Last year we had the opportunity at Upodcast to cover the grand opening of the London Indian Film Festival and spoke with Festival director Cary Rajinder Sawhney (check out our podcast by clicking here) and we even had the chance to attend the World Premiere of last year’s massive cult hit Delhi Belly and speak to some of the stars in attendance. And this year the LIFF is back with some awesome new exclusives for audiences that are interested in Indian cinema beyond Bollywood!
Europe’s fastest growing platform for Indian cinema returns to the Capital celebrating the burgeoning movement of alternative Indian cinema. The third annual London Indian Film Festival will run from 20 June – 3 July, bringing to UK audiences a selection of cutting edge films from some of India’s and the UK’s hottest independent talents. Going way beyond Bollywood, these are films that challenge, shock, generate debate and present a more realistic view of India today in all its colour and diversity.
The Festival, which is supported by Film London, will stretch city wide, opening in the West End at the Cineworld Haymarket and continuing at BFI Southbank, Watermans, Cineworld Trocadero, Feltham, Wood Green, Wandsworth, the O2 and ICA. For the first time the festival is also teaming up with Tate Modern to present a rare showcase in Indian experimental film curated from Bangalore.
The Festival also has films and events for a wide range of audiences and includes industry events at BAFTA, exploring Indian/UK co-production and specially commissioned music and performance pieces.
The London Indian Film Festival includes a diverse range of World and UK Premieres and will open with Mumbai cult Director Anurag Kashyap’s action-packed ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’. Based on true incidents, Gangs of Wasseypur is a revenge story set in the dynamic socio-political milieu of erstwhile Bihar. Wasseypur is a town in the district of Dhanbad in the northern part of India. The film will have its World Premiere at Cannes Director’s Fortnight. London Indian Film Festival’s full programme will be released on 21 May.
Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Festival Director comments:-
“We aren’t just showing Indian films for Indian audiences, but opening the door to the rich diversity of cinema in India today, to all audiences. Some of these films are kicking out the old stereotypes of Indian cinema, while the best filmmakers are starting to be recognised on the world stage, where they belong. It’s great to be premiering these cutting-edge new films in London, during a year when the city is celebrating its cultural richness.”
London Indian Film Festival is supported by Film London’s Cultural Film Exhibition Fund through the National Lottery on behalf of the BFI, Satyajit Ray Foundation, Western Union, Incredible !ndia, Cineworld, Grange Hotels and BFI.
Web:
Official Website: http://www.londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LondonINDIANFilmFestival
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/loveliff
Check out some of Upodcasting coverage of LIFF:
A Chat with LIFF Program Director Cary Rajinder Sawhney
A Conversation with Abhinay Deo, Director of Delhi Belly at LIFF 2011
