Niv Art Movies, producer of Rotterdam winner “Sexy Durga,” and Little Lamb Films, the outfit behind Tallin, Santa Barbara and Edinburgh film “The Cloud and the Man,” have teamed for Locarno title “Whispers of Fire & Water.”
An exclusive clip from the film has been provided to Variety.
Lubdhak Chatterjee, who has previous shorts and documentaries to his credit, makes his fiction feature debut with the film. The narrative revolves around an audio installation artist who visits the coal mines of eastern India, an area plagued by depleting natural resources where fire burns constantly. Flummoxed by the complex socio-political ecosystem there, he tries to find solace in a tribal village where he questions his urban view and fundamental notion of self with water now being the dominant element.
“The film emerged out of my personal experiences of travelling in mining as well as rural areas in the hinterland of mainstream development...
An exclusive clip from the film has been provided to Variety.
Lubdhak Chatterjee, who has previous shorts and documentaries to his credit, makes his fiction feature debut with the film. The narrative revolves around an audio installation artist who visits the coal mines of eastern India, an area plagued by depleting natural resources where fire burns constantly. Flummoxed by the complex socio-political ecosystem there, he tries to find solace in a tribal village where he questions his urban view and fundamental notion of self with water now being the dominant element.
“The film emerged out of my personal experiences of travelling in mining as well as rural areas in the hinterland of mainstream development...
- 8/8/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festival plans to still announce its official selection of Indian films for this year’s edition later this month.
The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (Mami), organisers of the Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival, have confirmed that this year’s edition of the event will be postponed to 2021, due to the worsening Covid-19 outbreak in India.
However, Mami also said it would still be announcing its official selection of Indian films for this year’s edition later this month. It will also continue with its on-going digital programmes, including Dial M For Films and Mami Year Round Programme Home Theatre.
The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (Mami), organisers of the Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival, have confirmed that this year’s edition of the event will be postponed to 2021, due to the worsening Covid-19 outbreak in India.
However, Mami also said it would still be announcing its official selection of Indian films for this year’s edition later this month. It will also continue with its on-going digital programmes, including Dial M For Films and Mami Year Round Programme Home Theatre.
- 8/5/2020
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Adil Hussain will headline the cast of Vijay Jayapal’s psychological horror drama “Nirvana Inn,” one of the 29 projects selected for the Busan Asian Project Market.
Hussain won best actor at Norway’s Amanda awards for “What Will People Say,” and the film is the country’s entry to the Oscars foreign-language category. Also featuring in the cast of the Hindi-language film are Rajshri Deshpande (“Sexy Durga”) and Sandhya Mridul (“Angry Indian Goddesses”).
Joining India’s Stray Factory as co-producers are Magic Hour Films (India/Singapore), Still Whinging (Australia) and Indian outfits Uncombed Buddha and Harman Ventures.
The project has now realized 75% of its $400,000 budget and is looking for post-production support in Busan.
“Nirvana Inn” will follow a boatman who capsizes his boat, killing all his passengers, but he survives. Wracked with guilt, he flees and becomes the caretaker of a Himalayan resort and is shocked to see his victims checking in.
Hussain won best actor at Norway’s Amanda awards for “What Will People Say,” and the film is the country’s entry to the Oscars foreign-language category. Also featuring in the cast of the Hindi-language film are Rajshri Deshpande (“Sexy Durga”) and Sandhya Mridul (“Angry Indian Goddesses”).
Joining India’s Stray Factory as co-producers are Magic Hour Films (India/Singapore), Still Whinging (Australia) and Indian outfits Uncombed Buddha and Harman Ventures.
The project has now realized 75% of its $400,000 budget and is looking for post-production support in Busan.
“Nirvana Inn” will follow a boatman who capsizes his boat, killing all his passengers, but he survives. Wracked with guilt, he flees and becomes the caretaker of a Himalayan resort and is shocked to see his victims checking in.
- 10/6/2018
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Smriti Irani has been fired as India’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting. She is replaced by her deputy Rajyvardhan Rathore, but retains the textile ministry portfolio.
Irani, a former actress, had been in the job for only ten months. Rathore, a former professional shooter, will be the fourth person to head the I&B Ministry job since 2014, following Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Irani, since July last year.
Irani had been expected to attend the Cannes Film Festival, but her trip was cancelled only two days before her scheduled travel. Indian officials in Cannes explained her absence, and the attendance of Censor Board chief Prasoon Joshi in her place, by pointing to her role in regional elections back home.
Irani’s tenure in the I&B job had been plagued by controversies and problems. A decision to award management of International Film Festival of India in Goa to the...
Irani, a former actress, had been in the job for only ten months. Rathore, a former professional shooter, will be the fourth person to head the I&B Ministry job since 2014, following Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Irani, since July last year.
Irani had been expected to attend the Cannes Film Festival, but her trip was cancelled only two days before her scheduled travel. Indian officials in Cannes explained her absence, and the attendance of Censor Board chief Prasoon Joshi in her place, by pointing to her role in regional elections back home.
