look at two people bonding in the digital age by newcomer James E. Duff; Nagraj Manjule’s Fandry, a highly praised debut feature for its multilayered emotion and realism on the subject of caste discrimination; Brahmin Bulls starring Roshan Seth (Gandhi, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Mississippi Masala) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Beauty and the Beast, Heroes) as an estranged father and son unexpectedly brought together to confront the family’s past; and Siddharth, a nuanced look at a family whose son goes missing, by lauded Canadian director and Iffla alum Richie Mehta (Amal).
The festival's feature documentary competition includes an eclectic mix of films from established and upcoming filmmakers that consider India's unique traditions and dynamic future. The films include: the world premiere of
The Auction House , an intimate and funny look at two brothers trying to keep their anachronistic family business going in the digital age; festival favorite Powerless, which depicts intense struggles over electricity in a mid-size Indian city; Faith Connections, Iffla alum Pan Nalin's beautiful and rare look at the Kumbh Mela; and the National Award-winning Shepherds of Paradise, about an arduous, mountainous trek through an animal drive in the Kashmiri winter.
The Bollywood by Night series returns this year with Bombay Talkies and Monsoon Shootout. Premiering at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Bombay Talkies is a quartet of short films that celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema. The omnibus film features work by four of India’s most exciting contemporary directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, and Anurag Kashyap, as well as a stellar cast that includes Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, and Katrina Kaif. Monsoon Shoutout is a thrilling debut by Iffla alum writer/director Amit Kumar about how a split-second decision made by a rookie police officer has rippling effects in his life and the lives of those around him.
The shorts competition showcases a diverse selection of 15 films that include narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated works. Highlights of this year’s program include Academy Award® shortlisted Kush; Sundance award winner Love.Love.Love.; and the world premiere of acclaimed director Umesh Kulkarni’s The Fly.
Festival Passes and Gala tickets are currently on sale at the festival's website.
For more information, please visit:
Website: www.indianfilmfestival.org.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ indianfilmfestival
Twitter: https://twitter.com /iffla
Tumblr: http://indianfilmfestival.tumblr.com/
About Iffla
Now in its 12th year, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) is a nonprofit organization devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, honoring entertainment industry business executives, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora.
Opening Night Gala
Sold
Los Angeles Premiere
USA/2014/97min
Director: Jeffrey D. Brown
Producer: Jane Charles
Executive Producer: Emma Thompson
Screenwriters: Joseph Kwong, Jeffrey D. Brown
Composer: John McDowell, Sammy Chand, Salim & Sulaiman Merchant
Cast: Susmita Mukherjee, Seema Biswas, Tillotama Shome, Niyar Saikia, Priyanka Bose, Ankur Vikal, Parambrata Chatterjee, Gillian Anderson, David Arquette
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Jeffrey D. Brown adapts Patricia McCormick’s novel Sold – a National Book Award finalist – into a vivid, harrowing and inspiring story of a young girl’s resilience in the face of unspeakable cruelty.
Closing Night
Jadoo
Los Angeles Premiere
UK/2013/84 mins
Director: Amit Gupta
Producers: Amanda Faber, Isabelle Georgeaux, Richard Holmes, Nikki Parrott
Screenwriter: Amit Gupta
Composer: Stephen Warbeck
Cast: Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison, Madhur Jaffrey
Set in Leicester, England, Amit Gupta’s culinary comedy charts the chaos that ensues when young Shalini gets engaged to her longtime boyfriend Mark. The fact that Mark is not Indian is the least of Shalini’s concerns. Her father Raja and uncle Jagi have been at war for years. After a legendary falling out that caused them to close their family restaurant, each man opened his own establishment – directly across the street from one another! Shalini’s dream wedding would see both men put aside their differences and prepare the feast together, but resentment runs deep and neither man can hear mention of the other’s name without a spike in blood pressure. Both the prospect of disappointing their beloved Shalini and the threat of a new, hip restaurant opening in the area force Raja and Jagi to work together – but for how long? In this uproariously funny and heartfelt exploration of family bonds, shared history and gastronomic perfection, Gupta’s cast is endlessly appealing. Plus, there’s enough mouth-watering Indian food on display to have your stomach growling before the credits roll.
