With what promises to be its most ambitious slate yet, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has announced its impressive 2012 lineup and celebrates its 10th Year Anniversary.
33 features, documentaries and short films will be screened from filmmakers throughout the world including Canada, Italy, India, Germany, South Africa, UK, and the U.S. Among the offerings are three world premieres, nine U.S. premieres and twelve Los Angeles premieres. This is a banner year for the festival as it celebrates its 10th anniversary, running April 10—15, 2012 at the ArcLight Hollywood cinemas in Los Angeles, the home of IFFLA since its very first year.
“We look back on our first decade with a sense of exhilaration and pride. From the very beginning, our mission was to establish a film festival that would not only pave the way for a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture in the U.S., but also serve as the portal between the two largest entertainment industries in the world – the U.S. and India. Today, IFFLA stands as the barometer of Indian cinema worldwide and has become the gateway to India in Hollywood. I look forward to the next decade with zeal and I anticipate what IFFLA’s board and staff will be able to achieve as the dialogue between these two film industries continues to flourish and content is being created,” Christina Marouda, IFFLA’s founder stated.
IFFLA programmer Stacey Marbrey noted, “Now that we are in the centennial of Indian cinema, we have found that the medium has reached a global crossroad. From traditional to masala to neo-realism, this year IFFLA has seen an amazing breadth of submissions. We painstakingly choose films that represent the full spectrum of the diaspora and are very excited to introduce artists whose voices will be heard for years to come.”
Opening and closing night red-carpet galas showcase the first feature works of two directors, Bedabrata Pain and Prashant Bhargava.
Opening night is the world premiere of Bedabrata Pain’s drama CHITTAGONG and stars award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee (PINJAR). The film is set against the backdrop of 1930′s British-occupied Chittagong on the brink of a youth led revolution, and tells the story of 14-year-old Jhunka who comes of age as he is faced with the ultimate questions of sacrifice, love, and the quest for true freedom.
Closing night’s festivities will begin with the screening of director Prashant Bhargava’s richly woven award-winning drama PATANG. PATANG tells the story of Delhi businessman Jayesh and his daughter as they journey back to his childhood home in Ahmedabad for a family reunion during India’s largest kite festival. Under the kaleidoscope of colorful kite-filled skies, a Pandora’s box of family drama and past conflict is exposed. PATANG has become a festival favorite playing to sold-out audiences worldwide and is making its Los Angeles premiere at IFFLA.
Among the eight feature films screening will be India’s 2011 official submission in the Oscar™ foreign language category, Salim Ahmed’s poetic drama ABU, SON OF ADAM (ADAMINTE MAKAN ABU).
US premieres include Rajan Khosa’s critically acclaimed GATTU which won a special mention this year at the 62nd Berlinale for capturing the ironies, the complexities and the vitality of India, and Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni’s inspirational satire THE TEMPLE (DEOOL).
Documentaries include the world premiere of Ruchika Muchhala and Faiza Khan’s fascinating look into Indian society with THE GREAT INDIAN MARRIAGE BAZAAR and the US premiere of Raffaele Brunetti’s MOTHER INDIA which intertwines four distinct stories about India’s booming fertility industry.
Back by popular demand are two shorts programs consisting of 13 films, including the world premiere of Anirban Roy’s AUDACITY (AASHPORDHA).
In honor of its 10th year, the festival is bringing back three of its past award winners as part of a 10th ANNIVERSARY RETROSPECTIVE. Throughout 2011 the festival asked the public to vote online for their favorite film from the past decade. The films that received the most votes and selected by the public to be screened in the retrospective are past Jury Award winners for Best Narrative Feature UDAAN (2011) and BLACK FRIDAY (2005) as well as Audience Choice Award winner for Best Feature LOINS OF PUNJAB PRESENTS (2008).
Also returning is the crowd pleasing BOLLYWOOD BY NIGHT sidebar which includes the highly anticipated AGENT VINOD directed by Sriram Raghavan and starring Bollywood superstars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor and Abhinay Deo’s DELHI BELLY produced by acclaimed Indian actor/director/producer Aamir Khan.
WELLS FARGO returns for the seventh year as one of the fest’s main sponsors and this year IFFLA welcomes new corporate sponsor TURKISH AIRLINES.
TICKETS AND PASSES:
The 10th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) runs April 10—15, 2012 at ArcLight Hollywood
6360 W. Sunset Blvd.,
between Vine and Ivar.