Irani’s tenure in the I&B job had been plagued by controversies and problems. A decision to award management of International Film Festival of India in Goa to the...
- 5/14/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
MollywoodThe promotional campaign for the film will be kicked off by director Adoor Gopalakrishnan.Sreelakshmi Bs Durga, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan's film which was originally titled Sexy Durga, has been regularly hitting the headlines for controversy. However, the film is finally set to release in Kerala on March 23. The filmmaker announced that the promotion campaign for the film will start from 5.30 pm on Monday at the Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram. The campaign will be launched by veteran director Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Speaking to Tnm, Sasidharan said, “The campaign will be one spread across Kerala, starting from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital." Explaining how the campaign will proceed, Sasidharan said, "An initiative called the ‘Cinema Vandi’ will promote the film under the banner of Kazhcha Chalachitra Vedhi. So the campaign will essentially include a pracharana yatra (promotion yatra) in which small skits will be included, and this will be done across Kerala." “Our promise was that we will bring this film to wherever it is possible for screening. Film societies or groups were formed on the basis of this. People showed interest. And we did all the promotion for this through social media,” he added. The film has earned honours such as the Hivos Tiger Award in the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2017, Golden Apricot for the Best International Feature Competition at Armenia’s Yerevan International Film Festival, and Best International Feature Narrative in Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico. It was also screened in several international film festivals like London Indian Film Festival and Hong Kong International Film Festival. However, it was dropped at the Indian Panorama section of the Iffi over the title card. The complaint was that while the title had been changed from Sexy Durga to S Durga, the hashtags in the title suggested what the original word had been. After a lot of struggle, the film got clearance with a U/A certificate from the Cbfc.
- 3/19/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
It’s do-or-die for the Sexy Durga director. He is determined to make that the organizers of the International Film Festival Of India (Iffi) comply with the honourable Kerala High Court’s decision to show his film. On Friday the Iffi director Sunit Tandon asked Sanal to submit a 35-mm print of his film to the Festival. ButRead More
The post “If they don’t show my film now it will be contempt of court” – Sanal Sasidharan appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
The post “If they don’t show my film now it will be contempt of court” – Sanal Sasidharan appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
- 11/27/2017
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
Filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s film S Durga or rather Sexy Durga faced several issues after I&B Ministry decided to drop the film from the ongoing film festival Iffi. The film that faced objections from a certain section also led to exit of two jury members from the festival, namely Bollywood filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh and writerRead More
The post Controversial film S Durga emerges victorious as Kerala high court passes judgment in favour of the film appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
The post Controversial film S Durga emerges victorious as Kerala high court passes judgment in favour of the film appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
- 11/22/2017
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
Sexy Durga director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan has slammed the move of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to remove two films which were selected by the jury, from the list of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi).
Calling the act "unprecedented in history," Sanal told Tnm that this has never happened before.
"It's something we've never heard of," he said. ...
Calling the act "unprecedented in history," Sanal told Tnm that this has never happened before.
"It's something we've never heard of," he said. ...
- 11/14/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
Director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan is very angry and dejected with the cursory way his film S Durga, earlier titled Sexy Durga, has been pulled out of the 48th International Film Festival Of India. Speaking exclusively to this writer Sanal says, “Basically it comes down to one lady deciding that my film is not to beRead More
The post Directors Sanal Sasidharan and Ravi Jadhav react to their films being pulled out of the Iffi appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
The post Directors Sanal Sasidharan and Ravi Jadhav react to their films being pulled out of the Iffi appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
- 11/13/2017
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
Bright irises, like those of a panther study us from the dark. Suddenly, an engine loudly revs up and the headlights turn on in a blinding flash. A van adorned with garish neon lights barrels towards us. The scene is visually self-indulgent and yet it wordlessly captures everything about Sexy Durga, a new entrant to the road movie genre by filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan.
- 10/13/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
In what is being seen as yet another instance of governmental censorship of creative expression in film, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has refused to exempt the Malayalam film Sexy Durga. Without the exemption, the independent film by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan cannot be screened at the upcoming Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival with Star.
A film needs an exemption from the I&B Ministry in order to be screened at film festivals without certification from the Central Board of Film Certification.
A film needs an exemption from the I&B Ministry in order to be screened at film festivals without certification from the Central Board of Film Certification.
- 9/27/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
Probably the coolest moment of the Guanajuato International Film Festival closing ceremony was when a bunch of Indian guys appeared on screen, visibly delighted as their film, Sexy Durga - "a chilling and bold accomplishment in the evolution of the Indian thriller” in words of our own J Hurtado - had won the top prize of the 20th edition of the Mexican fest. Director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan couldn’t attend the event but he, together with his crew, shared a video from the set of his new project to thank the Giff. Other films that got awards were Los años azules, the latest effort from the team behind 2013’s Somos Mari Pepa; and Etiqueta no rigurosa, a documentary about the first gay marriage in Baja California,...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 7/31/2017
- Screen Anarchy
The last night of the London Indian Film Festival saw the English premiere of Sexy Durga, a tense film concerned with the violence against women. Directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, the movie is not for the faint hearted. So how do you go about making such a picture? A question and answer session after the film let the director share his vision and movie-making process. BollySpice was there to listen and learn.