Feature Films
Before My Eyes (Ankhon Dekhi)
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2013/107min
Director: Rajat Kapoor Producer: Manish Mundra
Screenwriter: Rajat Kapoor
Cast: Sanjay Sanjay Mishra, Seema Pahwa, Rajat Kapoor, Taranjeet, Maya Sarao
Celebrated writer, director, and actor Rajat Kapoor (Midnight’s Children, Monsoon Wedding, Mixed Doubles, Mithya) paints an offbeat yet thought-provoking portrait of domestic life in modern day Delhi when an incident prompts head of the family Bauji to reject anything he himself has not experienced, much to the exasperation of his extended family but to the delight of his newfound philosopher disciples. Balancing the comical and the existential, both Bauji and the film ask the basic question, ‘Can you know truth without true experience?’
Brahmin Bulls
Los Angeles Premiere
USA/96min/2013
Director: Mahesh Pailoor
Producer: Yoshinobu Tsuji
Screenwriters: Anu Pradhan, Mahesh Pailoor
Cast: Sendhil Ramamurthy, Roshan Seth, Mary Steenburgen, Justin Bartha, Cassidy Freeman, Monica Raymund, Michael Lerner
Mahesh Pailoor's tender, funny, and touching debut tells the story of estranged father and son Ashok and Sid, who reunite at Sid's Los Angeles home when Ashok arrives unexpectedly. Each man is keeping secrets from one another, and when the truth is revealed, parent and child must work even harder to close the rift between them.
Fandry
North American Premiere
India/2013/103min
Director: Nagraj Manjule
Producers: Vivek Kajaria, Nilesh Navalakha
Screenwriter: Nagraj Manjule
Cast: Kishor Kadam, Chhaya Kadam, Somnath Awghade, Suraj Pawar, Rajshree Kharat, Sakshi Vyavhare, Aishvarya Shinde, Nagraj Manjule
Marathi poet Nagraj Manjule's impressive debut feature tells the story of Jabya, a Dalit boy, and his family's struggle against daily prejudice in their Maharashtra village. Jabya's carefree childhood desires and antics are soon stifled by his family's "untouchable" status, and the film's gradual transformation into an insightful and damning look at caste discrimination builds from a murmur to a defiant roar. Refusing to reduce his Dalit characters to victims – most explicitly at the film's explosive conclusion - Manjule's socially reflective film has received critical acclaim in India.
Hank and Asha
Los Angeles Premiere
USA/2013/73min
Director: James E. Duff
Producers: James E. Duff, Julia Morrison
Screenwriters: James E. Duff, Julia Morrison
Cast: Mahira Kakkar, Andrew Pastides
James E. Duff's feature directorial debut, the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival, is an endearing tale of a long-distance connection in the digital age. Hank and Asha, two aspiring filmmakers separated by an ocean, connect with one another through video messages and quickly find themselves heading towards romance. That is, until Asha reveals some surprising news. Duff has created a captivating ode to the new possibilities open to us now that the world's gotten smaller.
Liar's Dice
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2013/104min
Director: Geetu Mohandas
Producers: Alan McAlex, Ajay G. Rai
Screenwriter: Geetu Mohandas
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Geetanjali Thapa, Manya Gupta
Established actress Geetu Mohandas steps behind the lens for her bracing directorial debut. A woman named Kamala and her daughter journey from their remote Himalayan village to Delhi in search of Kamala's missing husband. They find a guide in an unfriendly wanderer whose interest may lie more in his personal gain than in any help he can offer them. Beautifully shot by Rajeev Ravi (Gangs of Wasseypur), Mohandas' film evokes a hazardous world where answers may never be clear and a helping hand always comes at a price.
