NJISACF 08 Sneak PeeK 4

• 13 spectacular feature films, 6 stimulating and challenging docu-features, 14 stunning short films from US, Canada, India, UK, Ireland, Scotland, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

• Exquisite films by distinguished filmmakers and promising newcomers that will take your breath away

• World and US premieres, films straight from Cannes and Slamdance, and renowned film institutes

• All day film screenings, thought-provoking Q & A sessions with filmmakers and celebrities, gala opening night with cocktail and dinner

Grahanam (The Eclipse)

Narrative Feature/India/2007/93min/ Telugu
Writer and Director: Mohan Krishna Indraganti
Based on a story by GV Chalam
Cast: Tanikella Bharani, Jayalalitha
NJ Premiere
Indira Gandhi National Award, Best Debut Director

A classic in black and white exploring the complexities in man-woman relationship

Based on the classic short story Doshagunam (The Disease) by the famous Telugu writer, Chalam, the shoestring budgeted Grahanam has won eleven major awards including the Indian National Award for Best Debut Director.
Beautifully scripted and crafted, Grahanam addresses and explores the consequences of blind belief and faith, and the complex way in which female sexuality is controlled in a patriarchal society.

Full of dramatic irony and poignancy… – Ylife, Canada

Mistaken

Narrative Feature/UK/103 min/ English
Director: Shahid Nadeem
US Premiere

The first-ever feature film made by the South Asian diaspora in Scotland

One summer’s evening, the police burst into a Glaswegian Asian household. The son, Ali has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism. Between cops, hacks, mullahs and militants, Ali’s family discovers that all was not well with their son and their world descends into siege and nightmare. Meanwhile, Ali’s sister, Rukhsana refuses to comply with an arranged marriage, and neighbors send bricks through the windows. Yet not everybody is an enemy.

A fast-paced topical and thought-provoking experience…- myivillage.com, Edinburgh

Here is a preview of the film:

Woman in Burka

Narrative Short/USA/ 2008/ 20 min/ English
Writer & Director: Jonathan Lisecki
Cast: Sarita Choudhury, Sam Rockwell, Kerry Washington, Samantha Buck
NJ Premiere
Spirit of Slamdance Award, Arizona Film Festival Merit Award

A lighthearted yet scathing look at racism in Hollywood.

This is a darkly comic look at an actress auditioning for Middle Eastern roles in a post-9/11 culture. Sarita is up for the coveted part of an Iraqi rape victim’s ghost in a new film. No one has seen the script or knows whether it’s a serious drama or a cheap horror movie, but everyone seems to think it’s perfect for her, including her best friend, her manager, and her ex. Will she be the Woman in Burka?

This movie is my anecdote of cultural insensitivity. My life has been full of situations like the ones in this film… – Sarita Chaudhury

The 2008 Slamdance Film Festival narrowed down more than 2,000 short films from around the world to 67 shorts set to compete for a Grand Jury Prize at the event next month. The selection with the highest star wattage is Jonathan Lisecki’s “Woman In Burka” – The Hollywood Reporter

To learn more, visit www.womaninburka.com

Monsoon

Narrative Short/India/ 21 min/ Hindi, English
Director: Shyam Balsé
Best Director and Best Short Film awards at 13 major International Film Festivals.

Beautiful, elegant, touching… insightful story of the intersection of the ancient and the modern.

In this gorgeously shot tale, a young medical doctor returns home to his family in India for a visit at his father’s urgent request. Once there, family history reasserts itself, as the young man finds himself at odds with his father in matters of life and of death.

Monsoon is a beautiful cultural exploration of being torn between two identities, with an accurate depiction of second generation family dilemmas.
– Brian Liu, 2007 Jackson Hole Film Festival Juror

Here is a trailer of the film:

To learn more, visit www.monsoonfilm.com

Preview NJISACF 2008 film line-up on our website, www.njisacf.org
Online ticketing is open now. Visit www.njisacf.org.

Volunteer/ Sponsor for NJISACF 08
To be a part of our enthusiastic gang and contribute to the success of this event, email volunteers@njisacf.org or call 732-310-0236. Watch some of the latest and breathtaking South Asian films for free!

For Advertisements and Sponsorships to reach an audience of more than 2000 South Asians, email sponsors@njisacf.org or call 732-310-0236

NJISACF 08 Venue
Rutgers Busch Campus Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey

Asian American Film and Theater Project, PO Box 136, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, 08852, USA
732.310.0236/ saktis@njisacf.org

Preview – NJISACF 08

And here’s a preview of our awesome NJISACF 08:

NJISACF 08 Sneak Peek 3

• An assortment of 13 feature films, 6 docu-features, 14 short films dealing with a broad range of themes like identity, sexuality, politics and religion.

