London Indian Film Festival to promote Indo-UK ties
Movies such as Sexy Durga will be showcased ay the festival, which will screen in 11 cinema halls across London
Taking part in the ongoing UK-India Year of Culture, the annual London Indian Film Festival is set to showcase Indian cinema in London.
The year 2017 has been dedicated by India and United Kingdom (UK) as the Year of Culture celebrating the ties between the two nations. The annual London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) has decided to participate in this year-long event. Launched in 2010, this festival seeks to promote independent cinema and has grown in stature over the years. Calling itself Europe’s largest South Asian Film Festival, the festival this year is set to showcase some interesting cinema.
As per reports by national press, LIFF issued a statement sharing its involvement in the Year of Culture. The statement highlighted, “As an edgy tie-in to the UK-India Year of Culture and complementing the BFI’s (British Film Institute) ‘India on Film’ programme, the festival opens with the red carpet premiere of the historical epic The Black Prince by Kavi Raz.”
The movie, launched in last month’s Cannes Film Festival, is a dramatic take on the life of the last king of Punjab, “It stars Indian music singer Satinder Sartaaj and iconic actress Shabana Azmi, and dramatises the little-known story of the last King of Punjab who was abducted by the British Raj to be mentored by Queen Victoria,” a LIFF statement said.
Epic program @LoveLIFF#loveliff@AshGowariker@_AdilHussain@GulshanGroverGG@RajkummarRao@AzmiShabana@SufiSartaaj@AmartyaSen_Econpic.twitter.com/XlTPhnHp68
— Vikas Wadhwani (@Vikecstatic) May 29, 2017
On its eighth year, the annual LIFF will see screenings in 11 cinemas, between June 22 and 29 in London. The Sanal Kumar Sasidharan directed thriller Sexy Durga will also be showcased during the festival, as a feature on the closing night. A variety of films centred on human interest will be showcased at the festival, including documentaries as well as a short film competition section titled ‘Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition’. The festival has found help from the Bagri foundation, a “charity dedicated to promoting the rich arts and culture of Asia through a vibrant multi-disciplinary events programme.”
Supporting Indian talent in UK
The festival, through various awards tries to support filmmakers, with the ICON AWARD and The Satyajit Ray Short Film Award as recognitions. Another award that is presented in the festival is the London Indian Film Festival Audience Award, which, as the name suggests, is based on the popular vote of the audience.
LIFF, is set to take place in London, however, there will be a similar event at Birmingham, called the Birmingham Indian Film Festival, slated to take place from June 23 to July 2. The LIFF festival will see award winning Indian filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker speaking at the British Film Institute hosted Screen Talk.
Join @AshGowariker – director of sweeping epics such as Lagaan – in Conversation. Part of @LoveLIFFhttps://t.co/Up6aXLRsG4#IndiaOnFilmpic.twitter.com/HbcTXKMUaP
— BFI (@BFI) May 31, 2017