Sexy Durga was improvised, very improvised. It took about twenty nights and features friends of the director in the acting roles. On the surface of it, it might sound like creative anarchy. There was a no story, no script. Sasidharan wanted to make something that he’d never seen before. His goal was to try to capture the feelings and emotions of the situation. He explained how he viewed people’s lives as being full of moments like that,...
Sexy Durga was improvised, very improvised. It took about twenty nights and features friends of the director in the acting roles. On the surface of it, it might sound like creative anarchy. There was a no story, no script. Sasidharan wanted to make something that he’d never seen before. His goal was to try to capture the feelings and emotions of the situation. He explained how he viewed people’s lives as being full of moments like that,...
- 7/2/2017
- by Jonathan Howell
- Bollyspice
Parting is such sweet sorrow and none more so than to see the end of the 2017 London Indian Film Festival. After a rollercoaster week’s worth of films, we saw the closing of the London portion of the festival at the BFI Southbank with the English premiere of Sexy Durga.
The night began with a star-studded red carpet event. BollySpice was on hand to mix with the movers and shakers of the Festival. In particular, we caught up with executive and programming director Cary Rajinder Sawhney who had promised at the beginning of the run that this year would be the best ever. We asked him whether he stood by that comment. “In terms of the films? Yes, this has been the best ever. We had such a good selection of films, many from other festivals where they have won awards.”
There were many famous names from the Festival line-up who graced the red carpet.
The night began with a star-studded red carpet event. BollySpice was on hand to mix with the movers and shakers of the Festival. In particular, we caught up with executive and programming director Cary Rajinder Sawhney who had promised at the beginning of the run that this year would be the best ever. We asked him whether he stood by that comment. “In terms of the films? Yes, this has been the best ever. We had such a good selection of films, many from other festivals where they have won awards.”
There were many famous names from the Festival line-up who graced the red carpet.
- 7/2/2017
- by Jonathan Howell
- Bollyspice
The fabulous Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival in London and Birmingham, is UK and Europe’s largest platform of independent cinema from the Indian subcontinent. The brilliant London festival has closed but the amazing movies continue in Birmingham until July 2nd.
The festival has grown significantly in stature and reputation, with pan-Indian and Indian sub continental cinema in several languages, all subtitled in English, Bsl (British Sign Language) incorporated in some talks, and this year attracted major award winning films including Newton, Hotel Salvation and The Cinema Travellers, as well as world premieres like the Tamil comedy, Ticket – The Movie.
Festival executive and programming director Cary Rajinder Sawhney said: “It is wonderful that the festival continues to lead the debate and not simply reflect the changing shape of Indian cinema; from this year’s Indian virtual reality showcases to bringing carefully curated important new talent to the world stage...
The festival has grown significantly in stature and reputation, with pan-Indian and Indian sub continental cinema in several languages, all subtitled in English, Bsl (British Sign Language) incorporated in some talks, and this year attracted major award winning films including Newton, Hotel Salvation and The Cinema Travellers, as well as world premieres like the Tamil comedy, Ticket – The Movie.
Festival executive and programming director Cary Rajinder Sawhney said: “It is wonderful that the festival continues to lead the debate and not simply reflect the changing shape of Indian cinema; from this year’s Indian virtual reality showcases to bringing carefully curated important new talent to the world stage...
- 7/1/2017
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
One dark night in Kerala, Durga (Rajshri Deshpande) and Kabeer (Kannan Nayar) hitch a ride to the railway station. We know very little about them, but the urgency with which they want to catch a train suggests they may be a couple trying to run away. Durga only speaks Hindi, revealing that she’s a North Indian; Kabeer is a Malayalee. Their names suggest, too, that they may be an interfaith couple, Durga a Hindu, Kabeer a Muslim.
Durga and Kabeer’s story is contrasted with images of the Garudan Thookkam, or “Eagle Hanging”, a ritual performed in honour of the goddess Kali, in which participants hang – presumably allowing them to look like flying eagles — from hooks that pierce their bodies. One version of Kali’s origins is that she was born out of the anger of the goddess Durga. Kali has associations with violence and sexuality, and invoking her...
Durga and Kabeer’s story is contrasted with images of the Garudan Thookkam, or “Eagle Hanging”, a ritual performed in honour of the goddess Kali, in which participants hang – presumably allowing them to look like flying eagles — from hooks that pierce their bodies. One version of Kali’s origins is that she was born out of the anger of the goddess Durga. Kali has associations with violence and sexuality, and invoking her...
- 6/29/2017
- by Katherine Matthews
- Bollyspice
Europe’s Largest Indian Film Festival returns to Birmingham again this year for the third year in the row. Sister to the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival, (Liff), Birmingham Indian Film Festival will run from Friday 23 June until Sunday 2 July 2017. This year’s festival promises to be one of the best showcasing 11 Independent Films, 2 Music Documentaries and a host of talent over 10 days in 3 cinemas!
Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Liff & Biff Director, says: “We are delighted to bring Birmingham audiences a carefully curated selection of the very best new Indian and South Asian independent cinema; all films are English subtitled, offering a rare window into over a billion South Asian lives. This year’s selection includes premieres of new comedies, gripping thrillers, shocking horror and insightful true-life documentaries as well as bringing together UK previews of major award-winning films from the world’s greatest film festivals.”
The festival opens on Friday 23 June at Cineworld Birmingham,...
Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Liff & Biff Director, says: “We are delighted to bring Birmingham audiences a carefully curated selection of the very best new Indian and South Asian independent cinema; all films are English subtitled, offering a rare window into over a billion South Asian lives. This year’s selection includes premieres of new comedies, gripping thrillers, shocking horror and insightful true-life documentaries as well as bringing together UK previews of major award-winning films from the world’s greatest film festivals.”
The festival opens on Friday 23 June at Cineworld Birmingham,...
- 6/15/2017
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
London is getting ready to host one of the best Indian film festivals in the world. London Indian Film Festival goes beyond Bollywood and focuses the lens on indie films from all over India and more. Taking place at 11 cinemas across London including BFI Southbank from 22-29 June, this year boasts an exciting selection of fabulous cutting-edge films and proves once again why it is the considered the ‘punk-rock of Indian cinema’.
Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Liff Director, says: “We are delighted to bring London audiences a carefully curated selection of the very best new Indian and South Asian independent cinema; all films are English subtitled, offering a rare window into over a billion South Asian lives. This year’s selection includes premieres of new comedies, gripping thrillers, shocking horror and insightful true life documentaries as well as bringing together UK previews of major award-winning films from the world’s greatest film festivals.
Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Liff Director, says: “We are delighted to bring London audiences a carefully curated selection of the very best new Indian and South Asian independent cinema; all films are English subtitled, offering a rare window into over a billion South Asian lives. This year’s selection includes premieres of new comedies, gripping thrillers, shocking horror and insightful true life documentaries as well as bringing together UK previews of major award-winning films from the world’s greatest film festivals.
- 6/12/2017
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
As we told you the renowned London Indian Film Festival is back for another year with a new and exciting selection of fabulous cutting-edge films that reaffirm the festival’s position as the ‘punk-rock of Indian cinema’. With films that range from subjects covering stories of gangsters, comedy themes, horror elements, thrillers, immigration and diaspora issues, environment, economics, religion, politics, and the lives of Indian royalty this year’s festival that runs from 22-29 June is not to be missed.
Check out this totally cool trailer (created by Parag Sankhe) to get an idea for what is in store for you! It has some amazing clips of the films that you must see!
The Black Prince opens the festival on 22nd June at the BFI Southbank with the red carpet premiere of the historical epic. The screening will also include a Q and A with the cast and director. Directed by Kavi Raz,...
Check out this totally cool trailer (created by Parag Sankhe) to get an idea for what is in store for you! It has some amazing clips of the films that you must see!
The Black Prince opens the festival on 22nd June at the BFI Southbank with the red carpet premiere of the historical epic. The screening will also include a Q and A with the cast and director. Directed by Kavi Raz,...
- 6/3/2017
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Highlights include the UK premiere of Cars 3 and 17 world premieres.Scroll Down For Competition Titles
The line-up for the 71st Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has been unveiled this morning by artistic director Mark Adams.
This year’s Eiff (June 21-2 July) will comprise a total 151 features from 46 countries including 17 world premieres, 12 international premieres, 9 European premieres and 69 UK premieres.
Highlights include the UK Premiere of Disney-Pixar’s animation Cars 3, appearances from Stanley Tucci, Oliver Stone and Kevin Bacon and the Opening and Closing Gala premieres of the previously announced God’s Own Country and England Is Mine.
There will also be a special screening of Raiders Of The Lost Ark accompanied by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra performing the score live.
Best of British
The Best of British strand includes Bryn Higgins’ Access All Areas featuring Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens; Simon Hunter’s Edie starring Sheila Hancock; the Donmar Warehouse’s all-female adaptation of [link...
The line-up for the 71st Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has been unveiled this morning by artistic director Mark Adams.
This year’s Eiff (June 21-2 July) will comprise a total 151 features from 46 countries including 17 world premieres, 12 international premieres, 9 European premieres and 69 UK premieres.
Highlights include the UK Premiere of Disney-Pixar’s animation Cars 3, appearances from Stanley Tucci, Oliver Stone and Kevin Bacon and the Opening and Closing Gala premieres of the previously announced God’s Own Country and England Is Mine.
There will also be a special screening of Raiders Of The Lost Ark accompanied by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra performing the score live.
Best of British
The Best of British strand includes Bryn Higgins’ Access All Areas featuring Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens; Simon Hunter’s Edie starring Sheila Hancock; the Donmar Warehouse’s all-female adaptation of [link...
- 5/31/2017
- by orlando.parfitt@screendaily.com (Orlando Parfitt)
- ScreenDaily
It’s over but it opened L.A.’s newest spring season of unlimited international film screenings all over the city throughout the month of April and into Cannes.
