NYIFF OPENING NIGHT SCREENING: Shonali Bose's Margarita With A Straw
Directed by Shonali Bose,
India 2014, 100 Minutes, Hindi/English with English subtitles
PRINCIPAL CAST- Kalki Koechlin, Revathy, Sayani Gupta, William Moseley.
SECONDARY CAST- Hussain Dalal, Tenzin Dalha, Kuljeet Singh, Malhar Khushu.
There will be a post-screening discussion with Director Shonali Bose, Co-Director Nilesh Maniyar, Lead Actor Kalki Koechlin and actor Sayani Gupta.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/121296949
LOG LINE: A rebellious young woman with cerebral palsy leaves her home in India to study in New York, unexpectedly falls in love, and embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery.
Synopsis: In this inspirational love story, a middle class Indian teenager born with cerebral palsy (Dev.D, That Girl in Yellow Boots) is determined to have a relationship. Unusual only because it's so rarely seen on screen, Margarita, with a Straw is an exceptional portrait of a woman discovering what she wants, and how to get it.
Laila (Kalki Koechlin) is a student, crafting lyrics and electronic sounds for an indie band at her Delhi University. Her cerebral palsy doesn't much get in the way of her life, although it sometimes does for others. When Laila's band wins a local contest, the condescending host says to her, "It must have been so hard for you. Can you share something with us?" Laila shares her middle finger.
Always seeking more freedom and new experience, Laila wins a place at New York University and leaves India with her mother (Revathy) for Manhattan. There she meets a fiery activist, Khanum (Sayani Gupta), who challenges her beliefs and sparks her creativity. For these two women, it's the beginning of a remarkable love story. Read more >>
About the Director:
 Shonali Bose (Director / Writer / Producer) Shonali Bose did an MA in Political Science at Columbia University followed by an MFA in Directing from the UCLA Film School. As a student at UCLA she received a number of top awards. After graduating she taught at NYFA, Universal Studios for a year.Read more >>
Shonali is also the first Indian to receive the prestigious Sundance-Mahindra Global Filmmaker Award for the screenplay of her new film Margarita, with a Straw. The award was presented at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The film had it's world premier at the Toronto Film Festival where it won the NETPAC Jury Award for Best Asian Film. It has gone on to many other important festivals (such as London BFI, Busan, Brisbane) where it's received standing ovations. It won the Best Actress Award for Kalki at the Talinn Black Nights Film Festival and was selected as Best of the Fest out of 192 films at the Palm Springs film Festival. It has already sold to several countries for theatrical release including US, Canada, Spain, Japan, South Korea. It will have a big theatrical release all over India by a major studio, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, in early 2015.
Awards
Sundance-Mahindra Global Filmmaker Award - Sundance Film Festival, 2012 (for screenplay)
NETPAC Jury Award for Best Asian Film - Toronto Film Festival, 2014
Best Actress Award: Kalki Koechlin - Talinn Black Nights Film Festival, 2014
Audience Award Runner Up and Best of the Fest - Palm Springs Film Festival, 2014
NYIFF 2015 @ VILLAGE EAST CINEMAS, 2ND AVENUE @ 12TH STREET, NYC
Entire Schedule: click here
*Every film has English subtitles!
Program for Wednesday, May 6, 2015 |
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| Industry Panels |
Wednesday May 6, 12 noon.
