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Tag: IFFLA

  • Nina Lath’s film festival initiative Cinevesture makes major announcements

    Nina Lath’s film festival initiative Cinevesture makes major announcements

    MUMBAI:  You’ve got to hand it to Nina Lath. The former NFDC MD-turned-producer-turned festival organiser does not let anything get in her way. If she wants something, she goes out and gets it.

    Like she has done with her initiative Cinevesture which organised  the  inaugural edition of  the Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF).

    The festival is  back along with a market rebranded as *CinéV-CHD*, which will take place on 20-23 March 2025 in Chandigarh.

    Not just that: CIFF has also got into a relationship with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA).

    Let’s have a bit of a recap of  the inaugural edition of CIFF. It garnered significant attention and hosted prominent Indian film personalities including Karan Johar, Boman Irani, Sudhir Mishra, Shekhar Kapur, and Richa Chadha.

    Under Cinevesture, Lath has also designed CineV to be a a series of film markets that are designed to facilitate interactions between film professionals, investors, and distributors.  These markets will serve as a hub for private investors and industry insiders to explore co-production opportunities, secure funding, and forge strategic alliances.

    CinéV-CHD 2025 marks the first such market. Registrations for it  will open from  14 January 2025.

    Starting in 2025, Cinevesture will partner with IFFLA, the leading south Asian film festival based in Los Angeles. The partnership, *CinéV-IFFLA*, aligns the mission of both entities to support innovative storytelling and foster global collaborations.

    This collaboration will integrate south Asian stories curated by Cinevesture for CinéV-IFFLA into IFFLA Industry Days along with IFFLA’s selected projects from north America.

    Industry Days, which takes  place during the annual festival, is a pivotal forum that connects bridges south Asian filmmakers with Hollywood producers, offering opportunities such as pitch competitions, panels, masterclasses, industry round tables and networking events.

    The twenty third edition of IFFLA is scheduled on 6-10 May  2025 in Los Angeles. Submissions for IFFLA’s pitch competition open on 3 December  2025 at www.indianfilmfestival.org.

    CineV-CHD and CinéV-IFFLA also mark the beginning of Cinevesture’s broader initiative to build a network for investor-creator collaborations in south Asia and the diaspora. These events will focus on linking filmmakers with potential partners to develop projects that align with market demands.

    Beyond film screenings, the festival will host a series of insightful conversations and panel discussions. These sessions will delve into various aspects of film making, including script writing, directing, producing, and distribution. Renowned industry experts will share their knowledge and experiences, providing valuable insights for aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals.

    Says Cinevesture founder & CEO Nina Lath: “Unlike other sectors , film production often presents a challenge for private investors due to its intangible nature and relatively short shelf life. Yet the passion for cinematic storytelling and potential for substantial returns makes it an enticing opportunity. With CinéV, our mission is to bridge this gap by connecting pre-vetted projects with credible producers and investors, aiming for  mutually beneficial outcomes for all involved. As we bring the second edition of our event to Chandigarh, we are excited about the growing momentum and are proud to collaborate with IFFLA, a festival that has earned the utmost respect in the Indian film industry.”

    Adds IFFLA founder Christina Marouda:  “The partnership with Cinevesture comes at the perfect time for IFFLA as it officially expands its twenty third year legacy and footprint into the development of south Asian focused content. We could not think of a better partner than Nina and her new venture to create an ecosystem of talented storytellers and attract the right investors for these curated projects. This filmmaker-investor curated track is a gap we’re filling in with this endeavor. I’m excited for the IFFLA and Cinevesture teams to be joining hands, and cannot wait to see the results of such a unique and timely collaboration.”

  • 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.

  • Now Showing: Himalayan woman power documentary at IFFLA’s 19th edition

    Now Showing: Himalayan woman power documentary at IFFLA’s 19th edition

    Los Angeles : The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) returns on 20-27 May with a line-up of narrative and documentary features and shorts for the festival’s 19th edition where 40 documentaries, including shorts, will be virtually released. While the festival is geo-focused to California, special India passes will be available to enjoy the film festival by remote.