Phoring
North American Premiere
India/2013/128min
Director: Indranil Roychowdhury
Producers: Anasua Roychowdury, Sugata Bal
Screenwriters: Indranil Roychowdhury, Sugata Sinha
Cast: Akash Adhikary, Sohini Sarkar, Sourav Basak, Ritwick Charaborty, Shankar Debnath, Senjuti Roymukherjee
Indranil Roychowdhury's stunning feature debut is an evocative, unpredictable tale of confused adolescence in a struggling North Bengal town. Phoring, an imaginative adolescent boy, and his beautiful new teacher Doel form a close friendship that soon arouses doubt and suspicion when Doel's presence in the town is revealed to have less-than-noble origins. Roychowdhury accomplishes a tricky feat with his first film by luring us with the promise of an inspirational teacher-student story before ultimately delivering a much more complex and truthful account of the joys and pains of growing up.
Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost (2013)
Los Angeles Premiere Germany-India-Netherlands/2013/109min
Director: Anup Singh
Producers: Bero Beyer, Johannes Rexin, Bettina Brokemper, Thierry Lenouvel
Screenwriter: Anup Singh, Madhuja Mukherjee
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Tisca Chopra, Tillotama Shome, Rasika Dugal
Set in 1940s Punjab, Anup Singh’s latest feature Qissa details the aftermath of the Indo-Pakistan Partition through the experiences of one Sikh family, headed by Umber (Irrfan Khan). Following the family’s forceful displacement from their village, Umber’s desire for a male heir is stronger than ever. When his wife gives birth to their fourth daughter, Kanwar, Umber makes the fateful decision to raise her as a boy. This tragic choice ends up dividing the family in violent ways, and provokes a series of increasingly unsettling situations for Kanwar as she grows up. While in a sense a ghost story, the source of pain and suffering is all too real.
Siddharth
Los Angeles Premiere
Canada-India/2013/96min
Director: Richie Mehta
Producers: David Miller, Steven N. Bray
Screenwriter: Richie Mehta
Cast: Rajesh Tailang, Tannishtha Chatterjee
A celebrated Iffla alum, Canadian director Richie Mehta returns to the festival with a heartbreaking story of parents Mahendra and Suman, whose son goes missing after being sent to work 200 miles north of Delhi. Carried by powerful yet restrained performances from Rajesh Tailang and Tannishtha Chatterjee as the parents, Mehta and cast capture the dignity of those facing the unthinkable. Mehta's chance encounter with a man searching for his lost son alerted him to the underreported plight of the families of 44,000 children estimated missing in India every year.
Ugly
North American Premiere
India/2013/128mins/Dcp
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Writer: Anurag Kashyap
Producers: Vikas Bahl, Madhu Mantena, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vivek Rangachari, Arun Rangachari
Cast: Rahul Bhatt, Ronit Roy, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Anshika Shrivastava
When ten-year-old Kali disappears from her father Rahul's car on the busy streets of Mumbai, the events that follow quickly spiral out of control and plunge into a morass of corruption and violence. Rahul and Kali's mother, Shalini, are divorced. Shalini is now married to Shoumik, the local police chief. When Shoumik learns that his stepdaughter is missing, he and Rahul clash in a breathless race to find the girl. With intricate plotting and vivid characterizations, Iffla alum Anurag Kashyap fashions a story that's sure to keep the heart racing.
Writers (Sulemani Keeda)
North American Premiere
India/2013/90min
Director: Amit V Masurkar
Writer: Amit V Masurkar
Producer: Datta Dave
Cast: Naveen Kasturia, Mayank Tewari, Aditi Vasudev and Karan Mirchandani
Writing partners Dulal and Mainak dream of shaking up Bollywood in director Amit Masurkar's slacker comedy. The two young men take a job from the wealthy, oddball son of a famous B-movie producer, but soon fear they're on the path to selling out. Masurkar's film captures the creative spirit of Andheri West, a Mumbai suburb where writers, directors, and actors come from all over India with the dream of working in the film industry, and is a sweet taste of things to come from the new "hindie" cinema.
Documentary Features
The Auction House: A Tale of Two Brothers
World Premiere
UK/2014/85min
Director: Ed Owles
Producers: Ed Owles, Giovanna Stopponi
The auction houses of Kolkata used to be where the rich and famous found the right high-end objects to decorate their homes. Today, the family-owned Russell Exchange is the last, and oldest, one to remain in India. Director Ed Owles follows two brothers, with the older brother moving back to Kolkata from London with hopes of using his Western business acumen to bring the Exchange into the 21st century. However, in a country radically transformed by technology and a rising youth culture, it may already be too late.