Theatre 4, |
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| Industry Panel on DISTRIBUTION: TRADITIONAL & CREATIVE @ Time Warner |
| Film Distribution has traditionally been handled by big studios who plan a marketing strategy to distribute films in movie theatres either nationally or in specific areas followed by TV programs thru broadcast syndication, DVD, VOD. Today, with myriad filmmakers with smaller budgets jostling for space and visibility, as well as a definite recognition of Independent Cinema, numerous new creative distribution strategies are popping up on a daily basis: counter programming, internet release, digital distribution, four-walling, direct download, youtube, streaming, direct to video and several other out-of-the-box strategies designed to give filmmakers visibility and get their movies before audiences. |
Hosted By
Time Warner Inc, I Time Warner Center, NYC 10019
Please rsvp by April 30
The panel is free but an rsvp is essential |
| Panelists: |
Shiladitya Bora, Long Live Cinema
Shiladitya Bora is a director, producer and distributor known for establishing PVR's Director's Rare, India's leading indie release banner. He has recently launched Long Live Cinema - an integrated filmed entertainment company with a core focus on distribution and syndication of motion pictures across all platforms and languages. Long Live Cinema is the distributor of the much acclaimed Venice winner ‘Court’ in India. At PVR, he facilitated the theatrical release and distribution of more than 84 independent films within India. Director's Rare remains the only distribution platform to have released feature length documentaries (Fire in the Blood, Supermen of Malegaon etc.) and short films (Shorts, Shuruvat Ka Interval etc.) in the country. Shiladitya holds a masters degree in communication management and entrepreneurship from Asia's premiere media school Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad.read more >> |
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James.S.J. Liao, President, Salem Consultants Inc
James S. J. Liao, former VP-General Manager of Distribution for Crossings TV (www.crossingstv.com) willl share his views on the state of cable TV & film distribution today, covering topics such as the role of original content, the growing OTT market of younger viewers (cord cutting/cord never) and the growing multicultural awareness among viewers. His viewpoints arise from his experiences, not just in television & film, ...read more >> |
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Moderator: Adam Moore, SAG-AFTRA
Adam Moore is National Director of EEO & Diversity for SAG-AFTRA. Since joining Screen Actors Guild in 2005 as Associate National Director of Affirmative Action and Diversity, he has been responsible for developing and implementing a national diversity plan of action to achieve accurate representation of those groups historically excluded from the entertainment and news media. read more >> |
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| Omkara |
Special Event
Wednesday, May 6, 6:00 pm.
Theatre 4
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Omkara
Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj
India 2006, 155 minutes, Hindi (w/English subtitles)
Cast - Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Kareena Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Bipasha Basu, Naseeruddin Shah
Post-screening discussion with Director Vishal Bhardwaj
Trailer:
https://youtu.be/DCM46Ytt2yw
Synopsis: In this crime thriller based on Shakespeare's Othello, Omkara is a bahubali, a political enforcer who carries out the political crimes of his employer. Chaos ensues after Omkara allegedly kidnaps Dolly, the daughter of a local advocate, who is already betrothed to another. Amidst plots of violence, revenge, and scandal, lines are blurred and misunderstandings could well prove to be fatal.
About the Director: Vishal Bhardwaj (born 4 August 1965) is an Indian film director, writer, screenwriter, producer, music composer and playback singer, known for his works in modern Hindi cinema. He produces films under his banner VB Pictures. He has received four National Film Awards. His directorial debut Makdee was screened in the Spotlight on India section at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. He is well known for his Shakespearean-based trilogy set in contemporary India: Maqbool, Omkara, and Haider. His films have premiered at both the Cannes Film Festival as well as the Busan International Film Festival. |
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| Chotoder Chobi |
Wednesday, May 6, 6.15 pm.
Theatre 2
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Chotoder Chobi
Directed by Kaushik Ganguly
India 2014, 107 minutes, Bengali (w/English subtitles)
Cast- Dulal Sarkar, Debalina Roy
Winner of 2014 National Award for Best Film on Social Issues (narrative)
Trailer: https://youtu.be/u8xRKKtL2Oo
Synopsis: Focusing on the predicaments of those born with genetic defect causing dwarfism, the film is the love story of Khoka and Soma. When Soma's father, Shibu, a circus trapeze is bed-ridden post a fatal accident and doesn't receive the deserved compensation, his junior Khoka lends a helping hand. Though this brings him closer to Soma but they are unable to deal with the relationship like another normal couple. Why is it so? Why do they need to rethink about a relationship when they know that they are the best companions? Kaushik Ganguly brings to you an unusual love story of two such 'little' lovers.
