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  • Indian Film Festival Los Angeles 2023

    Indian Film Festival Los Angeles 2023

    Mumbai: The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has always been more than just movies; it’s an immersive experience that takes audiences on a journey through the rich tapestry of Indian cinema. IFFLA will return 11 to 15 October and has announced an impressive lineup of official selections for the 21st annual edition.

    The festival will showcase 24 films (6 narrative features, 2 documentary features, 16 shorts) from 13 countries and in 14 languages. Opening and Closing Night Galas will take place at the historic Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood with other screenings and the masterclass will be at the Regal LA Live.

    “We are thrilled to enter IFFLA’s third decade offering a unique and much needed platform for emerging South Asian storytellers, and bringing a highly curated program to Los Angeles audiences,” said IFFLA executive director Christina Marouda.

    IFFLA’s Opening Gala selection, Vishal Bhardwaj’s Khufiya, is based on the novel Escape to Nowhere written by a former chief of Counter Espionage agent, Amar Bhushan. This riveting espionage thriller follows operative Krishna Mehra (Tabu) whose dangerous mission leaves her juggling between her dual identity as a spy and a lover. The film stars Tabu (Drishyam 2, Andhadhun), Ali Fazal (Mirzapur, Victoria & Abdul), Wamiqa Gabbi (Jubilee, Eclipse), and Azmeri Haque Badhon (Rehana).

    During the festival, renowned Indian film director, screenwriter, music composer, and producer Bhardwaj, will host an exclusive master class, where Bhardwaj will dive into his filmmaking journey and multi-faceted creative process across disciplines. Known best for his clever adaptations of Shakespeare to the Indian reality with Maqbool (2003), Omkara (2006), and Haider (2014), and having recently adapted Agatha Christie in Charlie Chopra (2023).

    Bhardwaj will also discuss his book to screen transitions. Lauded also for his priceless contributions to music for films, with hits like “Sapne Mein Milti Hai” (Satya) and “Beedi” (Omkara), Bhardwaj will delve into the impact music has on films.

    Making its LA premiere, action-packed Joram by IFFLA alum Devashish Makhija (Ajji) boasts a cast of A-listers that includes Manoj Bajpayee in the leading role, as well as Tannishtha Chatterjee, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Smita Tambe. This adventure thriller follows a young couple who has fled their tribal battleground for a peaceful life in Mumbai, when a ruthless shadow from their past shows up at their slum and sends them clinging for dear life.

    The Closing Gala selection will be the North American premiere of All India Rank by writer, filmmaker, comedian, and lyricist Varun Grover, that premiered at the 2023 Rotterdam Film Festival (IFFR). This charming coming-of-age dramedy, brimming with ‘90s pop culture paraphernalia, follows a turbulent year in the life of fresh-faced Vivek as he preps for India’s toughest undergrad exam at a coaching center far away from home. Grover will be in attendance opening the evening with an exclusive stand-up performance.

    Among the six feature films which will have major premiere screenings is IFFLA Alum Atul Sabharwal’s world premiere of Berlin, a spy thriller mystery set in the early ‘90s in Delhi starring Rahul Bose, Aparshakti Khurana, and Ishwak Singh.

    IFFLA’s co-director of programming Thouly Dosios said, “We’re profoundly inspired to have such a wide range of generations of South Asian storytellers join together in conversation under one roof over these five extraordinary days. From maestros whose oeuvre continues to expand in dynamic ways, to singular emerging voices who make leaps with their second films or feature debuts, to absolute newcomers whose striking entryways into the cinematic form have us longing for more.”

    The two films making their North American premieres at IFFLA are the dark supernatural tale Rapture by Dominic Sangma, a Locarno premiered Garo language film set in a remote Meghalayan community where a Christian pastor desperately struggles to maintain his grip over his congregation; and Aattam (The Play) by Anand Ekarshi, a scathing Malayalam chamber drama starring Vinay Forrt, about the havoc that ensues amidst a twelve-man theater troupe when their sole female member is groped by one of her colleagues.