Faith Connections
Los Angeles Premiere
France-India/2013/115min/Dcp
Director: Pan Nalin
Producers: Raphaël Berdugo, Gaurav Dhingra, Pan Nalin, Virginie Lacombe
Every three years, Hindus gather at one of four rotating sites for Kumbh Mela, a religious celebration of faith and devotion marked by bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganges. With 100 million people at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, the pilgrimage is said to be the largest gathering on the planet. Iffla alum Pan Nalin crafts a moving and unique view of the mass gathering and presents unique stories of how individuals came to be there to share in the belief of the divine.
Powerless (Katiyabaaz)
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2013/82min
Director: Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar
Producers: Fahad Mustafa, Deepti Kakkar, Judy Tam, Leopold Koegler
Screenwriter: Fahad Mustafa
In Kanpur, a city of three million that has seen better days, one of the only ways for many residents to get electricity is to steal it. Co-directors Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar focus their attention on the likes of pirate engineers like Loha Singh and first female CEO at the local power authority Ritu Maheshwari. Coupled with beautiful photography of the intricately tied together powerlines of the city and a pulsating original score, they present a unique documentary about current-day India and its future battles over limited resources.
Shepherds of Paradise
U.S. Premiere
India/2013/50min
Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Cinematographer/Editor: Raja Shabir Khan
Composer: Bilal Iran
Nomadic herder Gafoor has to lead his large flock of goats, sheep, cows and horses across Jammu all the way to Kashmir so they can graze. Director Raja Shabir Khan presents lives few have ever seen, let alone lived, with simple beauty and real terror in a film that has won major National Awards in India. A cinematic wonder that must be seen to truly understand, Shepherds of Paradise is a testament of the power of film to transport us to other lands and experiences.
Bollywood By Night
Bombay Talkies
North American Premiere
India/117min/2013
Directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap
Producers: Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Guneet Monga
Screenwriters: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan , Rani Mukerji, Katrina Kaif, Randeep Hooda, Saqib Saleem, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
A quartet of short films directed by four of India’s most exciting contemporary filmmakers celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema in this omnibus film. Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap crafts a tale of ordinary people whose love of movies profoundly alters the course of their lives. Each story beautifully captures how lovers of cinema can’t help but carry that fascination into their day-to-day life. Haven’t we all wished, at one time or another, that our lives were more like a film?
Monsoon Shootout
Los Angeles Premiere
India-uk-Netherlands/2013/88min
Director: Amit Kumar
Producers: Trevor Ingman, Guneet Monga, Martijn De Grunt
Screenwriter: Amit Kumar
Cast: Vijay Varma, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Geetanjali Thapa
A split-second decision made by a rookie police officer propels writer/director Amit Kumar’s debut feature, which fascinatingly splinters into three separate, equally pulse-pounding scenarios. In a secluded alley drenched in the pouring rain, principled cop Adi aims his gun at Shiva, a vicious gangster on the run. What Adi decides to do next will reverberate throughout his personal and professional life in ways he could never imagine. Kumar thus explores the ripple effect our choices have, and how we unknowingly alter the lives of those around us.
Shorts
Aarti
Shorts Program 2
World Premiere
USA/2013/4min
Director: David Walter Lech
Producer: Terrie Samundra
A hypnotic look into the nightly “ceremony of light” ritual in a Hindu temple in Sheikhupur, Punjab.
Alchemy
Shorts Program 2
U.S. Premiere
India/2013/5min
Directors: Pranay Patwardhan, Shivangi Ranawat, Janmeet Singh
Producer: Pritesh Varia
A bold and vibrant song to the intricate fabric of modern day India, a kaleidoscope of voices, colors and traditions.
Bhiwani Junction
Shorts Program 1
Los Angeles Premiere
USA/2013/18min
Director: Abhi Singh
Producer: Abhi Singh
A poignant documentary portrait of Himanshu, a 12-year old boxer, whose formidable commitment to the sport makes his lofty dreams to become an Olympic champion appear well within reach.
