ITV

Tag: IndianCinema

  • Jagran Film Festival returns to Delhi with 12th edition celebrating cinema

    Jagran Film Festival returns to Delhi with 12th edition celebrating cinema

    Mumbai: The 12th edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF), the world’s largest travelling film festival, is set to begin in Delhi from 5-8 December at Siri Fort Auditorium. Organised by the Jagran Prakashan Group and inaugurated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, this year’s festival promises an unparalleled celebration of cinematic excellence, cultural diversity, and storytelling.

    JFF 2024 features an extraordinary lineup of 292 films selected from an impressive pool of 4,787 submissions. Representing 111 countries and 78 languages, the festival highlights its commitment to making good cinema for everyone. Over the next 100 days, JFF will travel through 18 cities, including Prayagraj, Varanasi, Raipur, Ranchi, and Mumbai, ensuring that quality cinema reaches diverse audiences across India.

    The Delhi chapter will host renowned personalities like Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Bajpayee, Bhumi Pednekar, Taapsee Pannu, Mukesh Chhabra, and Bhuvan Bam. Directors such as Anil Prakash Joshi and Onir will also attend. The festival will showcase 102 remarkable films, spanning shorts, documentaries, and OTT content from 29 countries. Highlights include Kiran Rao’s Oscar entry “Laapataa Ladies” and Shashi Chandrakant Khandare’s Marathi film “Gypsy”.

    The festival will host 17 premieres, including five world premieres, seven Asia premieres, and five Indian premieres. Classics like Shyam Benegal’s Manthan will feature alongside panel discussions and workshops. Kapur will be honoured with a retrospective, and Bajpayee will discuss his journey in a special session. Aspiring actors can attend Mukesh Chhabra’s session on breaking into cinema, while Rahul Rawail and Sudhir Mishra will lead thought-provoking discussions on modern filmmaking.

    Jagran Prakashan Ltd, SVP, Basant Rathore emphasised JFF’s mission: “The Jagran Film Festival has become a cherished platform for celebrating the transformative power of cinema. This season, we are thrilled to showcase 102 films across 34 languages and 29 countries, ensuring quality cinema reaches Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. JFF remains committed to fostering meaningful conversations about the art of storytelling.”

  • Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, and cast celebrate “Moana 2” world premiere

    Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, and cast celebrate “Moana 2” world premiere

    Mumbai: Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson joined an illustrious lineup of stars, filmmakers, and special guests at the world premiere of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana 2”. The grand celebration took place at the picturesque Lanikūhonua Cultural Institute in Kapolei, Hawai‘i, paying homage to the Pacific cultures and traditions that form the heart of the Moana story.

    The evening opened with a spectacular cultural performance led by Tiana Nonosina Liufau, Kayla Faʻamaligi, and Polynesian creatives, honouring the vibrant heritage of the Pacific peoples. The event was graced by the presence of the film’s cast, including Auliʻi Cravalho (Moana), Dwayne Johnson (Maui), Hualālai Chung (Moni), Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda (Simea), and Gerald Faitala Ramsey (Tautai Vasa). Directors Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller, and David G. Derrick Jr., along with producers Yvett Merino and Christina Chen, joined them, alongside celebrated songwriters Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, and Opetaia Foa‘i, and composer Mark Mancina.

    Earlier in the day, Disney partnered with Make-A-Wish and Dwayne Johnson to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for five wish kids and their families. Hosted at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, the families were Johnson’s personal guests for the Moana 2 premiere.

    In a separate event, Disney collaborated with the Starlight Children’s Foundation to bring joy to patients at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children. Disney CEO Bob Iger joined the event, which featured Moana-themed hospital gowns, toys, and books. The initiative extended to four other paediatric care centres in Oʻahu, where patients enjoyed an exclusive early screening of Moana 2 through the Disney Movie Moments program.

    The sequel to Disney Animation’s beloved musical takes audiences on an epic new voyage. Reuniting Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson), the story picks up three years after the first film, as Moana receives an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors. Alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers, she embarks on a daring adventure through the far seas of Oceania.

    The film also features Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, and Rose Matafeo among its voice cast, with Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda voicing Moana’s little sister, Simea. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Yvett Merino and Christina Chen, the film features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and Grammy-winner Mark Mancina.

  • “Bastar – The Naxal Story” premieres on &pictures this weekend

    “Bastar – The Naxal Story” premieres on &pictures this weekend

    Mumbai: Prepare to embark on a journey of resilience, bravery, and unwavering patriotism as ‘Bastar – The Naxal Story’ premieres on &pictures on Saturday, 23 November, at 9:30 PM. Directed by Sudipto Sen and featuring Adah Sharma in a compelling lead role, the film sheds light on one of India’s most critical yet underexplored battles against the Naxal insurgency.  

    Set in the Bastar region, the gripping narrative follows a young tribal woman and an IPS officer, portrayed by Adah Sharma, as they combat the growing influence of radical ideologies and external interference. The story highlights the exploitation of local communities and the struggle to preserve India’s sovereignty, making it a tale of national pride and unity.  

    Sen shared his vision behind the film, stating, “This film isn’t just about conflict; it’s about the spirit of India’s people who rise to protect their nation, no matter the odds. Bastar – The Naxal Story is a tribute to every brave soul fighting for the nation’s integrity, and with its premiere on &pictures, I believe it will awaken a deep sense of pride and patriotism in every viewer.”