    IFFLA will host the US premieres of two documentary features: The World is Family by legendary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan (Reason, War and Peace), his most personal film to date, that pays tribute to his parents whose lives were closely linked with India’s independence movement; and The Golden Thread by Nishtha Jain, a lyrical homage to one of the last remaining jute mills in West Bengal, once home to the world’s largest jute industry, now ravaged by mechanization.

    Co-director of programming Ritesh Mehta added, “We remain deeply committed to championing women directors, the forces behind 50% of our shorts program. Additionally, we are enthralled by how well the shorts represent the rich diversity of diasporic stories, from immigrant to second generation and mixed race experiences, from America to New Zealand, and beyond.”

    Of the 16 short films presented in IFFLA’s main competition lineup half of them are US productions, with seven countries and 13 languages represented. This section boasts three world premieres including IFFLA alum Sushma Khadepaun’s Places I’ve Called My Own, starring Aditi Vasudev, about an Indian woman returning from the US and navigating fragile threads of family and unrequited queer love; Jhanvi Motla’s Mirage; and Aleem Hossain’s On the Blue Table.

    Other highlights include Vibirson Gnanatheepan’s Anushan from France, about a teenager reconciling with his Tamil identity when an uncle arrives from Sri Lanka with wounds of war; the award-winning Bangladeshi documentary, Fantasy in a Concrete Jungle by Mehedi Mostafa; the DGA student winner Men in Blue, by Sachin Dheeraj Mudigonda; Reema Maya’s Sundance premiered Nocturnal Burger; and Running, a playful hybrid documentary written and performed by Danny Pudi and directed by Arpita Mukherjee, that follows Pudi as he sets out to uncover the story of his late estranged father.

    “Los Angeles has become home to countless artists with roots across South Asia and its diasporas. IFFLA has long been a vital touchstone for filmmakers due to both the platform it provides for their work to be seen in the heart of the American film industry as well as the support and networking it has offered the directors, actors, and other film artists who have been a part of the IFFLA ‘family,” stated Marouda.

    Seven features and 16 shorts will compete for the Grand Jury Prize Awards, which will be announced by the Jury members during the Awards Ceremony at the Closing Night Gala, along with the Audience Choice Awards.

    One of the most notable aspects of IFFLA 2023 is its continuing commitment to diversity and inclusivity. The festival not only showcased films from different regions of India but also celebrated the voices of Indian diaspora filmmakers from around the world. This inclusivity highlighted the global reach of Indian cinema and its ability to resonate with audiences of various backgrounds.

  • IFFLA 2022 to celebrate 20 years; unveils film lineup

    IFFLA 2022 to celebrate 20 years; unveils film lineup

    Mumbai: The latest edition of Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is set to take place between 28 April and 1 May with an impressive lineup of selections for the 20th annual edition of the acclaimed film festival, which will mark a return to in-person screenings and events this year.

    Speaking about the event, IFFLA executive director Christina Marouda said, “Reflecting on IFFLA’s 20 years, we find ourselves overjoyed by the range of incredible talent we have discovered and celebrated, introducing numerous emerging and established voices to Los Angeles.”

    IFFLA is devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, supporting emerging filmmakers and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora. “We are also incredibly proud of the sense of family and community we have accomplished over the last 20 years. The theme of this year’s festival is “Bringing the community back together,” stated Marouda, after being held virtually due to Covid-19.

    IFFLA’s Gala selection, Pan Nalin’s “Last Film Show” is the filmmaker’s celebration of the love of cinema through the story of a boy who stumbles upon a rundown film theater and then charms his way into a daily seat in the projection room. However, when the theater upgrades from film to digital, his new wondrous world is in danger. The crowd-pleasing, Last Film Show by IFFLA’s beloved alum Pan Nalin, debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival.