Black Rock (Kaatal)
Shorts Program 1
U.S. Premiere
India/2012/22min
Director: Vikrant Pawar
Producer: Film and Television Institute of India
Two young lovers spend one last afternoon together. A beautiful meditation on the ephemeral nature of young love that has won three of India’s National Film Awards.
The Fly (Makhi)
Shorts Program 2
World Premiere
India/2013/31min
Director: Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni
Producer: Film and Television Institute of India
Employed as a Fly Killer in an upscale restaurant, Pipal must ensure a fly-free environment by smacking dead the flies that buzz over the patrons’ heads. When a nearby drainage is closed and the source of the fly infestation eradicated, Pipal must find a way to produce enough live flies to save his job, in this delightfully absurdist commentary on urban India’s emerging work culture.
Beloved (Humsafar)
Shorts Program 2
U.S. Premiere
India/2012/6min
Directors/Writers: Swapnil Awate, Laura Erbacher
Producer: Dsk Supinfocom
A sweeping single shot takes us on the breathtaking animated journey of two lovers and their eternal pursuit of harmony.
Jaya
Shorts Program 2
USA/2013/19min
Director: Puja Maewal
Producer: Puja Maewal
Young Jaya is able to survive the gruesome gang life in the unforgiving streets of Mumbai by posing as a boy. When she meets a wealthy businessman who looks like he could be the father who abandoned her, she sets out to reclaim her identity, in this engrossing drama that was shortlisted for a Student Academy Award®.
Kush
Shorts Program 1
India/2013/25min
Director: Shubhashish Bhutiani
Producer: Shubhashish Bhutiani
A bus full of schoolchildren boisterously makes its way back from a field trip when the news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards breaks. As violence quickly erupts across the country, Kush, the only Sikh student in the class, must find a way to escape the unquenchable fury of retribution, in this gripping drama that was shortlisted for an Academy Award®.
Little Gypsy (Kachho Gadulo)
Shorts Program 1
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2012/6min
Directors: Saptesh Chaubal, Pranay Patwardhan, Shivangi Ranawat
Producer: D.S.K. Supinfocom
Inspired by the folk traditions of various parts of India, this stunning animated film sweeps us into a mythical journey that celebrates the power of play and imagination.
Love.Love.Love.
Shorts Program 2
Los Angeles Premiere
Russian Federation/2013/12min
Director: Sandhya Daisy Sundaram
Producers: Tanya Petrik, Guillaume Protsenko
An intimate ode to the wondrous force of love, as it takes new shapes and forms through the endless Russian winters. Love. Love.Love. won the Short Film Special Jury Award for Non-Fiction at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
Outpost
Shorts Program 1
U.S. Premiere
India-usa/2013/17min
Director: Shiva Shankar Bajpai
Producer: Aditi Anand
In the barren desert of the India-Pakistan border, two lone army guards on the opposite sides of the line yearn for booze, mosquito repellent and some human contact, in this humorous glimpse into the absurdity of rigid immaterial divides.
Presence
Shorts Program 2
U.S. Premiere
India/2012/17min
Directors: Ekta Mittal, Yashaswini Raghunandan
Producers: Ekta Mittal, Yashaswini Raghunandan
Long days and nights spent within the bellies of the rising structural beasts that rapidly transform the city of Bangalore bring on visions of ghosts that speak of the construction workers’ memories, longings and fears, in this haunting meditation on the migrant experience.
Skin Deep
Screens with Writers
U.S. Premiere
India/2013/20min
Director: Hardik Mehta
Producers: Devang Bhavsar, Niraj Kothari
Sanjay and Sushma plan to elope to escape a looming arranged marriage. They are in love and their future together shines bright and perfect and filled with possibility--that is, as long as an extra piece of skin that complicates their sex life gets fixed in what should be a routine medical procedure. But Mumbai’s electricity gods have other plans in store for them.
