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- A Bolly Holiday & An Indie New Year
We don’t know about everyone else, but 2011 has been a whirlwind year for us! In between hosting King Khan himself in a special RA.ONE private screening, or revving up for our 10th anniversary, or sloughing through hundreds of submissions to put together our 2012 program, we’ve barely had time to catch a breath and keep up with what our favorite stars were up to this Christmas! 2011 was also the year pop devi Lady Gaga discovered the razzle dazzle of Hindi cinema, proclaiming “Screw Hollywood, it’s all about Bollywood” on her Facebook page. Another of our current obsessions: we’ve just discovered the blog BollyPop, and are absolutely enamored with the seasonably appropriate Bolly star Christmas mash-ups. Which one is your favorite? And yes, while we love our glitz and glam, we love our innovative indie crowd, too. So let’s start our 2012 off with a red carpet interview from Abhay Kumar, director of the short “Just That Sort of Day.” Abhay was also a 2011 seminar panelist, speaking about ‘The New Wave of Indian Cinema.’ Three cheers for the New Wave! For a selection of more red carpet interviews, click here. Got a film you’d like to see screen at IFFLA? [...] - Viewer’s Choice: Voting Closes December 1st!
Hurry up and vote for your favorite films from years of IFFLA past- remember you only have until December 1st to show your love for our award winning cinematic hall of fame! This is your chance to give the films you loved most, (and their filmmakers) another opportunity to shine at our 10th year Anniversary. The three films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective series at the ArcLight Hollywood, April 10-15. Vote now. IN THE RUNNING: Malli (2004′s Audience Choice), Regarded by many as one of the best children’s films to come out of India, Santosh Shivan’s movie follows Malli, a rural girl whose playground is the forest around her. Black Friday (2005′s Grand Jury Prize) Addressing the serial bomb blasts that rocked Mumbai in 1993, Anurag Kashyap presents a stunning chronicle of the attacks which took the lives of 300 people, as well as the subsequent anti-Muslim backlash. Hari Om (2005′s Audience Choice), Bharatbala’s story of an unlikely friendship and even unliklier love story blooms, as the characters transcend boundaries of culture, language, and economics, on this road story that also serves as a narrative of self-discovery. Belly Full Of Dreams (2006), Prakash Kovelamudi’s funny and tender social [...] - Survey Spotlight- UDAAN by Vikramaditya Motwane
Survey Spotlight is a month-long feature where we indulge in a little cinema rewind- revisiting past IFFLA award-winning films & exploring what made us fall in love with them the first time. From now till December 1st, you can vote for three of your favorites in our “Viewer’s Choice” survey. The films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective in honor of our 10th Anniversary celebration. THE REWIND We end out our feature with last year’s Jury Award winner UDAAN by Vikramaditya Motwane THE SKINNY Rebellious Rohan gets expelled from boarding school and must return to live with his stern father and the younger half-brother he’s never met. Authoritative and furious at his expulsion, Rohan’s father puts him to work at a steel factory. Forced to study engineering, a field for which he neither possesses the interest nor the aptitude, Rohan’s heart remains tied to his passion for poetry. A stunning coming-of-age portrait that pits self-realization and responsibility against the odds, it’s no wonder how UDAAN garnered a standing ovation at its Cannes premiere. Trailer Interview with filmmaker @ IFFLA RECOGNITION AT HOME & ABROAD The film was in official selection at Cannes 2010 in the Un Certain Regard category, being [...] - Survey Spotlight- I AM KALAM by Nila Madhab Panda
Survey Spotlight is a month-long feature where we indulge in a little cinema rewind- revisiting past IFFLA award-winning films & exploring what made us fall in love with them the first time. From now till December 1st, you can vote for three of your favorites in our “Viewer’s Choice” survey. The films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective in honor of our 10th Anniversary celebration. THE REWIND Rounding out our Survey Spotlight feature are our two award winners from last year. First up, 2011′s Audience Choice winner , (and Opening Night Gala) I AM KALAM by Nila Madhab Panda Trailer: THE SKINNY A true-to-life film about fulfilling potential and overcoming destiny, KALAM is an issue hitting film that’s touched hearts across India and worldwide. Chhotu, a bright, yet impoverished Rajasthani boy dreams of garnering an education while he works at a roadside cafe. When he hears an inspirational message from President Kalam, he changes his name and commits to studying independently whenever he can. He befriends a local prince, but the two must fraternize in secret. Through their forbidden friendship, and a case of misjudged intentions, Kalam struggles to find his place and meet the president. A heartwarming [...] - Survey Spotlight- THE MAN BEYOND THE BRIDGE by Laxmikant Shetgaonkar
Survey Spotlight is a month-long feature where we indulge in a little cinema rewind- revisiting past IFFLA award-winning films & exploring what made us fall in love with them the first time. From now till December 1st, you can vote for three of your favorites in our “Viewer’s Choice” survey. The films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective in honor of our 10th Anniversary celebration. THE REWIND 2010′s Grand Jury winner THE MAN BEYOND THE BRIDGE by Laxmikant Shetgaonkar THE SKINNY The film follows a lonely forest ranger, unsatisfied with his posting, and lamenting the loss of his dead wife he comes upon a mentally ill woman who dwells in the woods. They begin a tentative friendship, which later culminates with sharing a bed. Later, he is faced with the threat of poachers and the encroaching hand of the nearby villagers. The film explores the concepts of responsibility, need and where protection can go either too far or not far enough. A visually stunning portrayal that weaves discussions of mental illness, wilderness conservation, the power dynamics of local communities, it’s no wonder BRIDGE captured our Jury’s attention, as well as that of audiences worldwide. The Trailer: OTHER [...] - Survey Spotlight- VALLEY OF FLOWERS by Pan Nalin