• World, US and East Coast premieres, films straight from Cannes, Slamdance, renowned film institutes and regional films

• Intellectually stimulating discussions and a gathering of most talk-about and promising faces of South Asian cinema and eminent personalities

• All day film screenings, thought-provoking Q & A sessions with filmmakers and celebrities, gala opening night with cocktail and dinner

Amal

Canada/2007/Feature Film 101min/ English-Hindi
Writer and Director: Richie Mehta
Cast: Nasiruddin Shah, Roshan Seth, Seema Biswas, Rupinder Nagra, Koel Purie
East Coast Premiere

People’s Choice Award, London Film Festival
Panavision Spirit Award for Best Independent Film, Santa Barbara International Film Festival

A modern day fable – sometimes, the poorest of men are the richest

A festival favorite with heart-warming performances by Naseeruddin Shah and Roshan Seth,
Amal attempts to seek the meaning of success, and how the meaning of success can change from person to person.
Filmed on location in New Delhi, this film, both emotional and poetic at times, will touch your heart and make you see the world in a different perspective.
Richie mehta will be present at our film festival.

Not since Charlie Chaplin’s silent movies has a filmmaker seriously deployed such stereotypes.
- The Hollywood Reporter
Amal is unquestionably a rich cinematic experience. – Boxoffice.com
A mix of Guy de Maupassant, O. Henry, Vittorio De Sica and Hindu legend. – Toronto Life

Watch this trailer from Amal here:

To learn more about the film, visit www.poormansproductions.com/amalfeature

A Home in the Sky

India/2007/104min/Marathi
East Coast Premiere
Director/Producer:Bipin Nadkarni

An 11- year old struggles with his parents’ separation and subsequent remarriage

When 11-year-old Bunty’s parents go separate ways, his world revolves around his mother, Aatyabai (his caretaker), and paintings, flowers and butterflies. He accepts the bitter past of his parents’ and is content meeting his father once a month.

But with time, Bunty’s world changes. Both his parents find new companions and resettle in life. Bunty is unable to accept another man in his mother’s life, or come to terms with another woman in his father’s world.
Which of the two worlds would he choose?

Which world does he belong to?

A beautifully-made film on such a complex subject. I have always liked his style of working. - Shivaji Satam

The World Unseen

UK/South Africa/ 2007/ English
Writer and Director: Shamim Sharif
Cast: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Parvin Dabas, Nandana Sen
East Coast Premiere

Best Director, Copper Wing Award, Phoenix Film festival
Best Film, Audience Award, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Two Indian women find life-changing friendship in 50s apartheid South Africa
A slice of life, an epic drama

Set in 1950’s South Africa, when apartheid is just beginning, this is a story of two women, one free-spirited and the other a young traditional wife and mother, and their unexpected attraction that changes both women forever.

In a system that divides white from black and women from men, what chance is there for an unexpected love to survive? The World Unseen transports the viewer to a vibrant, colorful and evokes questions that are universal.

A sincere, beautifully realized vision of love and resistance in an intolerant world. – Afterellen.com
A rare combination of intricate character study and engaging narrative - British Film Institute

Subtle and rather beautiful … a touching, likeable human story. -Notcoming.com

Here’s the trailer of The World Unseen:

To learn more, visit www.theworldunseenfilm.com

Watch out for the complete list of films selected will be posted soon on our website www.njisacf.org

Online ticketing will be open soon on our website.

Volunteer/ Sponsor for NJISACF 08
To be a part of our enthusiastic gang and contribute to the success of this event, email volunteers@njisacf.org or call 732-310-0236. Watch some of the latest and breathtaking South Asian films for free!
For Advertisements and Sponsorships to reach an audience of more than 2000 South Asians, email sponsors@njisacf.org or call 732-310-0236

NJISACF 08 Venue
Rutgers Busch Campus Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
Asian American Film and Theater Project, PO Box 136, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, 08852, USA
732.310.0236/ saktis@njisacf.org

NJISACF 08 Sneak Peak 2

• An assortment of meaningful and entertaining films from US, Canada, UK, Pakistan, India, Tibet, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh – to challenge your intellect and refresh your sensibilities

• Youth oriented films that reflect the complex world of 21^st century GenNext

• World and US premieres, films straight from Cannes and Slamdance, and renowned film institutes

• All day film screenings, thought-provoking Q & A sessions with filmmakers and celebrities, gala opening night with cocktail and dinner

Infinite Justice

UK/2007/Feature Film 104min/ English
Writer and Director: Jamil Dehlavi
Cast: Kevin Collins, Raza Jaffrey (Best Actor, Kara Film Festival)
East Coast Premiere
Best Dramatic Feature, European Independent Awards in Paris
Robert Rodriguez Award for Excellence, 2007 Hollywood Digital Film Festival, LA

Explosive filmmaking. Not to be missed. – Le Courrier Picard

A bold and taut thriller about the real War on Terror, an uncompromising look at international politics and terrorism

Loosely based on the Daniel Pearl assassination case, Infinite Justice is the story of two men caught in the most dramatic conflict of our times, the war on terror. UK based French-Pakistani Independent film director Dehlavi tries to explore the very complex issue of terrorism impartially from various perspectives. A slick production, the film deftly goes back and forth in time, through continents and creates a complex and multilayered narrative, which efficiently reflects the complex issues at the core of the war on terrorism.

