London Indian Film Festival

London Indian Film Festival
Location	London
Language	International
Website	http://www.londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk/

London Indian Film Festival is a film festival established in 2010 to showcase Indian independent film.^[1] The festival attracted media attention in its first year, premiering films such as "Love Sex aur Dhokha" by Dibakar Banerjee. Awards given at the festival include a short film competition award and an Audience Prize. It is Europe’s largest South Asian Film Festival.

2016

Europe's largest South Asian film festival returns for its 7th edition from 14-24 July in ten great cinemas across London and this year also screening synchronously in two cinemas in Birmingham.

Opening Night

Parched will have its red carpet english premiere at the opening of the 7th editiong of the festival.

Director Leena Yadav tells a wonderfully joyous and inspiring tale of comradery. Four ordinary women live in a desert Gujarati village, weighed down by centuries of tradition. Rani (Tannishtha Chatterjee) lost her husband at 16 and struggles to bring up her teenage son, careful to follow every village rule. Her friend Lajjo (Radhika Apte) is always brimming with positivity, but fears beatings from her drunken husband. Bijli (Surveen Chawla) is secretly Rani's friend, she's a local performer and prostitute, but her beauty is coming to an end along with her youth. Janaki (Lehar Khan) is a child bride to Rani's son, secretly struggling to come to terms with a loveless marriage. As the magical festival of Dussehra approaches these friends' bonds are put to the test, forcing them to make decisions that will dynamically change their lives forever.

Closing Night

Toba Tek Singh will have its world premiere at BFI Southbank at the closing night of the festival.

Acclaimed director Ketan Mehta delivers this unforgettably moving and at times joyous version of Manto's legendary story, produced by the Zeal for Unity project. Award-winning actor Pankaj Kapur gives a career defining performance as Bishen Singh, a Sikh inmate of a mental institution, who hasn't slept for 15 years and always asks the same question "Where is Toba Tek Singh?", the name of his home village. The new warden, played by Vinay Pathak, takes delight in Bishen and the other patients' eccentricities. However, with the Partition of India and Pakistan it seems that the world outside is more insane than the folk inside, and the institution must give up all its Hindu and Sikh inmates. Singh is marched to the new border, but in which country is his beloved home?

2015

London Indian Film Festival returns for its 6th year from 16–23 July with some of the most prestigious and thought-provoking new independent films from the Indian sub-continent.

Opening Night

Umrika will have its red carpet UK premiere at the opening of the 6th edition of the festival.

This year’s Sundance Audience Award winner is an uplifting,rights of passage tale about two brothers from a small village who have dreams of making it big in Umrika (America). Udai (Pratiek Babbar) is the eldest and adored by his hard-working mum. He leaves their hamlet on a bullock cart to pursue his dream after he says he has received an invitation to work in the US. Torn between pride and grief his mum waves him off. Months go by but there is no word from Udai, family pride turns to concern. Younger son Rama (Suraj Sharma, Life of Pi), shares the family’s increasing grief and then suddenly letters start to arrive. His parents cheer up again as amazing pictures of the USA fill their lives. All seems well until Rama discovers that the kindly local postman has forged the letters. Rama runs away from home to discover his brother’s true fate.

Closing Night

Death Of a Gentleman a hard-hitting documentary of interest to cricket and non-cricket fans alike will have its London premiere at the closing night. Cricketing journalists Jarrod Kimber and Sam Collins set off on a journey to report on the current state of health of Test cricket and to investigate the impact of 20:20 cricket on the five-day game. They end up in something more sinister than they could ever have imagined. During their thrilling three-year journey they criss-cross the globe from London to Australia, from India to Dubai and back again, during which they meet players, the game’s administrators, fans and controversial cricket financiers, resulting in a film that is about much more than cricket. This is a film about passion, about money, about power and it’s a film about standing up for what you care about before it is too late

The closing night screening at the prestigious BFI Southbank is already sold out.

2014

Europe’s largest South Asian film festival, the 2014 London Indian Film Festival, is running from July 10, 2014 to July 17, 2014. The festival will open in the West End at the historic Cineworld Haymarket, and continue at BFI Southbank, ICA and Cineworld Cinemas around London. The festival is grant funded by the BFI Film Festival Fund.

