March 24, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Fisher T: (323) 397-7944 Email: cinemaPR@aol.com

For ArcLight Cinemas Jennifer Westfall T: (323) 866-0880 x 106 jwestfall@js2comm.com

**Photos available by request

INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES (IFFLA)ANNOUNCES 2005 LINEUP

IFFLA celebrates Indian Cinema and Culture with 30 films April 20-24, Including 11 US Premieres and 5 World Premieres as well as other special programs

March 24, 2005 (Los Angeles, CA) - Kicking off its third year as the only U.S. festival entirely dedicated to presenting the cinema of India by showcasing films by Indian and international filmmakers, IFFLA 2005 is set to open on Wednesday, April 20, with a Gala Presentation of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's BLACK and will close on Sunday, April 24, with another Gala Presentation, Bharatbala's HARI OM. IFFLA will take place at ArcLight Hollywood (6360 Sunset Blvd.), the official home of the festival.

"This year's program includes a number of exciting discoveries from truly independent to regional to Bollywood films", said IFFLA Festival Director Christina Marouda. "We are particularly proud to offer Los Angeles premieres of some of the finest recent examples of Indian cinema," said Uma Da Cunha, IFFLA Programmer in India.

Further highlights of IFFLA 2005 include:

Panel Discussion on Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 4:30pm:
CO-PRODUCING WITH INDIA: THE NEW FRONTIER FOR INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION Panelists will include: Mark Burton, WonderFilms (THE TERRORIST, ASHOKA, CHERISH, WATER), Anand Desai, DSK Legal, India, and Dileep Singh, OTR Productions (MAYA, LITTLE TERRORIST, CITY OF JOY). Moderator: Alpita Patel, Blueprint Artist Management.

Family Day on Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 10:00 am-12:00 pm:
Join us in celebrating the art, life and color of India during the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles' Family Day, where children of all ages and families can learn the art of Bhangra dance, intricately decorate their hands in henna, and listen to Indian oral folk tales of wisdom and mischief performed live! From the ancient arts to live performance, this day of celebration is not to be missed.

Saturday, April 23 - 12:00 pm: An entertaining Children's Film Program featuring RAJU AND I and TORA'S LOVE in English and with English subtitles, respectively.

Asian Grooves and Moves, Free Live Performances: Thursday, April 21, & Friday, April 22, 6:00pm-9:00pm and Saturday, April 23, 2:00pm-9:00pm: IFFLA's Asian Grooves and Moves presented by the Los Angeles Recording School will feature an eclectic mix of exciting South Asian entertainment from Bhangra moves and tabla beats to Hindi covers and raga jazz. See great acts like Shaheen Sheik, TAAL, Arohi, CJ, Sri, Blue Soul, Sheetal, blue13 Dance Company, Magic Bhaila, Rashmi, and many others in the Indian transformed ArcLight courtyard.

Gala Presentations: Opening and Closing Night films will include Gala Receptions after the films that will include live music from Shankar & Gingger and Girish, dance performances by TAAL Dance Company and DJ sets from Tej Gill.

Films in Competition: Some films will be eligible for jury and audience choice competitions for best Feature, Documentary and Short. The Jurors will include: Features: Mira Advani, Radha Mitchell, and Cheng-Sim Lim; Shorts: Gotham Chopra, Paul Wolansky and Catherine Park; Documentaries: Noel Da Souza, Parminder Nagra, and Vinay Lal.

Tickets for IFFLA 2005 go on sale March 25, at ArcLight Cinemas box office, located at 6360 W. Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, and online at: www.arclightcinemas.com. Ticket prices are $11 for general admission and $9 for discounted admissions (students, seniors, and AFI and ArcLight members). Gala ticket prices are $50 each for Opening and Closing nights and $11 for the Centerpiece Film. Festival Passes are priced at $60 for the Fest Pass (includes all regular screenings), and $200 for the All-Access Pass (includes all screenings and Galas). Both passes offer access to the festival's Cinema Lounge.