    “This is a very special year for IFFLA. Taking the festival online has given us the freedom to curate programs we would not have been able to otherwise present in a physical setting. We have (effectively) expanded our reach,” according to Christina Marouda, executive director, who added, “Once you accept the fact of going virtual you start to realize all the new things that you can do, which is very exciting.”

    The IFFLA devotes itself to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, supporting emerging filmmakers and promoting diverse perspectives of the Indian diasporas. The 19th edition of the festival boasts an impressive total of 40 films, including three World, eight North American, five U.S. and 17 Los Angeles premieres, spanning 17 languages and includes the works of 16 women directors.

    IFFLA will open with the Los Angeles premiere of the powerful female-centric film, Fire in the Mountains, the 2021 Sundance-selected debut feature by Ajitpal Singh that immerses the audience into a village amidst the backdrop of the breath-taking beauty of the Himalayan mountains. Marouda said, “It’s a region that you normally don’t get to see in terms of the life and struggles (in the backdrop of its) culture.”

    In addition, Marouda explained, “This film is a great example of what IFFLA is all about. And that is about supporting those new emerging voices that really have something to say with their first feature and we want to support the filmmaker in this journey that is starting for them right now.”

    IFFLA’s closing will similarly showcase, Sthalpuran, (Chronicle of Space) by Akshay Indikar, the Marathi film that has won the hearts of audiences at festivals around the world for its breath-taking, poetic exploration of the inner life of its protagonist, a young boy named Dighu, after being featured at the ‘Berlinale 2020’. “It’s very profound and beautifully shot”, Marouda said of the film. 

    Long-time IFFLA alumni Anurag Kashyap (of Sacred Games and Gangs of Wasseypur fame) will join Indikar in an interactive session that sets up an emergent upcoming independent filmmaker with one of the most celebrated independent filmmakers of our generation.

    In another tweak, aimed at lifting the spirits of the Indian population in these exceptionally dark times, IFFLA will make a section of its line up in the 2021 edition available to audiences in India, with the India Pass that is a novel feature of the festival this year. 

    The India Pass will offer access to 24 films from this year’s line up at the price of Rs. 150 (US $2.00), including six features and 18 shorts. IFFLA has coordinated with an anonymous donor who has underwritten most expenses associated with the pass.

    Selected documentaries for the viewing of India Pass holders will include the Malayalam feature ‘Biriyaani’, along with a powerhouse performance by Kani Kusruti; the poignant Rotterdam selected documentary ‘A Rifle and a Bag’; and the impressive debut feature ‘Aise Hee’ (Just Like That).

    A program curated by the legendary Uma da Cunha and themed, “Childhood on Edge”, which encompasses characters on the cusp of the momentous transformation from childhood to adulthood will be a special attraction at the IFFLA this year. This program includes three diverse features, Bridge, The Tenant, and Vanaja besides one short film, Kanya.

    Among the shorts in the India Pass, highlights include the riveting National Award winning ‘Custody’; a Nagaland-set period drama ‘Angh’, which won a prize at Clermont-Ferrand 2021; the bold and mysterious ‘Catdog’, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes’ la Cinefondation segment; the Gujarati film ‘Anita’, featuring a memorable performance by Aditi Vasudev; the dystopian animated masterwork ‘Wade’, winner at the Annecy Film Festival; the Rotterdam selected ‘Letter From Your Far-Off Country’, whose potent exploration of history, memory and oppression is more relevant than ever; ‘Annual Day’, a striking student debut from the Satyajit Ray Film Institute; the enchanting ‘The Song We Sang’, a riveting story about two young women in the streets of Ahmedabad during the Navratri festival; and ‘For Each Other’, the latest film by Rima Das.

    In addition to the films and their corresponding Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, the India Pass will also give audiences in India access to special panel discussions which include engaging conversations with successful industry executives who navigate the world of film and television development, both in the US and in India.