Small Yellow Field (Tau Seru)
Shorts Program 1
Los Angeles Premiere
Australia-India/2013/8min
Director: Rodd Rathjen
Producer: Rodd Rathjen
In the remote vastness of the Himalayas, a young nomad's curiosity lies beyond the horizon. This stunningly photographed film made its world premiere at Cannes Critics’ Week.
The Puppet (Tamaash)
Screens with Shepherds Of Paradise
Los Angeles Premiere
India/2013/32min
Directors: Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh
Producers: Datta Dave, Chaitanya Hegde, Omar Nissar Paul, Devanshu Singh, Satyanshu Singh
A mysterious puppet offers young Anzar the chance to escape his father’s relentless punishments over his poor school grades by granting him the power to inflict misfortune on his nemesis, his brilliant classmate, Sadat. However, his newfound peace is short-lived as Sadat falls severely ill and Anzar comes to realize that the puppet’s powers are spiraling out of his control...
- 4/8/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
From April 8th to the 11th, Indian films will once again be showcased in the Us at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla). In its 12th year, Iffla boasts an incredible lineup of fabulous films that reflects the rich diversity of Indian cinema. Iffla’s Artistic Director Jasmine Jaisinghani says, “I’m thrilled and proud that Iffla’s line-up this year includes an especially diverse range of cinematic experiences, covering many regions of India and the diaspora.”
Iffla 2014 presents 33 films that include feature films, documentaries and shorts. The festival will have three world premieres, six North American premieres, six U.S. premieres, and 16 Los Angeles premieres. The films feature 10 different languages, from Hindi to Marathi, to Russian to Bengali. Additionally, Iffla supports American, Australian, British, Canadian, and European diaspora filmmakers from nine different countries telling their stories.
Bollywood will be well represented with three outstanding films all showing during the festival’s run.
Iffla 2014 presents 33 films that include feature films, documentaries and shorts. The festival will have three world premieres, six North American premieres, six U.S. premieres, and 16 Los Angeles premieres. The films feature 10 different languages, from Hindi to Marathi, to Russian to Bengali. Additionally, Iffla supports American, Australian, British, Canadian, and European diaspora filmmakers from nine different countries telling their stories.
Bollywood will be well represented with three outstanding films all showing during the festival’s run.
- 3/21/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) has released a complete list of the narrative and documentary films that will be screening at this year's festival. As previously announced, the festival will open with "Sold," a feature length drama about human trafficking, executive produced by Emma Thompson. Amit Gupta's "Jadoo," which premiered at last year's Berlinale, will close out the festival. "Jadoo" marks Gupta's second time at Iffla. His short film, "Love Story," screened at Iffla back in 2008. Other titles of note on this year's schedule include Anurag Kashyap's latest feature, "Ugly," as well as an anthology of shorts titled "Bombay Talkies," celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema. Both "Ugly" and "Bombay Talkies" screened at Cannes last year. Entering it's 12th year, Iffla bills itself as "the premiere showcase of groundbreaking Indian cinema globally." The festival will take place April 8-13th at the ArcLight Hollywood. See below...
- 3/19/2014
- by Shipra Gupta
- Indiewire
New Delhi, March 19: Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) will be celebrating its 12 years, and will run from April 8-13 at Arc Light Hollywood in Los Angeles, the festival's home since its inception.
Iffla will open with Jeffrey D. Brown's 'Sold', produced by Jane Charles and executive produced by Emma Thompson, and will be closed by the culinary comedy 'Jadoo', a film by London-based director and Iffla alum, Amit Gupta.
The highlights of the festival will include Anurag Kashyap's 'Ugly', 'Liar's Dice', Irrfan Khan starrer 'Qissa' and Mumbai spotlight films 'Bombay Talkies' and 'Monsoon Shootout'.
Iffla's.
Iffla will open with Jeffrey D. Brown's 'Sold', produced by Jane Charles and executive produced by Emma Thompson, and will be closed by the culinary comedy 'Jadoo', a film by London-based director and Iffla alum, Amit Gupta.
The highlights of the festival will include Anurag Kashyap's 'Ugly', 'Liar's Dice', Irrfan Khan starrer 'Qissa' and Mumbai spotlight films 'Bombay Talkies' and 'Monsoon Shootout'.