Opening night

Feature film Sold will have its red carpet European premiere at the opening of the 5th edition of the festival.

Based on the bestselling novel Sold by Patricia McCormick, the film is a drama based on real life events, and tells of a young Nepali girl’s struggle for survival after being sold into prostitution in Kolkata, and an American photographer (Gillian Anderson), who, against the odds, attempts to rescue her and other young women.The X Files and The Fall star Gillian Anderson is expected to participate in a Q&A in London at the film's opening night amongst other talent.

Director Jeffrey D. Brown, Executive Producer Emma Thompson and Producer Jane Charles have worked tirelessly to bring this film to the screen researching every aspect of the story in depth with charities which deal directly with child trafficking in India including: Apne Aap, New Light, Sanlaap, Prajwala and in Nepal: Maiti Nepal, Shakti Samhua and Childreach International. Emma Thompson, president of the The Helen Bamber Foundation,^[2] works with survivors in London which is why she is informed on this issue and cares deeply about it.

The film is a collaboration between US and Indian production teams and includes supporting cast David Arquette (Conception) and Indian actors Seema Biswas (Bandit Queen), Parambrata Chatterjee (Apur Panchali), Tillotama Shome (Monsoon Wedding & Qissa) and Susmita Mukherjee (Dostana). Debutante Niyar Saikia plays the central role of Lakshmi, the young girl from Nepal.

Closing night

Hemalkasa, directed by Samruddhi Porey, will have its world premiere ont the closing night of the festival.

The biopic follows the journey of Dr. Prakash Baba Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte, a couple who dedicated their lives to a project for the development of tribal people of Maharashtra, India, in the toughest of conditions with little or no support from the establishment. The project Lok Biradari Prakalp, located at Hemalkasa, eventually led to the formation of a free hospital, a free residential school and an orphanage for injured wild animals. For their pioneering efforts, the Amtes were accorded the Magsasay award for Community Leadership. Nana Patekar and Sonali Kulkarni deliver the performance of their lives in this outstanding example of the best Indian independent cinema. Incredibly moving, the film will leave you with a tear in your eye, a fond smile on your lips and an immediate desire to improve the world that we live in.

Centrepiece Gala

Based on an inspirational true story, Million Dollar Arm is a funny and uplifting journey. US sports agent JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) travels to India in an effort to save his career by finding a young cricketer to turn into a baseball star. With the help of a retired scout (Alan Arkin) JB sets up a talent contest "The Million Dollar Arm",discovering Rinku (Life of Pi's Suraj Sharma) and Dinesh (Slumdog Millionaire's Madhur Mittal) who have a knack for throwing a fastball. Hoping to make a quick buck he brings them to LA to train, but the boys struggle to adjust. His livelihood on the line and relationship with the boys at stake, with the help of his friend Brenda (Lake Bell) JB realises that family and friendships are more important than sealing the deal. The film features a brilliant score from Oscar, BAFTA and Grammy Award-winning Indian composer A. R. Rahman.

Other programme includes Rotterdam Film Festival headliner Qissa: Tale of a Lonely Ghost, Apur Panchali, Slamdance audience winner Hank and Asha,UK/Pakistani film Anima State,LIFF's first Bangladesh based film Shongram (Struggle) directed by Munsur Ali,the fascinating and fast-paced documentary An Americal In Madras,Hindi films Sulemani Keeda & Barefoot To Goa, Ulidavaru Kandante,LIFF's first animation selection Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya, Kanyaka Talkies, Tamil Film Ilai(Leaf), Satyajit Ray Foundation's Short Film Competition plus Santosh Sivan's Masterclass & Farhan Akhtar Screen Talk at BFI

2013

Europe’s largest South Asian Film Festival, the London Indian Film Festival returns to the Capital, celebrating the exploding movement of Indian Independent cinema and bringing to UK audiences a rare selection of cutting-edge films from some of India’s hottest independent talents. The festival runs from July 18, 2013 tp July 25, 2013 Going way beyond Bollywood, the festival presents a kaleidoscope of new films that challenge, shock, generate debate and present a more realistic view of India and the subcontinent today, in all its diversity. For the first time, the festival is going on tour to Bradford and Glasgow.