IFFLA 2005 FULL PROGRAM

Complete information on IFFLA's 2005 programming, including play dates, program notes, cast and crew credits, running times and technical specifications will be available beginning March 26 on the festival's website at www.indianfilmfestival.org.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 7:00pm - Opening Night Gala
Black (Dir: Sanjay Leela Bhansali/India/2005/122 min/35mm)
Michelle McNally, a deaf, blind and mute girl, inhabits a world of infinite black. By the sheer will of her fierce rage against destiny, she struggles to stay afloat in the impenetrable void that is her life. Into this isolated world enters battle-weary teacher, Debraj Sahai. Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Ayesha Kapur, Shernaz Patel, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Nandana Sen.

The Gala evening will continue with a reception following the film at IVAR with an exclusive performance by Shankar & Gingger. Shankar & Gingger will also be presented with an award on that evening: The 1st Annual Cinematic Scoring Achievement Award for their major compositional and performance contributions on film scores such as THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and the 2004 Academy Award® winner, BORN INTO BROTHELS. For more information on Shankar & Gingger, go to www.shankarandgingger.com.

Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 4:30pm
A Breath (Shwaas) (Dir: Sandeep Sawant/India/2004/107 min/35mm)
An old man and his seven-year-old grandson travel from their village to the city seeking medical attention for the boy's deteriorating eyesight. He faces a barrage of frustrating procedural red tape before finally receiving a diagnosis. The boy suffers from retinal cancer and his only hope for survival is a surgery that will plunge him into a lifetime of darkness. The grandfather, shaken by the news, avoids making the difficult decision. Cast: Arun Nalavade, Ashwin Chitale, Sandeep Kulkarni. India's official Oscar® selection for Best Foreign Language Film.

Thursday, April 21, 2005, 7:00pm - Political Documentary Double Feature
Whose Children Are These? (Dir: Theresa Thanjan/USA/2004/27 min/Beta SP)
Theresa Thanjan, a social worker-activist-advocate turned filmmaker attempts to answer the titular question through the stories of three Muslim youths impacted by the federal program of Special Registration and prejudice in post 9/11 America. Thanjan introduces Navila, whose family is devastated by the detention of her father; Mohammad, a teen facing deportation; and Hagar who is spurred into activism as a result of circumstances. Featuring: Navila Ali, Mohammad "Sarfaraz" Hussain, Hager Youssef.

Litigating Disaster (Dir: Ilan Ziv/USA/2004/52 min/Beta SP)
On December 3, 1984, vast amounts of toxic gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, killing thousands and poisoning countless. Today the people still suffer and drinking water in surrounding communities remains severely polluted. Two decades later, no court of law anywhere in the world has held Union Carbide or its officers responsible for the disaster. But, Indian-American lawyer Rajan Sharma presses the case against Union Carbide in the Federal District Court in New York on behalf of the victims in Bhopal.

Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 9:00pm
Empty Canvas (Shunyo É Bukey) US PREMIERE
(Dir: Kaushik Ganguly/India/2004/120 min/35mm)
Through the passage of time, the concept of feminine beauty has been interpreted in the singular realm of the physical. EMPTY CANVAS attempts to reverse the trend that solely emphasizes external beauty. Cast: Churni Ganguly, Koushik Sen, Tota Roychowdhury, Rupa Ganguly, Dipankar Dey. Q&A with director Kaushik Ganguly.

Friday, April 22, 2005 - 5:00pm
Empty Canvas (Shunyo É Bukey)
(Dir: Kaushik Ganguly/India/2004/120 min/35mm)

Friday, April 22, 2005 - 6:30pm CENTERPIECE GALA
Black Friday (Dir: Anurag Kashyap/India/2005/150/35mm)
Based on S. Hussain Zaidi's book of the same title, director Anurag Kashyap presents the first feature to address the serial bombings that rocked Mumbai over a decade ago. On March 12, 1993, over a period of several hours, a series of explosions tore through the city killing 300 people. The film follows the men that orchestrated the devastation in response to brutal violence against Muslims during communal riots as well as the police investigation into the tragic events. Cast: Kay Kay, Pavan Malhotra, Aditya Srivastava, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Kishire Kadam, Gairaj Rao, Zakir Hussain. Q&A with producer Arindam Mitra.