Iffla's.
- 3/19/2014
- by Shiva Prakash
- RealBollywood.com
A still from Jadoo
The 12th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla), to be held from April 8-13, announced its 2014 line-up of feature films and short films.
Amit Gupta’s Jadoo, an exploration of family bonds amidst two feuding brothers’ restaurants in England, will screen as the festival’s closing night gala. The film premiered at the 2013 Berlinale.
As previously announced, Iffla will open with Jeffrey D. Brown’s Sold. The 2014 edition of the festival will present more than 33 films.
Program highlights include the North American premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly, Geethu Mohandas’ Liar’s Dice, Anup Singh’s Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost and the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival Hank and Asha by James E. Duff.
Nagraj Manjule’s Fandry, Mahesh Pailoor’s Brahmin Bulls and Richie Mehta’s Siddharth will also be screened at the festival.
The festival’s feature...
The 12th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla), to be held from April 8-13, announced its 2014 line-up of feature films and short films.
Amit Gupta’s Jadoo, an exploration of family bonds amidst two feuding brothers’ restaurants in England, will screen as the festival’s closing night gala. The film premiered at the 2013 Berlinale.
As previously announced, Iffla will open with Jeffrey D. Brown’s Sold. The 2014 edition of the festival will present more than 33 films.
Program highlights include the North American premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly, Geethu Mohandas’ Liar’s Dice, Anup Singh’s Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost and the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival Hank and Asha by James E. Duff.
Nagraj Manjule’s Fandry, Mahesh Pailoor’s Brahmin Bulls and Richie Mehta’s Siddharth will also be screened at the festival.
The festival’s feature...
- 3/19/2014
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Iffla alum Amit Gupta’s film will close the 12th Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (Iffla) set to run in Hollywood from April 8-13.
Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison and Madhur Jaffrey star in Jadoo, which premiered in Berlin.
As previously announced, Iffla will open with Jeffrey D Brown’s Sold, on which Emma Thompson serves as executive producer.
All in all Iffla 2014 will screen 33 films including three world premieres, six North American premieres, six Us premieres and 16 Los Angeles premieres.
“I’m thrilled and proud that Iffla’s line-up this year includes an especially diverse range of cinematic experiences, covering many regions of India and the diaspora,” said Iffla artistic director Jasmine Jaisinghani.
“We would like to thank our programming advisor in India, Uma Da Cunha, for helping our programming team source some of these exceptional films.”
Programme highlights include the North American premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s psychothriller Ugly, Sundance premiere...
Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison and Madhur Jaffrey star in Jadoo, which premiered in Berlin.
As previously announced, Iffla will open with Jeffrey D Brown’s Sold, on which Emma Thompson serves as executive producer.
All in all Iffla 2014 will screen 33 films including three world premieres, six North American premieres, six Us premieres and 16 Los Angeles premieres.
“I’m thrilled and proud that Iffla’s line-up this year includes an especially diverse range of cinematic experiences, covering many regions of India and the diaspora,” said Iffla artistic director Jasmine Jaisinghani.
“We would like to thank our programming advisor in India, Uma Da Cunha, for helping our programming team source some of these exceptional films.”
Programme highlights include the North American premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s psychothriller Ugly, Sundance premiere...
- 3/18/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Slavery has been depicted on the big screen in countless films (most recently in Best Picture winner "12 Years a Slave"), but rarely is the topic of human trafficking depicted in a contemporary setting. The independent feature film "Sold," directed by Jeffrey D. Brown, executive produced by Emma Thompson, and starring Gillian Anderson, David Arquette, and Seema Biswas, will shed new light on the topic when the film opens the 12th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles."Sold," an adaptation of the National Book Award-nominated novel by Patricia McCormick and based on true accounts, details a young girl's harrowing attempt at escaping her life in a brothel in India. "Because of 'Sold's' marvelous script and courageous and brilliant cast,” said Emma Thompson, “it is a story that we can All watch – so that we may understand the processes of slavery in modern India and feel able to act...
- 3/6/2014
- by Ziyad Saadi
- Indiewire
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