    Three feature film directorial debuts will have major premiere screenings at IFFLA. Making its world premiere, Anmol Sidhu’s “Jaggi” follows a schoolboy and his family’s dark secrets in the rural Punjab’s famous fertile farmlands. Making its North American premiere is Faraz Ali’s “Shoebox.” The film tells a coming-of-age story, which centers on a young woman who watches her father struggle to keep the family’s single screen movie theater operating while everything changes around them. Also making its North American premiere is Natesh Hegde’s “Pedro.” This film focuses on a taciturn electrician who becomes a social outcast in his small Karnataka town after becoming involved in a drunken incident.

    In an exciting addition, IFFLA will inaugurate a Spotlight on South Asia. Co-director of programming Ritesh Mehta stated, “The last few years have seen a dynamite rise in South Asian voices getting global acclaim. This 20th year, we’re beyond thrilled to have corralled some of these groundbreaking visions, and in turn offer some inspiring discoveries back to the culture. Our work is a total privilege, and we can’t wait to screen it with our communities in LA and beyond.”

    The Spotlight on South Asia section, which will showcase some of the most groundbreaking new works coming out of the greater South Asian subcontinent and its diasporas, is Abdullah Mohammad Saad’s psychological thriller “Rehana” (Rehana Maryam Noor) about a professor and single mother, who puts her family and life on the line to bring justice to a male colleague accused of sexually assaulting a student. The film made history for being the first film from Bangladesh to compete at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard. The spotlight includes the shorts 1978 (Pakistan) by award-winning director Hamza Bangash, Salar Pashtoonyar’s 2021 Student Academy Award winner Bad Omen (Afghanistan/Canada), Sunil Pandey’s Rotterdam 2022 selection “Baghthan” (Nepal), Nuhash Humayun’s 2022 SXSW Midnight Shorts Grand Jury Prize winner “Moshari” (Bangladesh), and Seemab Gul’s “Sandstorm” (Pakistan), which premiered at the 2021 Biennale’s Orizzonti.

    Of the 11 short films presented in IFFLA’s main competition lineup, eight are helmed by women directors. This section boasts four world premieres sure to make waves, including: Megha Ramaswamy’s provocative psychological horror “Lalanna’s Song,” co-produced by Guneet Monga; Ambiecka Pandit’s “Under the Waters,” a raw coming of age drama produced by Vikramaditya Motwane; the deadpan debut, “Adventures of Faisal Rehman” by Mir Ijlal Shaani; and Varun Chopra’s politically charged documentary “Holy Cowboys” that infiltrates the terrifying world of youth proselytisation and right-wing extremism. The section also includes Student Academy Award winner, “Close Ties to Home Country” by Akanksha Cruczynski.
    IFFLA has a history of establishing game-changing and evolving initiatives to support Indian Filmmakers including the “One-on-One” programme, a newly established mentorship program and the filmmaker house – a home for filmmakers visiting Los Angeles during the festival. “IFFLA has discovered a lot of young talent and has given them an international platform to showcase their work,” stated Marouda. Each year, IFFLA accepts feature film and short film submissions for consideration into the festival from Indian filmmakers from around the world.

    More information can be found on their website: https://www.indianfilmfestival.org Additional IFFLA highlights among the feature film lineup include Irfana Majumdar’s Shankar’s “Fairies,” a delicate tapestry of a tale set in 1960s Lucknow about the touching bond that develops between the young daughter of a police chief and the family’s head servant, through his fantastical stories. Aditya Sengupta’s sumptuous Bengali drama “Once Upon a Time in Calcutta” follows an aging actress in games of power with five different men through the dark secrets of a disintegrating city. Nithin Lukose’s critically acclaimed directorial debut “Paka” (River of Blood), produced by Anurag Kashyap, is a revenge thriller that pits two rival families against each other over a Romeo and Juliet-type forbidden romance. Rahul Jain’s documentary “Invisible Demons,” which premiered in Cannes’ Cinema for the Climate section, explores the detrimental effects of India’s growing economy on the environment, in the sprawling city of Delhi.