The 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) opened with “Lipstick Under My Burkha” and its impressive ensemble cast of Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur in a dramatic, but irreverent and vibrant film about women and faith. The film premiered at the Tokyo Film Festival 2016 and has been lighting up the festival circuit, including just winning the Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival. Director Alankrita Shrivastava is confirmed to attend and additional talent to be confirmed.
“Lipstick Under My Burkha”
Iffla concluded on April 9 with a red carpet and gala that featured the Los Angeles premiere of Shubhashish Bhutiani’s “Hotel Salvation” starring Adil Hussain who was in attendance, as well as the...
The 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) opened with “Lipstick Under My Burkha” and its impressive ensemble cast of Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur in a dramatic, but irreverent and vibrant film about women and faith. The film premiered at the Tokyo Film Festival 2016 and has been lighting up the festival circuit, including just winning the Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival. Director Alankrita Shrivastava is confirmed to attend and additional talent to be confirmed.
“Lipstick Under My Burkha”
Iffla concluded on April 9 with a red carpet and gala that featured the Los Angeles premiere of Shubhashish Bhutiani’s “Hotel Salvation” starring Adil Hussain who was in attendance, as well as the...
- 4/21/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
MOMa and Film Society of Lincoln Center's annual New Directors / New Films festival wrapped up this past weekend. Their goal each year is to celebrate "a group of filmmakers who represent the present and anticipate the future of cinema: daring artists whose work pushes the envelope and is never what you’d expect" The big tickets this year were two buzzy Sundance titles: the gay drama Beach Rats (a subway misshap prevented me from making the screening - argh!) and the rap comedy Patti Cake$ which will be out in July. The latter prompted a bidding war with Fox Searchlight offering $10+ million. Beach Rats was picked up by a new distribution company called Neon so who knows when it will arrive. Colossal, that Anne Hathaway as a kaiju oddity, will be Neon's first proper release on April 7th.
At Nd/Nf we previously reviewed Sexy Durga, Happiness Academy, and Strong Island.
At Nd/Nf we previously reviewed Sexy Durga, Happiness Academy, and Strong Island.
- 3/30/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The Summer Is GoneOne of the greater pleasures of New Directors/New Films, the yearly collaboration in New York between the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Museum of Modern Art, is reveling in the mystery of emerging directors. Of course, many and most festivals have offerings from first (and second and third time) directors, but at none is this explicitly the point. When a minimum of information is offered, save for a brief bio, relinquished is the burden of pre-viewing research and any expectations that may arise from it. More prominent titles have been covered by the Notebook already, but here are highlights from around the globe, from directors not-yet-known, though hopefully for not much longer. The Summer Is Gone echoes the ghosts of Edward Yang by locating drama in a particular moment in history, wedding personal histories to political ones. Set in inner Mongolia, the film throws back to the ever-receding 90s,...
- 3/14/2017
- MUBI
New Directors / New Films which runs March 15th through the 26th is a festival of emerging international filmmakers here in NYC each year. We'll cover a few titles staring with a nightmare journey in India...
Sexy Durga
Do you ever feel like you're missing something no matter how closely you pay attention? Not being well versed in Hinduism, it's difficult to make many inferences from the use of the goddess Durga in this film's title though calling her "Sexy" was quite a controversial move. I'm not sure why given that a quick bit of research reveals that she's a supreme goddess which sounds damn sexy to me...
Sexy Durga
Do you ever feel like you're missing something no matter how closely you pay attention? Not being well versed in Hinduism, it's difficult to make many inferences from the use of the goddess Durga in this film's title though calling her "Sexy" was quite a controversial move. I'm not sure why given that a quick bit of research reveals that she's a supreme goddess which sounds damn sexy to me...
- 3/11/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
What a surprising city Rotterdam is and the Festival and Cinemart are full of surprises too.
Being in The Netherlands is like a homecoming for me. My first major job in the film industry was with 20th Century Fox International and City Fox Films in Amsterdam in 1975 which is when I first attended the International Film Festival of Rotterdam, three years after its founding by Huub Bals. It was much smaller then. Iffr’s logo is a tiger, loosely based on the M.G.M. lion as an alternative. From the beginning, the festival has profiled itself as a promoter of alternative, innovative and non-commercial films, with an emphasis on the Far East and developing countries. It has become one of the most important events in the film world, an integral part of the winter circuit of Sundance, Rotterdam and Berlin Film Festivals.
“Fox and HIs Friends”
Except for my...
Being in The Netherlands is like a homecoming for me. My first major job in the film industry was with 20th Century Fox International and City Fox Films in Amsterdam in 1975 which is when I first attended the International Film Festival of Rotterdam, three years after its founding by Huub Bals. It was much smaller then. Iffr’s logo is a tiger, loosely based on the M.G.M. lion as an alternative. From the beginning, the festival has profiled itself as a promoter of alternative, innovative and non-commercial films, with an emphasis on the Far East and developing countries. It has become one of the most important events in the film world, an integral part of the winter circuit of Sundance, Rotterdam and Berlin Film Festivals.