Friday, April 22, 2005 - 9:30pm
The Journey (Sancharram) (Dir: Ligy J. Pullappally India/2004/107 min/35mm)
The story of Kiran and Delilah who meet as young girls and form an instant special friendship that continues into adolescence despite their divergent personalities. Chicago filmmaker Ligy J. Pullappally approaches territory rarely navigated in Indian film and in doing so delivers a sensitively drawn love story. The Journey has been honored with the Chicago Award from the Chicago International Film Festival, The Lankesh Award for India's Best Debut Director and the John Abraham Special Jury Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film. Cast: Shrruiti Menon, Suhasini V. Nair. Q&A with director Ligy J. Pullappaly.

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 12:00pm
Raju & I (Dir: Gayatri Rao/India/2003/30 min/Beta SP)
A broken bicycle forces 12-year-old Atul to walk home from school. The journey broadens his perspective of the plight of poor children. This mostly hand-drawn animated film commissioned by social welfare organization ASEEMA, examines the problems underprivileged children face and focuses attention on the UN Convention on the Rights of Children. Cast: Joshua Coutinho, Nicola Dadyburjor, Ashish Gaikwad, Chetan Sharma, Ravi I Yaar, Jyotika Sharma.

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 12:00pm
Tora's Love (Tora) US PREMIERE
(Dir: Jahnu Barua/India/2003/63 min/35mm)
In a countryside village in Assam, seven-year-old Tora lives a simple, joyful existence with her parents. They share an amicable relationship with their neighbors- a pair of brothers and their ailing mother. These bonds are compromised when Tora's father becomes entangled in a land dispute with the brothers. As the men resort to unethical methods to secure claim of the land, Tora may prove to be the small, yet significant voice of reason that can return all to their tranquil origins. Cast: Mrigakshi, Anup Hazarika, Indrani Chetra, Pratibha Chaudhary, Atul Pasoni, Dina Baishya

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 2:00pm
SHORTS PROGRAM:
Amal - US PREMIERE (Dir: Richie Mehta/Canada-India/2004/18 min/Beta SP)
Maya - The Indian Princess (Dir: Kavita Ramchandran/USA/2004/3 min/Beta SP)
Viva Liberty! - WORLD PREMIERE (Dir: Dishad Husain/UK/2005/20 min/Beta SP)
Mulit - (Dir: Ivan Zacharias/UK-India/2003/10 min/35mm)
System of Units - (Dir: Richie Mehta/Canada/2004/21 min/Beta SP)
Don't Search the Gardens (Baagon Na Jaa) - (Dir: Abhijeet Chaudhuri /India/2004/5 min/Beta SP)
Elephant Boy - US PREMIERE (Dir: René Mohandas, UK/2004/25 min/Beta SP)
The Friend - US PREMIERE (Director: Shi Narayan, India/2004/12 min/ Beta SP)
Gidoo's Cosmic Crisis - WORLD PREMIERE (Dir: Shivani Khanna/USA-India/2004/11 min/35mm)
Q&A with filmmakers Richie Mehta, Dishad Husain, Shivani Khanna, René Mohandas, Durdana Shaikh, Narayan Shi and Patralekha Mukherjee.

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 5:00pm - 2 Spiritual Films
Little Terrorist (Dir: Ashvin Kumar/UK-India/2004/15 min/Beta SP)
The writer-director of ROAD TO LADAKH follows up with this powerful Oscar® nominated short film based on a true story. A Muslim boy inadvertently ends up on the wrong side of the Indo-Pakistani border and finds an ally in a Hindu teacher who helps him navigate the Rajasthani desert to find his way home.