  • ‘Fandry’ honoured with top feature award at IFFLA

    ‘Fandry’ honoured with top feature award at IFFLA

    NEW DELHI: The Marathi film Fandry by Nagraj Manjule centering around a romance between two people of different castes has been chosen for the grand prize of the best feature film at the Twelfth Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles which concluded in Hollywood this week. 

     

    The Grand Jury Prize for best documentary went to Powerless, directed by Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar. 

     

    The prize for best short, which included a cash grant from HBO, was presented to Alchemy, directed by Pranay Patwardhan, Shivangi Ranawat and Janmeet Singh. 

     

    Honourable mentions were awarded to the narrative feature Siddharth directed by Richie Mehta, and the short film Love.Love.Love directed by Sandhya Daisy Sundaram. 

     

    Audience awards were given to Richie Mehta’s Siddharth, the documentary Faith Connections by Pan Nalin’s and the short film Kush. 

     

    “All of the films were a pleasure to watch,” the jury said in a statement. “We are in awe of and inspired by the stories that the filmmakers brought to us. Many of the films dealt with the exploitation of children, such as child labour. The film we chose – Fandry – features stunning cinematic quality and powerful story-telling, capturing the inner life of its young hero, and providing a detailed and intimate illustration of the social power structure of his village.” 

     

    The jurors were Variety critic David Chute, Crackle and Sony Pictures Television head of digital development John Orlando along with actresses Shohreh Aghdashloo and Meera Simhan. 

     

    Powerless is about India’s struggle to get electricity to its people. “For its portrayal of a community faced with a power struggle over limited resources and its complex web of stories, the jury gives the documentary award to Powerless,” the documentary jury said. 

     

    Filmmaker Brian Knappenberger, festival programmer Dilcia Barrera and producer Chris Salvaterra served on the documentary jury. 

     

    The short Alchemy.received the award for being “Culturally rooted and formally inventive, this film used mixed media to create a one of a kind film-going experience,” said the jury comprising HBO’s Gena Desclos, festival programmer Heidi Zwicker, and filmmaker Kamal K.M. 

     

    The Festival had concentrated on films made outside the Bollywood studio system to Hollywood. The six-day event screened 33 feature films, documentaries and short films by filmmakers from nine countries exploring Indian stories. 

     

    Festival director Jasmine Jaisinghani said the IIFLA aims to be “the Sundance of Indian cinema”, with films that contrast Bollywood’s often glamorised escapism with vivid realism. “A lot of our filmmakers are interested in telling stories of people that are not represented,” Jaisinghani added, “The films we curate are dealing with touching on various aspects and concerns of the filmmaker’s own society.”

     

    The festival began with Sold, a gritty drama by director Jeffrey D. Brown about a 13-year-old girl sold into prostitution in India. Brown said he wanted the film to be a call to action globally for people to take a stand against child prostitution and slavery, which as of 2013, involved 115 million around the world, according to the United Nations. 

     

     Sold, starring young actress Niyar Saikia who turned 13 while filming explores the harsh, terrible reality of child prostitution in India, but with a pinch of song-and-dance to “get the audience through” the dark themes, Brown said. 

     

    Brown, who won an Oscar in 1986 for best short live-action film, said India is experiencing a “golden age” as filmmakers from the subcontinent breakout into the wider film industry. “It’s a new wave of Indian cinema,” he said. “This is really mainstream, global cinema. It’s not art house exclusively.” 

     

    Others included Liar’s Dice about a rural village woman who sets off to find her missing husband. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January, the largest gathering for the independent film community in the United States. 

     

    In Siddharth, a father and mother go in search of their 12-year-old son who disappears after leaving home to find work in Delhi. 

     

    Bombay Talkies is an anthology of short films from four celebrated Indian directors, exploring love stories of ordinary people. The Auction House: A Tale of Two Brothers is a documentary of two Kolkata brothers who own one of the oldest auction houses in the city.

     

    The festival’s closing night film was Jadoo by British director Amit Gupta, a light-hearted comedy about a British-Indian family, and two food-loving brothers torn apart over the sale of a recipe. Set in Leicester, a city in the East Midlands of England, Gupta mined his own experiences of growing up in a family-run restaurant to tell “a simple story” about family and cuisine. 

