Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles Celebrates 15th Anniversary and Announces Galas and Film Lineup
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- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Friday, 10 March 2017 03:59
Tickets and Passes
The 15th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) runs April 5-9, 2017 at Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center in Los Angeles, California. Gala tickets and passes are now available at www.indianfilmfestival.org. Tickets for individual films will go on sale on March 17, 2017. For more information please visit www.indianfilmfestival.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@iffla).
About IFFLA
Now in its 15th year, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is a nonprofit organization devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora.
The five-day festival is the premiere platform for the latest in cutting-edge global Indian cinema and bridges the gap between the two largest entertainment industries in the world – Hollywood and India. The festival will showcase more than 25 films from the Indian filmmaking community across the globe, host the highly anticipated Opening and Closing red carpet Galas, and the Closing Awards ceremony.
GALAS
OPENING NIGHT GALA - LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA
India/2016/116mins/DCP/Hindi
Los Angeles Premiere
Director: Alankrita Shrivastava
Logline: Four women of different ages and backgrounds challenge sexual and social norms in Bhopal with consequences that are both tragic and inspiring.
Director Alankrita Shrivastava won the Spirit of Asia award at the Tokyo International Film Festival with this ambitious narrative set in Bhopal. Rehana is the titular burkha wearer who sings at open mics in defiance of her father's warnings; Shirin is a superstar saleswoman, but must keep this triumph a secret from her faithless husband; Leela is trying to juggle a Muslim lover, a Hindu fiancé and her dream career as a bridal consultant; and Auntie Usha secretly reads racy novels and lusts after her swimming instructor. Two of the women are Hindu, two are Muslim, but all their stories come together when they attempt to challenge the sexual and social norms of Indian patriarchy.
An all-star cast brings these characters to life, including Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Vikrant Massey. Shrivastava's forthright depictions of sexuality have raised questions whether LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA will be released uncensored in India. Be sure to catch this inspiring dramedy in its original edit at IFFLA while you can.
CLOSING NIGHT GALA - HOTEL SALVATION (MUKTI BHAWAN)
India/2016/103 mins/DCP /Hindi
LA Premiere
Director: Shubhashish Bhutiani
Logline: In the holy city of Varanasi, 77-year- old Daya waits for the end with his dutiful son in this debut feature by director Shubhashish Bhutiani.
After a prophetic dream, 77-year- old Daya (Lalit Behl) announces to his family his time has come and he wishes to travel to the holy city of Varanasi to die there. The task to accompany his father falls to his dutiful son Rajiv (Adil Hussain), who is nearly overwhelmed by the stress of his job and the upcoming marriage of his daughter. In Varanasi, they check into the Hotel Salvation, where guests wait for the end of their lives. Once there, though, Daya seems to be reinvigorated, and lifelong conflicts and feelings between father and son reemerge.
Following up with his 2014 Academy Award Live Action shortlist and IFFLA Audience Award winning short KUSH, director Shubhashish Bhutiani returns to IFFLA with his feature debut developed with the Biennale College Cinema project. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Prix Enrico Fulchignoni as the best Venice film to represent the values of peace and human rights, HOTEL SALVATION is an at times wry, but always heartfelt, depiction of the end of a patriarchy in a city where life and death are intimately intertwined.