    Sharma reflected on her role, saying, ‘“Playing a part in this story has been a humbling experience. Bastar – The Naxal Story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by our jawans for the country we call home. I hope the premiere on &pictures inspires the audiences to think about the value of freedom and the lengths our bravehearts go to protect it.”  

     

  • Dendy Cinemas, NDTV launch Australia’s first national Indian film festival

    Dendy Cinemas, NDTV launch Australia’s first national Indian film festival

    Mumbai: The Australian Centre for Indian Cinema announces the country’s first National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA), set to be the largest celebration of Indian cinema in Australasia. Scheduled from 13-16 February 2025, NIFFA will showcase the best of Indian cinema across seven Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Darwin, and Hobart.

    This landmark event, led by Indian cinema expert and filmmaker Anupam Sharma, with veteran Peter Castaldi as festival director, will feature film screenings, panels on coproduction, and workshops. It will also award grants for Australian content focused on India, with award categories to be revealed in November.

    NDTV, director and editor-in-chief, Sanjay Pugalia, shares, “As NDTV expands globally and the Indian diaspora flourishes across Australasia, partnering with this premier celebration of Indian cinema felt like a perfect fit. We at NDTV are happy to amplify the festival’s spirit worldwide, bringing it to Indian communities across the globe and celebrating the ever-growing impact of Indian filmmaking on the international stage.”

    Dendy Cinema, CEO, Sharon Strickland adds, “Dendy Cinema is honoured to partner with the National Indian Film Festival of Australia, bringing the best of Indian cinema to audiences across Australia. With a resurgence of Indian films making a strong impact at the global box office, this collaboration highlights our commitment to showcasing diverse and culturally significant stories. We are excited to support this festival, celebrating the vibrant creativity and growing influence of Indian filmmaking on the world stage.”

    Val Morgan, director of strategy and marketing, Paul MacGregor notes, “The record-breaking success of Indian films in Australia over the past three years is a clear indication of the strong and growing appetite for a national festival like this. We are excited to be working with the team at Australian Centre for Indian Cinema on the inaugural festival, which not only celebrates the cultural richness of Indian cinema but also opens an exciting and unique opportunity for brands to connect with this high-value, culturally diverse audience.”

    Additional partners, brand ambassadors, and retrospectives will be announced at IFFI Goa in November, where Australia is spotlighted as a focus country. Detailed program and award information will follow on 6 January 2025.

    https://www.acic.org

  • Experience “Farrey” world HD premiere on &xplorHD on 26th October

    Experience “Farrey” world HD premiere on &xplorHD on 26th October

    Mumbai: &xplorHD presents the world HD premiere of “Farrey” on 26 October at 9 PM, delivering a powerful cinematic experience that challenges the UNroutine, UNexpected, and Unformula. This gripping narrative explores the high stakes of ambition and the moral complexities faced by today’s youth, capturing the essence of aspirations, struggles, and the price of chasing dreams in a competitive world.

    “Farrey” follows Niyati, a talented scholarship student whose journey into the elite world of the ultra-wealthy reveals the dangerous allure of wealth and status. As she navigates a web of deceit and mounting pressures, the story unfolds into a captivating tale of choices and consequences. The ensemble cast, featuring Alizeh Agnihotri, Zeyn Shaw, Prasanna Bisht, Sahil Mehta, Ronit Roy, Juhi Babbar Soni, Arbaaz Khan, and Shilpa Shukla, brings the story to life with stunning performances and immersive sound design.

    Alizeh Agnihotri shared, “Niyati’s journey really resonated with me on a personal level. She starts with such a pure and relatable dream, something we all feel at some point—the desire to break free from circumstances and achieve something bigger. But watching her slowly get pulled into morally questionable choices was both heartbreaking and eye-opening. It’s been an incredible experience portraying such a layered character, and I’m really excited for the audiences to connect with her story during the World HD Premiere on &xplor HD.”

    Prasanna Bisht, who portrays Chavi, shared her thoughts on the film: “What I loved about working on “Farrey” is how it challenges you to reflect on your own values. Chavi’s journey highlights the struggles of peer pressure and the desire to fit in, and it made me more aware of the choices we all face. I’m eager for viewers to explore these emotional nuances during the world HD premiere on &xplorHD.”

    To prepare for his role as Aakash, Sahil Mehta immersed himself in the character’s world by working as a food delivery rider, gaining a firsthand understanding of the pressures faced by delivery agents. Reflecting on his experience, Mehta said, “This film really digs into the emotional turmoil that comes with chasing success at any cost. Playing Aakash was an eye-opening experience for me, as it made me think about the moral complexities we encounter daily. I can’t wait for the audience to witness how powerful this narrative is during the world HD premiere on &xplorHD.”

    Director Soumendra Padhai expressed his vision for the film: “With “Farrey”, I wanted to tell a story that resonates with the pressures and dilemmas faced by today’s youth. It’s a story not just about academic stress; but also a reflection of the lengths people go to achieve success in a world obsessed with wealth and status. I hope this film sparks conversations about ambition, morality, and the cost of pursuing dreams at any price.”