     

    Jadoo, starring Amara Karan as the daughter trying to repair the rift between her father and her uncle, works as both a glimpse into the British-Indian community of Leicester, and the bigger theme of family feuds and culinary traditions, which the director believes will resonate with a larger audience.

  • Satyajit Ray Foundation picks six films for short film competition

    Satyajit Ray Foundation picks six films for short film competition

    MUMBAI: The Satyajit Ray Foundation has shortlisted six films that would be screened at the Foundation‘s short film competition.

    Satyajit Ray Foundation‘s short film competition is held in association with London Indian Film Festival.

    Prominent among the films are Neeraj Ghaywan‘s Shor that earlier won the ‘Best Short Film‘ award at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) and South Asian International Film Festival (SAIF), and Raju, which was nominated for this year‘s Academy Awards.

    The other shortlisted films are Ayesha (UK), Khaleel Khan Ke Faakhtey (India), Maya, and Unravel (both UK).

    The shortlisted films will screen on 27 June at the London Indian Film Festival while the winning film would be announced on the closing night ceremony of the festival on 3 July.

  • Kshay voted best narrative feature at IFFLA

    Kshay voted best narrative feature at IFFLA

    MUMBAI: Of late, a spate of India-made films has been doing the rounds at international film festivals and has been suitably rewarded.

    One such film is director Karan Gour‘s Kshay, an intense psychological study of a woman‘s obsession with an unfinished statue of the Goddess Lakshmi. Shot in stark black-and-white, the film has travelled to four international film festivals already with many more in the offing. The film recently won the ‘Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature‘ at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA).

    Said producer Shaan Vyas,” Kshay has taken us four years to complete and was made with a two-man crew at most times: the director Karan Gour and the Director of Photography Abhinay Khoparzi. The film is about obsession made by an obsessive person and, more importantly, the larger issues it addresses of materialistic obsession and blind faith in religion that are very relevant in today‘s world.”

    And the fact that it probably has the lowest budget of all the feature films at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles makes this win that much more exciting. “It reinforces our belief that you don‘t need big budgets to make a good movie. Four years of Karan and Abhinay‘s relentless effort is paying off now,” said Vyas.

    Other award winners were Gemma Atwal‘s Marathon Boy that got the award for best documentary while an honorable mention went to Rajan Khosa‘s Gattu.

    The award for the best short went to Neeraj Ghaywan‘s Noise (Shor) and Ravi Kapoor‘s The 5, while actress Meera Simhan won an award for her performance in Sujata, each receiving an honorable mention.

    Rajan Khosa took home a second honour of the evening when Gattu won the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature while the Audience Choice award for best documentary went to Gotham Chopra for his Decoding Deepak. Anirban Roy won the Audience Choice Award for best short film for Audacity (Aashprodha), according to a release.

  • Six short features to show at IFFLA

    Six short features to show at IFFLA

    MUMBAI: The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has decided to screen six short feature films.


    Two are in Hindi titled Shor and Sujata. The other four are Khara Karodpati, Aashpordha, The 5 and Place for Landing.


    Shor is a film based on a couple from Banaras who is consumed by its pursuit to survive in the seedy ghettos of Mumbai city. The film portrays the struggle of a working class woman’s endeavours.


    Said the director, “The journey so far has been really great. The biggest learning for me was to understand that the most difficult task is to actually assemble a great team which is equally excited about the project hence the success of the film must be accredited to them.”


    Directed by Shlok Sharma, Sujata is a 10-minute short film about a woman who takes matters into her own hands when her childhood tormentor hunts her down after years of running away from him.


    Avered Sharma, “This is a recognition for all the efforts that my team has put in. I would specially like to thank my scriptwriter Annie for writing such a beautiful script. I’m totally looking forward to get a good response to the film.”


    The festival that started on 10 April will go on till 15 April.