About the Director: Kaushik Ganguly spent eight years as a teacher and freelance scriptwriter before turning director in 1995 with the teleserial "Rahaat". Making his feature film debut with "Waarish"(2004),Kaushik went on to garner much acclaim for his second film "Shunyo e bukey"(2005).He is known for his works like Ushnotar jonnye(2003) and Arekti Premer Golpo (2010). He became significant in Indian Cinema for his consecutive four film nominations in Indian Panoroma and his national award for "Shobdo". He was awarded with the Best Director award for his film"Apur Panchali" at IIFI 2013 and his last film-Chotoder Chobi won the silver peacock award for Dulal Sarkar,Best Actor in IFFI,Goa,India 2014 . Chotoder Chobi also won the National Award for Best Film on Social Issues recently. |
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The Indo-American Arts Council is a 501 ©3 not-for-profit secular arts organization passionately dedicated to promoting, showcasing and building an awareness of artists of Indian origin in the performing arts, visual arts, literary arts and folk arts. For information please visit www.iaac.us. Indo-American Arts Council Inc. 517 East 87th St, Suite 1B, New York, NY 10128. Phone: 212 594 3685. Web: www.iaac.us
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| Benegal's New Cinema |
Special Presentation
Wednesday, May 6, 6.30 pm.
Theatre 3
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Benegal's New Cinema
Directed by Iram Ghufran
India 2014, 58 minutes, English
Cast- SHYAM BENEGAL, SHABANA AZMI, ANANT NAG, GOVIND NIHALANI, GIRISH KARNAD, VANRAJ BHATIA, RAJIT KAPUR
Post-screening discussion with Shyam Benegal
Trailer:http://youtu.be/2VhP9fcP_JQ
Synopsis: 'Benegal's New Cinema' is a documentary on the films of Shyam Benegal and explores the time, ethos and concerns of the New Cinema Movement in India through his oeuvre. A pioneer in the New Cinema Movement, within the Hindi film industry, Benegal's career spans four decades of consistent work. The film is a foray into the mind of this great filmmaker, and an attempt to understand his motivations and impulses for making cinema. This film brings into conversation Benegal's work from his first feature film, Ankur [1973] to the formally experimental Suraj Ka Saatvan Ghoda [1993].read more >>
About the Director: Iram Ghufran is a Delhi based filmmaker and artist working on moving image, sound and text. Her work has been shown in several international art and cinematic contexts including the Berlin Film Festival, Experimenta India, World Social Forum and ISEA among others. read more >> |
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Villari (short)
Directed by Prashant Vanjani,
India 2014, 16 minutes, Hindi (w/ English subtitles)
Cast - Mohammad Sahidur Rahman, Oroon Das
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/74439794
Synopsis: A fugitive man takes refuge in a nondescript lodge. He doesn't step out of his room for a few days. In his thoughts, dreams, and hallucinations, the presence of another man is felt, who seems like the one expected to hunt him down. read more >>
About the Director: Before going to film school, Prashant worked as assistant director on a Bollywood feature film produced by Apoorva Lakhia. After a one year program in filmmaking at Prague Film School, he returned to India and joined a production house as an assistant director. read more >> |
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The Rabbit (Khargosh) (short)
Directed by Sudarshan Suresh
India 2014, 13 minutes, Bengali (w/ English subtitles)
Cast - Rabindranath Jana, Saptadisha Roy Chowdhury, Asoke Kumar, Madhu Prasad
Trailer:https://youtu.be/xQvAIUFhhqc
Synopsis: A debt-ridden farmer struggles to keep afloat amidst mounting pressure from his lenders. When his young daughter decides to adopt a stray rabbit, the relationship between father and daughter is put to the test. What the child considers to be the loving companion she desperately needs, her father sees as an additional threat to the family’s meager existence.
About the Director:Sudarshan began his career as a lawyer, working for a corporate law firm in Mumbai, India. An avid painter and artist, he quit the profession in 2012 to explore his love for storytelling and the arts. read more >>
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