From now till December 1st, you can vote for three of your favorites in our “Viewer’s Choice” survey. The films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective in honor of our 10th Anniversary celebration. THE REWIND 2007 Jury Award Winner VALLEY OF FLOWERS by Pan Nalin THE SKINNY From modern-day Japan to 1800s Silk Road, VALLEY OF THE FLOWERS is a love story that transcends time, culture, and location. An infatuation across the ages, the film follows Jalan and his gang as they loot unsuspecting travel caravans. His path crosses with Usha, who claims she has seen him in her dreams. What follows is an increased quest for riches, and a deepening love the wreaks havoc on those around them, and the confines of time and morality themselves. LOVE ACROSS LANGUAGE Nalin’s second feature, VALLEY is presented in both Hindi and Japanese. The two stars of the film ended up marrying in real life in 2006. To vote for VALLEY OF FLOWERS, alongside your other two favorites, visit our survey here. Remember voting closes Dec 1st! More of VALLEY OF FLOWERS on the web: IFFLA 2007 Archive page Interview with the director IFFLA on the Web: Facebook Twitter - Survey Spotlight-DOMBIVLI FAST by Nishikant Kamat
Survey Spotlight is a month-long feature where we indulge in a little cinema rewind- revisiting past IFFLA award-winning films & exploring what made us fall in love with them the first time. From now till December 1st, you can vote for three of your favorites in our “Viewer’s Choice” survey. The films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective in honor of our 10th Anniversary celebration. THE REWIND 2006′s DOMBIVLI FAST by Nishikant Kamat THE SKINNY This Marathi language vigilante film took the fest by storm in 2006. Taking place in Dombivli, a suburb of Mumbai, the follows Madhav, a regular middle class Indian, stuck in the daily grind of work-family-home. Principled and genuine, he finds corruption unbearable and decides to take matters into his own hands. His attempts at cleansing society and thwarting the evil forces that reside therein end up putting him in opposition to the law, as well as in opposition of the best interests of his wife and child. CULT STATUS The film is regarded as a cult hit of Marathi cinema, and Madhav stands out prominently in his own right alongside other vigilante protagonists of Western cinema. To vote for DOMBIVLI FAST, alongside your other two [...] - Survey Spotlight- BELLY FULL OF DREAMS by Prakash Kovelamudi
Survey Spotlight is a month-long feature where we indulge in a little cinema rewind- revisiting past IFFLA award-winning films & exploring what made us fall in love with them the first time. From now till December 1st, you can vote for three of your favorites in our “Viewer’s Choice” survey. The films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective in honor of our 10th Anniversary celebration. To vote for BELLY FULL OF DREAMS, alongside your other two favorites, visit our survey here. Remember voting closes Dec 1st! THE REWIND 2006′s BELLY FULL OF DREAMS by Prakash Kovelamudi THE SKINNY IFFLA hosted the world premiere of this delightful Telugu language children’s tale featuring nine-year-old Ramu, a young boy who desperately wants to go to school. He hides money inside one of his father’s puppets, which later disappears, (alongside his father). Through a mix of determination and hope, Ramu works tirelessly towards his goal, in the midst of people who would use him for his own selfish means. A funny and tender social comedy that speaks to adults as well as children, it’s not wonder this film stole so many hearts in 2006. More of BELLY FULL OF DREAMS on the web: IFFLA [...] - Survey Spotlight- LITTLE ZIZOU by Sooni Taraporevala
Survey Spotlight is a month-long feature where we indulge in a little cinema rewind- revisiting past IFFLA award-winning films & exploring what made us fall in love with them the first time. From now till December 1st, you can vote for three of your favorites in our “Viewer’s Choice” survey. The films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective in honor of our 10th Anniversary celebration. THE REWIND 2002 Audience Choicer LITTLE ZIZOU by Sooni Taraporevala THE SKINNY The films follows a struggle between two families, at the center of which lies the young Xeres, a Parsi boy obsessed with soccer, who eagerly awaits for his hero Zinedine Zidane to visit India. Around him, is his artist brother, his hellbent-on-religious-purity father, and rival newsman Pressvala, who is similarly hellbent on taking down said father. Add to the mix an inventor looking to build a flight simulator and a love of the girl next door, LITTLE ZIZOU is a quirky portrait of Mumbai’s Parsi community brimming with charm. OTHER CONNECTIONS LITTLE ZIZOU carries the tag “Presented by Mira Nair”. The writer/director of the film, Sooni Taraporevala also wrote such Nair hits as SALAAM BOMBAY, MISSISSIPPI MASALA, and THE NAMESAKE. [...] - Survey Spotlight- OUTSOURCED by John Jeffcoat
Survey Spotlight is a month-long feature where we indulge in a little cinema rewind- revisiting past IFFLA award-winning films & exploring what made us fall in love with them the first time. From now till December 1st, you can vote for three of your favorites in our “Viewer’s Choice” survey. The films that receive the most votes will be screened in a special retrospective in honor of our 10th Anniversary celebration. To vote for OUTSOURCED, alongside your other two favorites, visit our survey here. Remember voting closes Dec 1st! THE REWIND 2007′s crowd-pleaser OUTSOURCED By John Jeffcoat THE SKINNY Boasting a fish-out-of-water story ripped straight from our increasingly shrinking modern world, the film follows Todd, a sales executive forced to travel to India and train his replacement once his entire department gets- you guessed it- outsourced. What follows is a dual culture clash as Todd attempts to teach his new colleagues about American business practices, while diving face first himself into alien Mumbai. The culture clash rears its head once again with the development of a seemingly impossible love interest, in this tale of life, love, and modern business. THE SPIN-OFF Jeffcoat’s film was spun-off into a series for NBC. Adapted by The [...]
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