“Fox and HIs Friends”
Except for my...
- 3/8/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
One of the best festivals during the first half of the year is The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s New Directors/New Films, which kicks off its 46th year this March, running from the 15th to the 26th. With last year’s line-up including some of the year’s best films, including Cameraperson, The Fits, Kaili Blues, Neon Bull, Weiner, and more, we can expect many more discoveries this year.
Opening with Patti Cake$ and closing with Person to Person, in between will be one of our favorite films from Sundance as the centerpiece, Beach Rats. Also among the line-up is a handful of other festival favorites, including The Dreamed Path, The Giant, Menashe, and Lady Macbeth.
“Authenticity is an elusive thing these days, and without it we risk ruin. This is particularly true in cinema,” says Rajendra Roy, the Celeste Bartos Chief...
Opening with Patti Cake$ and closing with Person to Person, in between will be one of our favorite films from Sundance as the centerpiece, Beach Rats. Also among the line-up is a handful of other festival favorites, including The Dreamed Path, The Giant, Menashe, and Lady Macbeth.
“Authenticity is an elusive thing these days, and without it we risk ruin. This is particularly true in cinema,” says Rajendra Roy, the Celeste Bartos Chief...
- 2/15/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center has today announces their complete lineup for the 46th annual New Directors/New Films (Nd/Nf), running March 15 – 26. Dedicated to the discovery of new works by emerging and dynamic filmmaking talent, this year’s festival will screen 29 features and nine short films. This year’s lineup boasts nine North American premieres, seven U.S. premieres, and two world premieres, with features and shorts from 32 countries across five continents.
The opening, centerpiece, and closing night selections showcase three exciting new voices in American independent cinema that all recently debuted at Sundance: Geremy Jasper’s “Patti Cake$” is the opening night pick, while Eliza Hittman’s “Beach Rats” is the centerpiece selection and Dustin Guy Defa will close the festival with “Person to Person.” Other standouts include “Menashe,” “My Happy Family,” “Quest” and “The Wound.”
Read More: The Sundance Rebel:...
The opening, centerpiece, and closing night selections showcase three exciting new voices in American independent cinema that all recently debuted at Sundance: Geremy Jasper’s “Patti Cake$” is the opening night pick, while Eliza Hittman’s “Beach Rats” is the centerpiece selection and Dustin Guy Defa will close the festival with “Person to Person.” Other standouts include “Menashe,” “My Happy Family,” “Quest” and “The Wound.”
Read More: The Sundance Rebel:...
- 2/15/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Us and India-based service will allow users to receive their money back if they don’t like the first ten minutes of a film.
Us and India-based online platform MovieSaints has developed a novel concept for drawing users to the TVoD (transactional VoD) model.
The site, which charges around $4.99 per movie, enables viewers to claim a full refund if they don’t like the film they’re watching in the first ten minutes.
If they watch beyond ten minutes, they pay a non-refundable platform fee of $1.99, but can decide over the next 24 hours if they want a partial refund, pay full price or pay above the requested fee. Whatever viewers pay above the platform fee goes back to the filmmakers or distributors and sales agents.
“We understand that buying an independent film online is a risk in terms of both time and money for the viewer,” said MovieSaints CEO Priyadarshi Rishiraj. “So we wanted...
Us and India-based online platform MovieSaints has developed a novel concept for drawing users to the TVoD (transactional VoD) model.
The site, which charges around $4.99 per movie, enables viewers to claim a full refund if they don’t like the film they’re watching in the first ten minutes.
If they watch beyond ten minutes, they pay a non-refundable platform fee of $1.99, but can decide over the next 24 hours if they want a partial refund, pay full price or pay above the requested fee. Whatever viewers pay above the platform fee goes back to the filmmakers or distributors and sales agents.
“We understand that buying an independent film online is a risk in terms of both time and money for the viewer,” said MovieSaints CEO Priyadarshi Rishiraj. “So we wanted...
- 2/14/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Us and India-based service will allow users to receive their money back if they don’t like the first ten minutes of a film.
Us and India-based online platform Movie Saints has developed a novel concept for drawing users to the TVoD (transactional VoD) model.
The site, which charges around $4.99 per movie, enables viewers to claim a full refund if they don’t like the film they’re watching in the first ten minutes.
If they watch beyond ten minutes, they pay a non-refundable platform fee of $1.99, but can decide over the next 24 hours if they want a partial refund, pay full price or pay above the requested fee. Whatever viewers pay above the platform fee goes back to the filmmakers or distributors and sales agents.
“We understand that buying an independent film online is a risk in terms of both time and money for the viewer,” said Movie Saints CEO Priyadarshi Rishiraj. “So we wanted...
Us and India-based online platform Movie Saints has developed a novel concept for drawing users to the TVoD (transactional VoD) model.
The site, which charges around $4.99 per movie, enables viewers to claim a full refund if they don’t like the film they’re watching in the first ten minutes.
If they watch beyond ten minutes, they pay a non-refundable platform fee of $1.99, but can decide over the next 24 hours if they want a partial refund, pay full price or pay above the requested fee. Whatever viewers pay above the platform fee goes back to the filmmakers or distributors and sales agents.
