Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA), LA
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When: April 8- April 12, 2015
Hot Spot: ArcLight Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Deets: IFFLA is widely recognized as the premiere showcase for groundbreaking Indian cinema globally. Celebrating its 13th year, IFFLA will run April 8-12 at ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles, the festival’s home since its inception. Festival Passes and Gala tickets are currently on sale on the festival’s website. Individual screening tickets go on sale March 20.
IFFLA 2015 presents 25 films, including four world premieres, seven North American premieres, two U.S. premieres, and 10 Los Angeles premieres. The films hail from six different countries, including India, United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Cuba, in 10 different languages, from Hindi and Tamil to English, Spanish, and German.
Highlights include: the centerpiece and world premiere screening of ONE CRAZY THING, directed by IFFLA alum Amit Gupta (JADOO) and featuring BAFTA ‘Breakthrough Brit’ winner Ray Panthaki and Daisy Bevan (THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY) in a comedic story about a man who meets the girl of his dreams, but struggles to find a way to tell her how he became an internet sensation and the Los Angeles premiere of Academy Award-winner Danis Tanović’s latest feature film TIGERS, starring Bollywood heartthrob Emraan Hashmi in a political thriller based on the true story of a salesman who took on a multinational pharmaceutical corporation guilty of marketing a baby formula that caused hundreds of infant deaths.
Additional highlights include: JAI HO, a documentary feature on one of the most prolific composers in the world, A.R. Rahman directed by Umesh Aggarwal; Following a world premiere at Cannes in 2014, Kanu Behl’s TITLI is shot on Super 16 and stars gifted newcomer, Shashank Arora, in a coming of age story set against Dehli’s dark side where perpetual cruelty and violence prevail; and MISS INDIA AMERICA, directed by IFFLA alum Ravi Kapoor and starring Tiya Sircar (THE INTERNSHIP) and Hannah Simone (New Girl), is the story of a woman’s plan to win the crown after her boyfriend runs off with the former Miss India America.
The Opening and Closing night red-carpet galas were announced last week: Shlok Sharma’s debut feature film HARAAMKHOR, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and produced by Anurag Kashyap (GANGS OF WASSEYPUR) and Guneet Monga (THE LUNCHBOX) will open the festival with its world premiere. Nagesh Kukunoor’s DHANAK (RAINBOW) will have its U.S. premiere as the Closing Night film, fresh from 2015 Berlinale where it won Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for best feature-length film.
The 2015 lineup also includes titles from the diverse regional language cinemas of India. Along with Bengali and Malayalam films, IFFLA will screen two Marathi language features, including the North American Premiere of ELIZABETH EKADASHI. Tamil language titles include the documentary AMMA AND APPA about a filmmaking South Indian/German couple and their parents, and the U.S. premiere of the delightful THE CROW’S EGG, which premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Produced by famed South Indian actor Dhanush (best known for the popular song “Why This Kolaveri Di” from the film 3), THE CROW’S EGG follows two young boys in a slum who try to get their first bite of pizza after seeing it in an ad.
“Many of the films at this year’s IFFLA look at contemporary youth from diverse backgrounds, united in their creative ways of overcoming life’s situations. The palpable energy of youth spirit runs throughout our film lineup, and these stories take you on an adventurous journey,” said Jasmine Jaisinghani, IFFLA’s Artistic Director. “I believe our audiences will engage with these riveting characters and be fully entertained.”
A special inclusion for IFFLA 2015 is a Secret Screening for passholders only, offering a first look at a film that has become a sensation in festivals around the world, winning numerous awards. The film is slated to release later this year. Directed by one of the most exciting auteurs in contemporary Indian cinema, and featuring a powerhouse performance by one of India’s brightest young stars, this is a film IFFLA passholders won’t want to miss!
The festival’s popular “Bollywood by Night” series returns this year with an exciting screening of Bollywood smash TAAL. Directed by Subhash Ghai and featuring Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Akshaye Khanna. Originally released in 1999 to worldwide acclaim, TAAL features iconic music composed by A.R. Rahman and is considered one of the best soundtracks in Bollywood history.
The shorts competition showcases an eclectic selection of 10 films including narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated works. Highlights of this year’s program include: acclaimed director Gitanjali Rao’s TRUELOVESTORY, a stunning animated film that made its premiere at the Critics’ Week section of Cannes; Jayisha Patel’s multiple award-winning documentary A PARADISE (UN PARAISO); and the U.S. premiere of three of India’s National Award winners, Pranjal Dua’s FLY, BIRD (CHIDIYA UDH), Christo Tomy’s VIRGIN (KANYAKA), and Ruchir Arun’s MANDRAKE! MANDRAKE!.
In addition, screening with JAI HO will be Satyajit Ray’s TWO, a spellbinding and deeply affecting short film by India’s master storyteller, which has been beautifully preserved by the Academy Film Archive.
Who You May Spot: Nagesh Kukunoor, Kanu Behl, Amit Gupta, Ravi Kapoor, Paresh Mokashi, Bikas Mishra, Shlok Sharma and award-winning producer Guneet Monga Ray Panthaki, Daisy Bevan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Hannah Simone Tiya Sircar, Meera Simhan
Hint For The Average Socialite: Festival Passes and Gala tickets are currently on sale on the festival’s website. Individual screening tickets go on sale March 20. Access to the Secret Screening is exclusively for passholders only. For more information please visit www.indianfilmfestival.org. Check out information on the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, April 23-30, 2015.
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