Ganges: River to Heaven (Dir: Gayle Ferraro/USA-India/2004/77 min/Beta SP)
In the city of Varanasi, the power of Ganga, the Hindu mother-goddess of the Ganges, is strongest. Each dawn she calls her children to the ghats, the steps leading down to the water's edge. The young and strong purify themselves in Ganga's polluted waters. The old and the infirm, too weak for rituals, wait for death. In time, Ganga carries their souls, released from the bondage of reincarnation, to heaven. Once privy only to the dead and those who mourned them, the final journey of the devout Hindu is the subject of this documentary. Filmed in a hospice for the dying the film follows four families' struggle to grant a loved one's final wish to go to heaven. Q&A with director Gayle Ferraro.

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 7:00pm
Page 3 US PREMIERE (Dir: Madhur Bhandarkar/India/2005/135 min/35mm)
PAGE 3 is the place for reporting the extracurricular activities of the rich and famous. The film takes us inside this opulent world through the eyes of a novice journalist. Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Boman Irani, Bikram Saluja, Tara Sharma, Sandhya Mridul, Rehaan Engineer, Upendra Limaye, Jai Karla, Atul Kulkarni.
Q&A with director Madhur Bhandarkar.

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 7:30pm - Documentary Double Feature and Panel Discussion
Breaking the Future (Doorbreek De Toekomst) US PREMIERE
(Dir: Jean Sharida and Louis Spoelstra/Netherlands/2004/30 min/Beta SP)
All over India certain traditions and rituals are kept out of respect. Unfortunately, this stance instills a belief that "you are born to do what you must do" and leaves people unable to overcome poverty and illiteracy. Several social organizations in India are incorporating traditional music, dance and stories into educational programs designed to build awareness and a sense that achievement and advancement are possible regardless of one's station in society. Q&A with director Louis Spoelstra.

The New Heroes: India, with Robert Redford WORLD PREMIERE
(Dir: Carl Byker and Mitch Wilson/USA/2005/53 min/Beta SP)
Kailash Satyarthi is determined to free millions of children from bonded labor, a form of slavery where a desperate family borrows money from a lender and hands over a child as surety for funds that often cannot be repaid. Inderjit Khurana has established schools in the middle of crowded train platforms to reach poor children with no other access to education. Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy and David Geen make it possible for over two hundred thousand people a year to access free eye-surgery to prevent blindness. Panel discussion with directors Louis Spoelstra and Carl Byker, as well as David Green and Sally Osberg, President of the Skoll Foundation.

Saturday, April 23, 10:00 pm - An Indian Music Film Extravaganza
Kesariya Balam US PREMIERE
(Dir: Huzefa Lokhandwala/India/2004/4 min/Beta SP)
A woman's beauty transforms, intensifies and eventually fades - yet, Sandeep Chowta's unique musical fusion of traditional Indian song and the ethereal voice of singer Soumya Raoh linger.

Ganges Dreaming WORLD PREMIERE
(Dir: Eric Hiss and Rafael Simón USA/2004/8 min/Beta SP)
Filmed during Shivaratri, an important religious festival, this music video captures a random unfolding of events along the Ganges River and through the streets of Varanasi, and then fuses these images with the compelling sounds of artist Karsh Kale.

Asian Vibes: Bombay US PREMIERE Presented by Masttones and Hollywood Masala
(Dir: Michael Smith France/2004/52 min/Beta SP)
This film explores the exciting music emerging from a frenetic metropolis. Combining underground video aesthetics, archival Bollywood clips and an exploratory documentary approach, it celebrates the spirit of a truly global 21st century India.

Sunset Bollywood WORLD PREMIERE
(Dir: Komal Tolani Hong Kong/2005/54 min/Beta SP)
This documentary examines the rise, fall and continuous struggle of three stellar performers who fell from grace. Rahul Roy, Kumar Gaurav and Bhagyashree recount their meteoric rise to stardom, the circumstances that caused their spotlights to dim and repeated attempts to launch a comeback. Q&A with directors Komal Tolani and Eric Hiss.

Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 12:15pm
The Blind Camel (Heda Hoda) US PREMIERE
(Dir: Vinod Ganatra India/2003/83 min/35mm)
Young Sonu volunteers to lead the camels out to graze when his father becomes ill. While taking a lunch break, the camels wander off across the arid terrain. As Sonu pursues them, he unwittingly crosses over the border into Pakistan. A Pakistani herdsman graciously leads him back to the other side and promises to deliver the camels to a border checkpoint the following day. Neither of them could anticipate the bureaucratic obstacles that lay ahead.

Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 1:00pm
Sancharram (The Journey) (Dir: Ligy J. Pullappally/India/2004/107 min/35mm)

Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 3:00pm
Half Truth (Ardh Satya) (Dir: Govind Nihalani/India/1983/117 min/35mm)
Anant Welankar reluctantly follows in his father's footsteps, joining the Bombay police force as a sub-inspector. Despite his misgivings, he approaches his job with a strong sense of righteousness and social duty. His idealism begins to crumble after local mafia leader and rising politician Rama Shetty uses his power and political connections to sidestep justice. Shetty comes to represent for Welankar a force of evil that must be defeated. But as Shetty stands poised to gain a seat of political power, will Welankar's determination be a strike against corruption or mark his downfall? Cast: Om Puri, Smita Patil, Amrish Puri, Shafi Inamder, Sadashiv Amrapurkar Naseeruddin Shah.

Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 6:00pm - Closing Night Gala
Hari Om (Dir: Bharatbala Ganapathy/India/2004/110 min/35mm)
Isa and Beloit are a French couple traveling through India on a luxury train known as the Palace On Wheels. Isa takes a detour to see the sites and misses the train. Fate places her in the autorickshaw of Hari Om (Vijay Raaz, MONSOON WEDDING), a career driver on the run from crooks. Despite all cultural, economic and language barriers, the two embark on a journey through scenic Rajasthan. Part road adventure, part unconventional love story, HARI OM is ultimately a journey of self-discovery.

The evening will also include a Gala Reception at SIR with performances by Taal Dance Company, www.taaldance.com, international renowned world music artist Girish, www.girishmusic.com, and an eclectic DJ set by Tej Gill, www.gillometermusic.com, one of LA's emerging South Asian artists.

About IFFLA

IFFLA 2005 runs April 20-24, presented by the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA), a nonprofit organization devoted to paving the way for a greater appreciation of India's cinema and diverse culture by providing the public with a selection of films from and about India by Indian and International filmmakers. IFFLA is the first U.S. festival dedicated entirely to showcasing Indian cinema and culture.

About ArcLight Cinemas

ArcLight Cinemas, created by Pacific Theatres, represents a new evolution in the movie going experience. The beautifully designed facility, which opened in March 2002, offers an unprecedented combination of technology, amenities, comfort and customer service. Facilities include the historic Cinerama Dome and 14 state-of-the-art "black box" auditoriums as well as a café bar and a cinema-focused gift shop. Tickets can be purchased online without a fee and printed at home, at the theaters automated ticketing kiosks, lobby box office and over the phone. Plus, ArcLight offers a free membership program with purchasing rewards and other members-only benefits. ArcLight Hollywood is located at 6360 W. Sunset Boulevard, between Vine and Ivar. For more information about ArcLight visit www.arclightcinemas.com .

Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP will serve as the Salute to the Filmmakers Sponsor and General Counsel for the festival. The law firm has a thriving entertainment practice, having represented clients ranging from national sports franchises and motion picture companies, to international theme parks and themed restaurants. Following significant changes in entertainment and media in the last decade, Lord, Bissell & Brook attorneys are on the cutting edge of major legal issues in the industry. The firm serves national and international clients from offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, London and Washington. For additional information about Lord, Bissell & Brook, contact the firm at 213-485-1500 or visit its website at www.lordbissell.com. "The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles gives the community of Los Angeles an opportunity to learn about the great accomplishments of Indian filmmakers and the role they have played in the international market. We are proud to serve as General Counsel for this event and to honor the work of these filmmakers," said Partner and Head of Lord, Bissell & Brook's Entertainment and Media Practice, Arnold Peter.

IFFLA thanks our sponsors:

For more information on IFFLA please go to www.indianfilmfestival.org.

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