“We understand that buying an independent film online is a risk in terms of both time and money for the viewer,” said Movie Saints CEO Priyadarshi Rishiraj. “So we wanted...
- 2/14/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Reed Suspects also closes further deals on its Efm slate.
Early in the European Film Market (Efm), Matteo Lovadina’s French sales outfit Reel Suspects has clinched an eye-catching deal for its horror movie Blind Sun with gore specialist Shudder, the self-dubbed ‘Netflix of Horror’.
The deal comes as Reel Suspects basks in the success of Sexy Durga, a market premiere at the Efm. The film, directed by Indian director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan has just won the International Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger award.
This is the second year in a row that a Reel Suspects title picked up Iffr’s top award, following on from Radio Dreams by Babak Jalali.
At the Efm, Reel Suspects is giving a premiere to controversial Filipino drama Purgatoryo, which touches on grim, necrophiliac happenings in the local funeral home. Also new at the Efm is another horror picture, Black Hollow Cage by Sadrac Gonzalez-Perellon.
Lovadina has confirmed...
Early in the European Film Market (Efm), Matteo Lovadina’s French sales outfit Reel Suspects has clinched an eye-catching deal for its horror movie Blind Sun with gore specialist Shudder, the self-dubbed ‘Netflix of Horror’.
The deal comes as Reel Suspects basks in the success of Sexy Durga, a market premiere at the Efm. The film, directed by Indian director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan has just won the International Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger award.
This is the second year in a row that a Reel Suspects title picked up Iffr’s top award, following on from Radio Dreams by Babak Jalali.
At the Efm, Reel Suspects is giving a premiere to controversial Filipino drama Purgatoryo, which touches on grim, necrophiliac happenings in the local funeral home. Also new at the Efm is another horror picture, Black Hollow Cage by Sadrac Gonzalez-Perellon.
Lovadina has confirmed...
- 2/12/2017
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveriesNEWSSexy DurgaThe Hivos Tiger Awards of the International Film Festival Rotterdam have been announced, with Sanal Kumar Sasidharan's Sexy Durga taking home the Tiger, Niles Atallah's Rey winning the Special Jury Award, and Caroline Leone's Pela janela being picked by Fipresci.New York's Whitney Museum has revealed its full film program for the 2017 Biennial, with a focus on such filmmakers as Mary Helena Clark, James N. Kienitz Wilkins, Kevin Jerome Everson, Eric Baudelaire and Robert Beavers.Recommended VIEWINGThe eagerly awaited trailer for Sofia Coppola's new film, a remake of Don Siegel's bizarre and wonderful The Beguiled, with Colin Farrell in Clint Eastwood's role.The glorious full trailer for James Gray's Amazonia exploration melodrama, The Lost City of Z."The screen is a neutral element in the film-going experience. Or is it? It projects dreams...
- 2/8/2017
- MUBI
A nightmarish experience in more ways than one, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan's improvised, nocturnal Indian road movie Sexy Durga forces protagonists and audience alike through a grueling ordeal with questionable rewards. Powered by a punkishly provocative energy that's easier to admire than enjoy, this deliberately unpleasant depiction of man's casual and cruel inhumanity to man — and woman — nabbed the $43,000 Tiger Award at the just-concluded International Film Festival Rotterdam.
The 66th film to nab this honor (from 1995-2015 awarded to three movies ex-aequo), it's a surprisingly belated first Rotterdam winner from the sub-continent. This...
The 66th film to nab this honor (from 1995-2015 awarded to three movies ex-aequo), it's a surprisingly belated first Rotterdam winner from the sub-continent. This...
- 2/6/2017
- by Neil Young
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sexy Durga, Rey and Moonlight win top prizes.
The winners at the 46th International Film Festival Rotterdam (25 Jan-5 Feb) have been announced.
Sexy Durga (pictured) by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan won the Hivos Tiger competition, which comes with a $40,000 cash prize.
The jury report said of the film: “The particular use of camera and acting give a sense of immediacy and momentum, while providing an insight into multi-layered power dynamics of gender, class and authority.”
Rey director Niles Atallah won this year’s $10,000 special jury award for exceptional artistic achievement in the competition.
The jury was; Michael Almereyda, Diana Bustamante Escobar, Amir Muhammad, Fien Troch, Newsha Tavakolian.
The Oscar-nominated Moonlight won the Warsteiner audience award. The $10,000 prize is voted for buy Iffr visitors.
The Vpro big screen award went to Pop Aye by Kirsten Tan. The competition is judged by a five-person audience jury and awards a cash prize to one of the eight films having their international...
The winners at the 46th International Film Festival Rotterdam (25 Jan-5 Feb) have been announced.
Sexy Durga (pictured) by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan won the Hivos Tiger competition, which comes with a $40,000 cash prize.
The jury report said of the film: “The particular use of camera and acting give a sense of immediacy and momentum, while providing an insight into multi-layered power dynamics of gender, class and authority.”