Festival and All Access passes may be purchased via the festival website.
Individual screening tickets are available at the fest’s website. For up-to-the-minute information please follow them on Twitter.
ABOUT IFFLA:
Now in its 10th 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. For more information: www.indianfilmfestival.org
About ArcLight Cinemas:
ArcLight Cinemas, created by Pacific Theatres, represents an evolution in the movie going experience. ArcLight Cinemas with locations in Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena and El Segundo offers an unprecedented combination of technology, amenities, comfort, and customer service. Facilities include the historic Cinerama Dome (only at the Hollywood location) and state-of-the-art “black box” auditoriums as well as a cafß bar and a cinema-focused gift shop. Tickets can be purchased online without a fee and printed at home and at the theaters’ automated ticketing kiosks. For more information about ArcLight visit their site.
2012 PROGRAM:
OPENING NIGHT GALA
CHITTAGONG
World Premiere
Tuesday, April 10, 7:30PM
India/2012/105min
Director: Bedabrata Pain
Producers: Bedabrata Pain
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Barry John, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Delzad Hiwale
On the brink of a youth-led revolution, 14-year-old Jhunka comes of age in British occupied Chittagong as he is faced with the ultimate questions of sacrifice, love, and the quest for true freedom.
Hindi with English Subtitles
CLOSING NIGHT GALA
PATANG
Los Angeles Premiere
Sunday, April 15, 7:00PM
USA/India/2011/93min
Director: Prashant Bhargava
Producer: Jaideep Punjabi
Cast: Seema Biswas, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sugandha Garg
Under the kaleidoscope kite-filled skies of Ahmedabad, a family reunions brings out drama, painful past memories, and hope for a new beginning.
Hindi with English Subtitles
FEATURE FILMS
ABU, SON OF ADAM (ADAMINTE MAKAN ABU)
Wednesday, April 11, 7:15PM
India/2010/101min
Director: Salim Ahmed
Producer: Salim Ahmed, Ashraf Bedi
Cast: Salim Kumar, Zarina Wahab, Venu Nedumudi
After a lifetime of saving, Abu and Aisa are finally ready to realize their lifelong dream: to go on the Hajj to Mecca.
Malayalam with English Subtitles
ANIMA AND PERSONA
Los Angeles Premiere
Saturday, April 14, 7:15PM
India/2011/132min
Director: Thiagarajan Kumararaja
Producer: S.P.B Charan
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sampath Raj, Ravi Krishna, Yasmin Ponnappa
Things get ugly in the underworld when a large shipment of cocaine arrives in town and everyone wants a piece of it.
Tamil with English Subtitles
CORRODE (KSHAY)
Los Angeles Premiere
Saturday, April 14, 9:45PM
India/2011/90min Director: Karan Gour
Producer: Karan Gour, Shaan Vyas
Cast: Rasika Dugal, Alekh Sangal, Sudhir Pednekar
KSHAY artistically revolves around the personification of obsession, fueled by nothing more than intangible desires.
Hindi with English Subtitles
DELHI IN A DAY
Los Angeles Premiere
Saturday, April 14, 5:30PM
India/2011/88min
Director: Prashant Nair
Producer: Prashant Nair
Cast: Lee Williams, Lillete Dubey, Kulbhushan Kharbanda
After a British stranger arrives, the complexly woven fabric of a bourgeois Delhi household is turned upside down.
English and Hindi with English Subtitles
GATTU
US Premiere
Saturday, April 14, 12:00PM
India/2011/80min
Director: Rajan Khosa
Producer: Children’s Film Society India
Cast: Mohammad Samad, Naresh Kumar, Bhura
Gattu, a fierce and precocious little street urchin, takes matters into his own hands when one day he’s had enough of the ridicule and day-to-day toil of his life.
Hindi with English Subtitles
LUCKY
Saturday, April 14, 3:00PM
South Africa/2011/100min
Director: Avie Luthra Producer: Christopher J. Wilmot
Cast: Sihle Dlamini, Jayashree Basavaraj, James Ngcobo
In the wake of his mother’s tragic death, Lucky, a young Zulu orphan, embarks on a personal journey with an elderly Indian woman in modern day South Africa.
English, Hindi and Zulu with English Subtitles
THE TEMPLE (DEOOL)
US Premiere
Thursday, April 12, 9:00PM
India/2011/135min
Director: Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni
Producer: Abhijeet Gholap
Cast: Mohan Agashe, Vibhawari Deshpande, Hrishikesh Joshi
Alum Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni returns to IFFLA with a well-crafted poignant satire about the consequences of religious profiteering.