The festival will stretch citywide, opening in the West End at the historic Cineworld Haymarket, and continuing at BFI Southbank, Cineworld cinemas, Shaftesbury Avenue, Wood Green, Wandsworth, Staples Corner, and the O2 in Royal Greenwich, the Peckamplex and ICA near the Pall Mall, so there is a screening near you, traversing iconic sights and sounds of the city of London like a Monopoly game board.

The centrepiece 'In conversation' on Saturday 20 July at the BFI Southbank, will be with Actor Irrfan Khan, one of the very few Indians to straddle Hollywood, British and Indian cinema, talking to award winning director of Senna, Asif Kapadia. Khan’s memorable film roles include BAFTA winner, The Warrior and Oscar winners, Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi and Hollywood biggies like The Amazing Spider-Man, The Darjeeling Limited and The Namesake, and Bollywood hits Life In A Metro, Mumbai Meri Jaan, New York and Paan Singh Tomar.As well as films in the Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi languages, and first Pakistani film this year is Josh, in Urdu.The festival is also having a rare 'Life in Pictures' Masterclass, by the great South Indian Director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, on 19 July at BFI Southbank.

London Indian Film Festival also has films and events for a wide range of audiences and includes industry events at BAFTA, exploring UK and Indian subcontinent co-productions. The winner of the annual Satyajit Ray short film competition will be announced at the end of the festival at The Nehru Centre in Mayfair. Major sponsors this year will include O2 International Sim, and the festival is also grant funded for the first time, by the BFI Film Festival Fund.

Opening Night

Monsoon Shootout

Fresh from critical acclaim in Cannes, director Amit Kumar masterfully blends a dark cop thriller with a Sliding Doors style narrative. It explores the impact that one man's choices make on the lives of others. As heavy monsoon rains lash the badlands of Mumbai, Adi, a gun toting, rookie cop is out on his first assignment. He faces a life altering decision, whether to shoot, or not to shoot an escaping suspect. His alternative decisions take him on a morality shredding journey, pitting him against a system where the boundaries between the law, crime and self-survival get dangerously blurred. An ensemble cast including Nawazuddin Siddiqui, offer edgy performances in this roller-coaster ride of a movie.

Closing Night

Bombay Talkies

Mumbai's spectacular homage to 100 years of Indian cinema is a compilation of four films shot by some of its finest directors. Karan Johar's Ajeeb Dastaan Hain Yeh is the story of a cheeky, gay man Avinash who becomes friends with his female boss Gayatri. She invites her new friend home for dinner but Avinash soon discovers Gayatri's husband has a secret. Dibakar Banerjee's Star is based on Satyajit Ray's short story about a struggling actor who gets a role as an extra in a Bollywood film, and he has this one last chance to prove himself to the world and his daughter. Zoya Akhtar's joyful Sheila Ki Jawaani tells of a 12-year-old boy whose dad wants him to play football, but he secretly wants to dance like his Bollywood goddess Katrina Kaif. With the help of his sister the boy chases his dreams. Cult director Anurag Kashyap's Murabba shows a young man, Vijay, from small town Uttar Pradesh travelling to the lights of Mumbai to fulfil his father's almost impossible last wish, to request a favour of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

2012

Opening Night

Gangs of Wasseypur

Anurag Kashyap, the Godfather of contemporary Indian independent cinema, takes on the epic gangster genre, and produces a masterpiece that can rightfully rub shoulders with the classics of Coppola and Scorsese. Kashyap deftly delivers a firecracker of a movie set around warring mafia clans clashing for power and passion in the coal mining towns of Northern India. A weapon-loaded cast is led by Manoj Bajpai and delivers high energy performances in this sprawling tale of generations locked in violence and its ultimate impact on family and loved ones. The film is shot through with an earthy Indian sensibility where you can almost smell the fragrance of the soil, yet the filmmaking is on par with the best of the West. Bajpai, whose breakthrough performance was in Satya, written by Kashyap, dominates proceedings as an ambitious gangster with a rampant libido and a permanently cocked gun. Expect spectacular gunfights!