  • IFFLA to screen Paan Singh Tomar

    IFFLA to screen Paan Singh Tomar

    MUMBAI: The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) will celebrate its 10th year anniversary this year with the screening of Tigmanshu Dhulia‘s Paan Singh Tomar in the festival that will run from 10 to 15 April.

    Paan Singh Tomar is the real-life story of Paan Singh Tomar, a seven-time national champion athlete and Army jawan who became one of India‘s most infamous bandits. The film stars Bollywood favorites Irrfan Khan, Mahi Gill, Vipin Sharma, Imran Hasnee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
    The fest is also introducing a Family Day to this year‘s event line-up. This year, 14 April will mark the debut of IFFLA‘s new Family Day. “This year, as part of our ongoing commitment to provide a complete festival experience, IFFLA is excited to create a day of family fun and activities for adults and children alike. Our addition of a Family Day is a perfect complement to the screenings of GATTU and WATCH INDIAN CIRCUS. We want to invite everyone to join us at ArcLight Hollywood to celebrate Indian cinema and to connect those who may not have experienced India‘s rich heritage,” said IFFLA Board member Carla Sanders.

    Family Day fun begins with the screening of Rajan Khosa‘s acclaimed film Gattu that garnered a special mention at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival.Following the screening a series of free events in the courtyard of ArcLight Hollywood which includes Story Time hosted by Parvesh Cheena (of Outsourced fame) who will read Gita Wolf‘s award-winning children‘s classic The Very Hungry Lion. Arts and Crafts hour which will be led by Los Angeles teachers and artists will culminate with a Bollywood dance lesson for the entire crowd.
    Also free to festival-goers will be the addition of ‘From Script to Screen: The Making Of Patang. The film, the festival‘s closing night film, took years to get from script to screen and this discussion would be an intimate talk about that journey.
    This year‘s 5th edition of Rhythm Village will feature a special commemorative event on 12 April at the Supper Club in Hollywood. The IFFLA Rhythm Village Anniversary Party will feature live performances by Bhangra superstar Jassi Sidhu, world music stars Bombay Dub Orchestra, the eclectic fusion band Elephants With Guns and DJ sets by DJ Ben G, and Doc Bladez.
    On 13 April, Rhythm Village will move back to its traditional home at the ArcLight Hollywood courtyard for two days. The outdoor musical program promises to entertain audiences with world-class musicians, enchanting singer-songwriters, eclectic fusion bands, groovy DJ sets, and a variety of captivating dance forms. There will be a live dance lesson by contemporary Indian dance pioneer Achinta McDaniel of the Blue 13, on Saturday April 14th in the courtyard.

  • Kishore Lulla to get IFFLA honour

    Kishore Lulla to get IFFLA honour

    MUMBAI: The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) will honour Eros International group executive chairman Kishore Lulla and Sundance Institute’s Michelle Satter and Alesia Weston at its 5th Annual Industry Leadership Awards (ILA).

    Lulla has been instrumental in spearheading the growth of Eros International Group.

    “It is an honor for IFFLA to bestow its highest accolades to such distinguished executives of the entertainment community. They were selected for their vision, leadership, and unique contributions to the educational, business, and creative arenas not only related to Indian cinema, but the film community as a whole,” IFFLA Board member Noel De Souza said.

    “In addition we are thrilled that three of Hollywood’s most highly regarded talents join us for the 2012 Industry Seminar. We cannot wait for them to share their inspiring stories while enlightening and encouraging the fledgling filmmakers in our audience,” added De Souza.

    Since the 1980‘s Lulla has expanded the company’s presence in the UK, USA, Europe, Middle East, Australia, Fiji, and other international markets. He is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and also a board member of the University of California, Los Angeles Film School (UCLA).

    Commented Lulla, “The past few years we have witnessed an emerging popularity of Indian cinema outside of the Country. Eros is proud of its role in bringing this culture, its creativity, and energy to audiences worldwide.

    “IFFLA has been a major component in elevating the presence of Indian cinema in the US, especially within the entertainment industry, and to be recognized by such a prestigious festival is truly an honour.”

    The Awards will be presented on 12 April at the House of Blues Los Angeles.