Marathi with English Subtitles
WATCH INDIAN CIRCUS (DEKH INDIAN CIRCUS)
Los Angeles Premiere
Sunday, April 15, 12:00PM
India/2011/101min
Director: Mangesh Hadawale
Producer: Chirag D. Shah
Cast: Tannishtha Chatterjee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Virendrapratap Rathod
How far will a poor family go to take their children to watch the circus
Hindi with English Subtitles
DOCUMENTARIES
DECODING DEEPAK
Los Angeles Premiere
Thursday, April 12, 8:30PM
USA/2012/75min
Director: Gotham Chopra
Producer: Mark Rinehart, Gotham Chopra
Gotham Chapra chronicles a year in the life of his father, spiritualist and pop culture icon, Deepak Chopra.
English
THE GREAT INDIAN MARRIAGE BAZAAR
World Premiere
Friday, April 13, 6:00PM
India/2011/52min
Director: Ruchika Muchhala, Faiza Khan
Producer: Mediacorp Singapore & NHK Japan
Featuring: Ruchika Muchhala
Ruchika Muchhala chronicles her fascinating personal journey into the nucleus of arranged marriages in Indian society.
English and Hindi with English Subtitles
(screens with LOVE HACKING)
MARATHON BOY
Saturday, April 14, 3:30PM
UK/USA/India/2010/98min
Director: Gemma Atwal
Producer: Gemma Atwal, Matt Norman
Featuring: Budhia Singh, Biranchi Das
When 4-year-old Budhia, a slum child, is taken by a coach to be trained as the youngest marathon runner ever, a compelling human story emerges full of moral dilemma, dramatic twists, and ethical and legal debate.
English and Oriyan with English Subtitles
MOTHER INDIA
US Premiere
Saturday, April 14, 5:00PM
Italy/2011/61min
Director: Raffaele Brunetti
Producer: B&B Film, Al Jazeera, Rai, OHM, YLE
MOTHER INDIA intertwines four distinct stories about India’s booming fertility industry.
Bengali, English and Telugu with English Subtitles
(screens with RAJU)
“BOLLYWOOD BY NIGHT”
AGENT VINOD
Los Angeles Premiere
Saturday, April 14, 9:15PM
India/2012/150min
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Sunil Lulla, Shwetanjali Rai, Saif Ali Khan
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Gulshan Grover
While in pursuit across the globe, Saif Ali Khan as Agent Vinod uncovers the ultimate conspiracy. With much anticipation, alum filmmaker Sriram Raghavan (JOHNNY GADDAAR) returns to IFFLA with the Los Angeles première of AGENT VINOD.
Hindi with English Subtitles
DELHI BELLY
Friday, April 13, 9:45PM
India/2011/102min
Director: Abhinay Deo
Producer: Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, Ronnie Screwvala
Cast: Imran Khan, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Vir Das
Three crude, rude, and completely irresponsible roommates become entangled in the underbelly of Delhi’s dirtiest criminal gangs, in the most comedic of situations. Produced by Aamir Khan, Delhi Belly was one of the most talked about films of 2011.
English and Hindi with English Subtitles
SHORTS
LOVE HACKING
Friday, April 13, 6:00PM
USA/2011/22min
Director: Jenni Nelson
Producer: Jenni Nelson
Featuring: Tim Heath, Sarita Heath
A virtual relationship becomes a reality when a robot inventor falls in love and journeys across the globe to meet his fiancée for the first time.
English
(screens with THE GREAT INDIAN MARRIAGE BAZAAR)
RAJU
Saturday, April 14, 2012, 5:00PM Germany/2010/23min
Director: Max Zahle
Producer: Hamburg Media School, Creative Producer Stefan Gieren
When their newly adopted son disappears, a heartbroken young German couple discovers the horrific truth behind the elaborate scheme that they are now a part of, in this Academy Award nominated short.
German with English Subtitles
(screens with MOTHER INDIA)
SHORTS PROGRAM I
Wednesday, April 11 9:15PM
Saturday, April 14 2:30PM
THE 5
L.A. Premiere
USA/2011/19min
Director: Ravi Kapoor
Producer: Reena Dutt
The hippest chapter of the Mahabharata plays out when a group of brothers, in light of their mother’s death, come together for a final showdown.