Closing Night

Baishe Srabon

The teeming city of Kolkata, known for its food, music, poetry and cinema, is reeling from an unusual sensation – fear. A serial killer is on the loose, killing people in the dead of night seemingly randomly. But it's clear that the killer is Bengali, because he or she leaves clues at the murder site in verse. The police are baffled and have no choice but to bring back their serial killer specialist (Prasenjit), a mealy-mouthed scotch-swilling, cheroot-chomping hedonist who was dismissed from the department years ago under a cloud. Making a stupendous comeback as an actor is the award-winning director Goutam Ghose who matches the film's all-star cast note for note. The film's frank use of Bengali swear words shocked a few, but delighted many when released in Bengal and it went on to become one of the biggest hits in history. It was also a critical darling and won some 25 Indian awards

2011

Opening Night

Delhi Belly

Directed by Abhinay Deo this irreverent, crude and downright rude this fabulous new comedy caper by from modern Mumbai cocks its hat at bad-boy cults like Snatch and The Hangover, with perhaps a little peppering of the Beatles. Led by Tashi (played by the puppy dog-eyed, teen-heart throb Imran Khan), a dopey bundle of mates find themselves in a whole lot of trouble when they accidentally mix up a bag containing a stool sample (one of them ate the wrong Tandoori Chicken), with another bag which Tashi’s trolley-dolly girlfriend has been asked to carry a bag full of smuggled diamonds! All sh*t breaks out when the smugglers, led by a particularly nasty villain Cow Boy (played by Vijay Raaz Monsoon Wedding), set off after them. It also gives Tashi a chance to consider whether he wants to settle down to a suburban marriage with his nice airhostess and Mummy and Daddy in-laws, or take a bite of the wild side. Expect rickshaw chases, upset stomachs and, of course, a spectacular gun-fest.

Closing Night

Autograph

A hit film in Bengal, this is a tale of ambition and the corruptive nature of fame in the film industry. Shubho- broto (Sengupta) is a young writer/director with a vision to re-make the master filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s classic film Nayak. He approaches the reigning superstar Arun Chatterjee (played by real-life super-hero Prasenjit Chatterjee) with the proposal. Much to his surprise the movie-god agrees to fund the film and be its lead. Shubhobroto celebrates with his live-in girlfriend and budding actress Srinandita (Nandana Sen) and he drafts her in to play the film’s female lead. As the production develops, the promise of fame makes Shubho increasingly arrogant as he slips into his own world. Meanwhile, Arun focuses his affections, on and off screen, on Srinandita and confides in her about his troubled past. The trio find themselves spiralling into a strange and yet poignant love triangle. With a talented ensemble cast and a compelling narrative, the film provides an insightful view into contemporary Kolkata society and a window into the inner workings of the Bengali film industry.

2010

Opening night

Shocking and gripping, this international (uncensored) version of Love Sex aur Dhokha pulls no punches as it introduces viewers to the surveillance stuffed world of modern mega-city India. Deftly told through three inter-twined stories, Dibakar Banerjee takes us on a roller coaster ride of twisted tales of young love, soaked in betrayal. These are voyeuristically served up for the viewer through a spicy and intrusive mix of modern technology – online chat-date sites, amateur cameras, and supermarket surveillance equipment. Not shying away from hard social issues, the film also vividly portrays social concerns of inter-caste romance, honour killings, and blackmail, where modernity crashes headlong with age-old custom. Our lives are not our own, so be careful what you do!

Closing night

Vihir is a wonderfully moving coming of age tale, stunningly filmed amongst the grandeur of the rolling Indian plains. Young Sameer leaves the city with his parents to visit their country family, who are preparing for a wedding. Sameer, however, has only one aim, to meet his cousin and best friend Nachiket. The two adolescent boys are inseparable and Sameer looks up to his older, free thinking cousin, who teaches him many truths as they stand at the cross-roads of their lives, with the innocence of childhood slipping away. This change is echoed by the fate of Sameer’s female cousin, who is being forced into a marriage for the family’s petty gains. Nachiket becomes increasingly distraught by this marriage, until he can take it no longer, leading to an action that will change Sameer’s young life forever.

References

External links

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