Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles to showcase Bombay Talkies, Ugly and More

From April 8th to the 11th, Indian films will once again be showcased in the US at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). In its 12th year, IFFLA boasts an incredible lineup of fabulous films that reflects the rich diversity of Indian cinema. IFFLA’s Artistic Director Jasmine Jaisinghani says, “I’m thrilled and proud that IFFLA’s line-up this year includes an especially diverse range of cinematic experiences, covering many regions of India and the diaspora.”
IFFLA 2014 presents 33 films that include feature films, documentaries and shorts. The festival will have three world premieres, six North American premieres, six U.S. premieres, and 16 Los Angeles premieres. The films feature 10 different languages, from Hindi to Marathi, to Russian to Bengali. Additionally, IFFLA supports American, Australian, British, Canadian, and European diaspora filmmakers from nine different countries telling their stories.
Bollywood will be well represented with three outstanding films all showing during the festival’s run. BOMBAY TALKIES and MONSOON SHOOTOUT will be a part of the popular Bollywood by Night series. BOMBAY TALKIES is of course a quartet of short films that celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema that features films by four of India’s most exciting contemporary directors: Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, and Anurag Kashyap, as well as a stellar cast that includes Rani Mukerji, Nawazzudin Siddique with special appearances by Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif. MONSOON SHOUTOUT is a thrilling debut by IFFLA alum writer/director Amit Kumar, about how a split-second decision made by a rookie police officer has rippling effects in his life and the lives of those around him. Then making its North American premiere is Anurag Kashyap’s UGLY, an intense, masterfully directed psychological thriller that premiered in the 2013 Director’s Fortnight section of Cannes. The festival also features films starring Indian actors Irrfan Khan, Rajat Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tisca Chopra and more.
The festival will open with the Los Angeles Premiere of SOLD. Produced by Emma Thompson, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Jeffrey D. Brown adapts Patricia McCormick’s novel Sold – a National Book Award finalist – into a vivid, harrowing, and inspiring story of a young girl’s resilience in the face of unspeakable cruelty. The film stars Gillian Anderson, David Arquette, Susmita Mukherjee, Seema Biswas, Tillotama Shome, Niyar Saikia, Priyanka Bose, Ankur Vikal, and Parambrata Chatterjee.
Recently announced is that JADOO, a delightful and delicious exploration of family bonds amidst two feuding brothers’ restaurants in England, will screen as the festival’s Closing Night Gala. JADOO is written and directed by IFFLA alum Amit Gupta, and first premiered at the 2013 Berlinale. It features a wonderful ensemble cast that includes Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, Harish Patel, Tom Mison, and Madhur Jaffrey. The red-carpet screening will be followed by an exclusive after-party at Nirvana-Bombay Palace in Beverly Hills.
Other highlights include LIAR’S DICE, the remarkable directorial debut of South Indian actress Geetu Mohandas that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Dioraphte Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam; the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival HANK AND ASHA, an exploratory, romantic look at two people bonding in the digital age by newcomer James E. Duff; Nagraj Manjule’s FANDRY, a highly praised debut feature for its multilayered emotion and realism on the subject of caste discrimination; BRAHMIN BULLS, starring Roshan Seth (Gandhi, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Mississippi Masala) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Beauty and the Beast, Heroes) as an estranged father and son unexpectedly brought together to confront the family’s past; and SIDDHARTH, a nuanced look at a family whose son goes missing, by lauded Canadian director and IFFLA alum Richie Mehta (Amal).
The festival’s feature documentary competition includes an eclectic mix of films from established and upcoming filmmakers that consider India’s unique traditions and dynamic future. The films include: the world premiere of THE AUCTION HOUSE, an intimate and funny look at two brothers trying to keep their anachronistic family business going in the digital age; festival favorite POWERLESS, which depicts intense struggles over electricity in a mid-size Indian city; FAITH CONNECTIONS, IFFLA alum Pan Nalin’s beautiful and rare look at the Kumbh Mela; and the National Award-winning SHEPHERDS OF PARADISE, about an arduous, mountainous trek through an animal drive in the Kashmiri winter.
The shorts competition showcases a diverse selection of 15 films that include narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated works. Highlights of this year’s program include Academy Award® shortlisted KUSH; Sundance award winner LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.; and the world premiere of acclaimed director Umesh Kulkarni’s THE FLY.

Source : bollyspice