English
AUDACITY (AASHPORDHA)
World Premiere
India/2011/14min
Director: Anirban Roy
Producer: Somnath Sen
How far will rebellious 13-year-old Lily go to defy her overbearing father and ridiculous, nosy neighbors?
Bengali with English Subtitles
NOISE (SHOR)
L.A. Premiere
India/2011/17min
Director: Neeraj Ghaywan
Producer: Tumbhi.com, Deep Singh Kakkad, Anurag Kashyap Films
Barely surviving in the seedy ghettos of Mumbai, Lallan and Meena find each other while embracing death, divorce, and redemption.
Hindi with English Subtitles
PLACE FOR LANDING
L.A. Premiere USA/2010/6min
Director: Shambhavi Kaul
Producer: Shambhavi Kaul
A household landscape implodes and explodes into space as a child and its reflection are inscribed into a shadowy lunar patchwork.
English
THE REAL MILLIONAIRE (KHARA KARODPATI)
L.A. Premiere
India/2011/19min
Director: Piyush Thakur
Producer: Film and Television Institute of India
When Vishnu, a desi farmer, gets an unexpected call, he and his entire village embark on a comedic and touching journey to find the true meaning of winning.
Marathi with English Subtitles
SUJATA
U.S. Premiere India/2011/18min
Director: Shlok Sharma
Producer: Anurag Kashyap Films
Sujata takes matters into her own hands after years of running and failing to escape when her childhood tormentor hunts her down.
Hindi with English Subtitles
SHORTS PROGRAM II
Thursday, April 12, 6:30PM
Sunday, April 15, 1:00PM
AFTERNOON (DO PAHAR)
L.A. Premiere
India/2011/28min
Directors: Shazia Shrivastava, Sharifa Roy
Executive Producers: Shazia Shrivastava, Sharifa Roy
When abused and elderly Sudha forms an unlikely bond with a hitman one afternoon, she is brought to ask the ultimate question.
Hindi with English Subtitles
DANCE OF GANESHA (NAACH GANESH)
US Premiere
India/2011/15min
Director: Bikas Mishra
Producer: Pankaj Dubey
Modernity and tradition clash when a tribal dancer’s daily burdens of family and survival conflict with the important legacy he carries.
No Dialogue
GINGER (ADRAK)
US Premiere
India/2012/5min
Director: Sahirr Sethhi
Producer: Sahirr Sethhi, Pallavi Rohatgi, Vinay Mishra
Through his lens, two worlds merge as a photographer is inexplicably drawn to a stranger.
Hindi with English Subtitles
PRAKATA HET YAD
US Premiere
India/2011/20min
Director: Milind Dhaimade
Producer: Vasudha Wantu
A ‘vagabond’ family sets up a home in a public park defying all conventions in this absurd and playful tale of Indian society’s modern psychosis told completely in Gibberish.
Gibberish
SAFE (MEHFUZ)
US Premiere
India/2011/16min
Director: Rohit Pandey
Producer: Anurag Kashyap
A solitary undertaker walks between the world of life and death when he becomes transfixed by a strange woman.
Hindi with English Subtitles
10th ANNIVERSARY RETROSPECTIVE
BLACK FRIDAY
Friday, April 13, 6:30PM
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature – IFFLA 2005
India/2005/143min
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Producer: Arindam Mitra
Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Pavan Malhotra, Aditya Srivastava
Black Friday is a film about the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Bombay, from the perspective of the conspirators and the police detectives investigating them.
Hindi with English Subtitles
LOINS OF PUNJAB PRESENTS
Wednesday, April 11, 7:00PM
Audience Choice Award for Best Feature – IFFLA 2008
India/2007/88min
Director: Manish Acharya
Producer: Manish Acharya
Cast: Shabana Azmi, Ajay Naidu, Ayesha Dharker
When Loins of Punjab sponsors a singing contest in a small New Jersey town, a motley group of would-be stars converge on a hotel with the hope of becoming the next “Desi” idol.
English
UDAAN
Thursday, April 12, 9:15PM
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature – IFFLA 2011
India/2010/134min
Director: Vikramaditya Motwane
Producers: Ronnie Screwvala, Sanjay Singh Ssf, Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Rajat Barmecha, Ronit Roy, Aayan Bordadia, Ram Kapoor
An inspirational coming-of-age drama about a teenage aspiring poet forced to fight for his dreams when he returns home from boarding school to live with his repressive, authoritarian father.
Hindi with English Subtitles.
Mudfest