Rey director Niles Atallah won this year’s $10,000 special jury award for exceptional artistic achievement in the competition.
The jury was; Michael Almereyda, Diana Bustamante Escobar, Amir Muhammad, Fien Troch, Newsha Tavakolian.
The Oscar-nominated Moonlight won the Warsteiner audience award. The $10,000 prize is voted for buy Iffr visitors.
The Vpro big screen award went to Pop Aye by Kirsten Tan. The competition is judged by a five-person audience jury and awards a cash prize to one of the eight films having their international...
- 2/5/2017
- ScreenDaily
Among the titles competing for the International Film Festival of Rotterdam's (Iffr) prestigious Tiger award is Sanal Kumar Sasidharan's Sexy Durga. The film recently won an award at India's Nfdc Film Bazaar and Sasidharan's previous film, 2016's An Off-Day Game was one of the critical favorites of 2016 in his native Kerala. Sasidharan is now poised to make an even bigger splash with the movement onto the international scene that Iffr is providing. According to Iffr's synopsis: Goddess or whore? Two extreme views of women intermingle in this largely improvised spine-chiller. During a nocturnal ride, a young woman and her lover encounter a cross-section of Indian male society. What starts out as an attempt to escape descends into a journey through hell – from which...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 1/24/2017
- Screen Anarchy
Rotterdam reveals 2017 Tiger lineup and jury ahead of 46th edition.
The 46th International Film Festival Rotterdam (25 Jan – 5 Feb) has revealed the full lineup for the Hivos Tiger Competition 2017.
Scroll down for lineup
This year’s selection includes world premieres of new feature films by up and coming directors Niles Atallah, Pedro Aguilera and Hagar Ben Ashar, as well as debut features by India’s Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, American-Korean filmmaker Kogonada and Dutch director Daan Bakker.
This year’s jury will comprise of Newsha Tavakolia, Diana Bustamante Escobar, Fien Troch, Michael Almereyda and Amir Mohammed.
Festival director Bero Beyer commented: “This years line-up of the Hivos Tiger Competition features bold and daring filmmakers that don’t shun the use of other media, alternative narrative structures and provocative and relevant themes. The nominees and their works deserve international recognition for their artistry. We are proud to present each of these eight films with a special spotlight on their own day...
The 46th International Film Festival Rotterdam (25 Jan – 5 Feb) has revealed the full lineup for the Hivos Tiger Competition 2017.
Scroll down for lineup
This year’s selection includes world premieres of new feature films by up and coming directors Niles Atallah, Pedro Aguilera and Hagar Ben Ashar, as well as debut features by India’s Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, American-Korean filmmaker Kogonada and Dutch director Daan Bakker.
This year’s jury will comprise of Newsha Tavakolia, Diana Bustamante Escobar, Fien Troch, Michael Almereyda and Amir Mohammed.
Festival director Bero Beyer commented: “This years line-up of the Hivos Tiger Competition features bold and daring filmmakers that don’t shun the use of other media, alternative narrative structures and provocative and relevant themes. The nominees and their works deserve international recognition for their artistry. We are proud to present each of these eight films with a special spotlight on their own day...
- 1/3/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Film Bazaar: Experts also praise Film Bazaar Co-Production Market’s new video pitching style.
Buyers and festival programmers were buzzing about a number of titles at Film Bazaar 2016, including Kabir Mehta’s Buddhagram, an inventive documentary with risqué scenes from the life of a flamboyant cricketer.
Another hot title, also in Film Bazaar Recommends, is Atanu Mukherjee’s Unknown Faces (Rukh), a Hindi-language drama about an 18-year-old boy dealing with a family tragedy.
Three documentaries making waves with international visitors are Vrinda Samartha’s English-language Limitless about female marathon runners; Rupak Das’ A Dream Document about young Mumbaikars who dream of stardom; and serial killer story The Karma Killings by Ram Devineni and Tushar Parekh.
Festival programmers were also keen on My Son Is Gay [pictured], a Tamil fiction feature by Lokesh R; and Marathi-language socially relevant horror film Hide N Seek (Lapachhapi) by Vishal Furia.
The industry was also buzzing about two Malayalam films: Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s fantasy...
Buyers and festival programmers were buzzing about a number of titles at Film Bazaar 2016, including Kabir Mehta’s Buddhagram, an inventive documentary with risqué scenes from the life of a flamboyant cricketer.
Another hot title, also in Film Bazaar Recommends, is Atanu Mukherjee’s Unknown Faces (Rukh), a Hindi-language drama about an 18-year-old boy dealing with a family tragedy.
Three documentaries making waves with international visitors are Vrinda Samartha’s English-language Limitless about female marathon runners; Rupak Das’ A Dream Document about young Mumbaikars who dream of stardom; and serial killer story The Karma Killings by Ram Devineni and Tushar Parekh.
Festival programmers were also keen on My Son Is Gay [pictured], a Tamil fiction feature by Lokesh R; and Marathi-language socially relevant horror film Hide N Seek (Lapachhapi) by Vishal Furia.
The industry was also buzzing about two Malayalam films: Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s fantasy...
- 11/24/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
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