Indian Film Festival 2011

Indian Film Festival 2011

30 Films, 15 Premieres, All the Very Best Bollywood Blockbusters and Regional Films all under one roof, in one festival – The Indian Film Festival 2011. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland brace yourselves for truckloads of film and fun!

Auckland : 24 March to 03 April : Hoyts Sylvia Park
Bookings and information: www.indianfilmfestival.com.au or Hoyts Box Office on

Following the phenomenal success of the inaugural festival in 2010, the Indian Film Festival: Bollywood & Beyond (IFF) returns in 2011 to celebrate and showcase the best of Indian cinema. This year’s festival features over 30 films including 15 New Zealand and Australian premieres in a program which celebrates the traditional Bollywood sequins and fantasy, and also demonstrates the depth of contemporary Indian film.

The Indian Film Festival is delighted to invite two very special guests to New Zealand- Former Miss India, actor/producer Juhi Chawla and exploratory director Onirban Dhar (My Brother…Nikhil) will both be presenting their controversial new film, I AM and will discuss their careers within the world’s biggest film industry.

IFF Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange says, ‘This year we are proud to present a broad range of films from traditional Bollywood, which show India at its most colourful and wonderful, to those that tackle serious subjects and eloquently express a new sophistication in contemporary Indian cinema – a hugely exciting seismic, cultural shift that must be shared. We are also thrilled to play host to so many of Bollywood’s finest filmmakers and acting talent as they discuss their films and share their passion for cinema with you.’

Opening night audiences will be treated to a Gala of a night complete with Indian culinary delights, a special dance performance, a QnA session with Juhi Chawla and Onirban Dhar and of course the New Zealand premiere of I AM. An innovative exploration of some of the issues facing modern Indian society, I AM consists of four short films based on real-life stories and connected by the central theme of fear. The film was financed by donations from more than 400 people from around the world through social media sites such as Facebook, allowing the creators the freedom to tackle normally taboo subjects.
Other highlights of the festival include box office hits of the past year included NO ON KILLED JESSICA, a political thriller based on the true story of a murder by the son of a prominent politician and subsequent crusade for justice by the victim’s sister. The brilliantly Bollywood DABANGG starring Bollywood heavyweights Salman Khan, Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan which was also the highest grossing film in Indian in 2010 and BAND BAJA BAARAAT which gives a whole new meaning to the ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’. Beyond Bollywood, there’s the comedy WEST IS WEST, the much anticipated sequel to the loved indie smash hit East is East, tongue-in-cheek comedy TERE BIN LADEN and JUST ANOTHER LOVE STORY which narrates the life of a fading gay actor in India’s theatre world.

The IFF is keen to foster greater understanding and collaboration between the Australian, New Zealand and Indian film industries. Launched in 2010 the IFF Western Union Short Film Competition is aimed at discovering the future Peter Jacksons, George Millers and RajKumar Hiranis of the film world. Entries for the 2011 competition have been created around the theme of ‘Dreams’. Judges are director Kabir Khan; actor, writer and producer, Mick Molloy; writer/director, RajKumar Hirani; independent producer Robyn Kershaw and director Shimit Amin who will select three winners – one international, one from Australia, and one from New Zealand. Winners will each receive return air fares to either Mumbai or Melbourne and be given opportunities to meet with key figures in the respective country’s film industry. Each of the winning films will be screened at the 2011 Indian Film Festival and on SBS in Australia, Triangle and Stratos in New Zealand, and World Movies in India. The winners will be announced on the opening day of the festival.

Indian Film Festival: Bollywood and Beyond will tour Sydney (9-19 March), Melbourne (11-20 March), Adelaide (22-29 March) and Auckland (24 March to 3 April).

The Indian Film Festival is a Mind Blowing Films initiative sponsored by Western Union, Lebara, Singapore Airlines, La Trobe, City of Melbourne, SBS, UTV World Movies, Indian Link, Deluxe, Indian Weekender and Triangle and Stratos.
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