Jamil Dehlavi

Ultimately, what makes Infinite Justice a worthy addition to the canon of films about 9/11 and its aftermath is Dehlavi’s balanced , detached treatment of his explosive. – Sight and Sound

A fast-moving political thriller. Technically impressive.- The Guardian

An interesting contribution to the post 9/11 movies. Serious and decent-minded. – The Observer

There’s an ambitious sweep to Infinite Justice. Dehlavi moves confidently between time frames and countries. - BBC

To learn more about the film and Jamil Dehlavi, visit www.dehlavifilms.com

Khub Asti Afghanistan (Are You Alright, Afghanistan?)

India – Afghanistan/2007/Docu-Feature/ 60 min/ English
Writer and Director: Soumitra Ranade

In search of the other Afghanistan the Western media chooses to ignore
An Afghanistan beyond the stories of terror and torture – a hopeful journey

Indian filmmaker Soumitra Ranade (director of Jajantaram Mamantaram) grew up in Kabul as a teenager. 26 years after leaving the country, he returns to post 9/11 Afghanistan to revisit the definitive years of his youth. In a country devastated by war, he rediscovers its beauty through his memories and encounters with its people. The film takes us on a hopeful journey through the past and present of a country that is yet to see lasting peace.

Soumitra Ranade

The film is a tribute to the Afghan spirit. Some films just have to be made…this was one of them. – Soumitra Ranade

Enemies of Happiness

Malalai Zoya

Denmark/2006/ 59 mins/English, Farsi, Pasthu
Director: Eva Mulvad and Anja Al-Erhayem
East Coast Premiere
Winner, World Cinema Jury Prize in Documentaries, 2006 Sundance Film Festival

The true story of a young woman fighting for changes in Afghanistan
A film on personal courage, about a radical freedom fighter and a land that is changing

The story of the campaign of Malalai Zoya – a 28 year-old Afghan woman, armed with only a strong voice and a fierce loyalty to her homeland, who overcomes entrenched views and death threats to help bring democracy to Afghanistan.

Danish filmmaker Eva Mulvad follows the last 10 days of campaign of Zoya, running the country’s first democratic parliamentary elections in 35 years. The elections represented a special milestone for Afghan women, who had endured second-class citizenry their entire lives. Immensely inspiring, Zoya’s dedication will motivate all of us to join her in the cause of real reform.

This poetic portrait of a popular hero from the dusty Farah Province is sure to inspire viewers from all backgrounds. …- New York Times

You are a shining example of how one person can make a difference in millions of lives and in the future of millions – Hilary Swank

A political documentary with a difference…Quietly celebrates its heroine’s fierce determination to reform her country’s attitude toward women. -Leslie Felperin, Variety

Eloquent…Joya is a controversial voice for a nation ruined by war and ruled by tradition, and a voice with a desperate urge for change. - Göteborg Film Festival

Malalai with her secretary and another female candidate for the provinsial council. (Courtsey: www.enemiesofhappiness.com)

Director Eva Mulvad on location (Courtsey: www.enemiesofhappiness.com)

Watch a trailer of the film here:

Here is a speech by Eva Mulvad at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival:

To learn more, visit http://www.enemiesofhappiness.com

Official sponsor of NJISACF 08

Watch out for the complete list of films selected to be posted soon on our website, www.njisacf.org.

Online ticketing will be open soon on our website.

Volunteer/ Sponsor for NJISACF 08
To be a part of our enthusiastic gang and contribute to the success of this event, email volunteers@njisacf.org or call 732-310-0236. Watch some of the latest and breathtaking South Asian films for free!

For Advertisements and Sponsorships to reach an audience of more than 2000 South Asians, email sponsors@njisacf.org or call 732-310-0236

NJISACF 08 Sneak Peek

• 13 spectacular feature films, 6 stimulating and challenging docu-features, 14 stunning short films from US, Canada, UK, Pakistan, India, Tibet, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
• Exquisite films by distinguished filmmakers and promising newcomers that will take your breath away
• World and US premieres, films straight from Cannes and Slamdance, and renowned film institutes
• All day film screenings, thought-provoking Q & A sessions with filmmakers and celebrities, gala opening night with cocktail and dinner

Kanchivaram

India/2007/Feature Film 104min/ Tamil
Writer and Director: Priyadarshan
Cast: Prakash Raj, Shreya Reddy
US Premiere

An Artistic Masterpiece by the Bollywood Director PRIYADARSHA

An Electrifying Performance by PRAKASH RAJ, who will be present all 3 days of the Festival

Kanchivaram was a deeply moving experience…excellent performances and enviable control in direction…My hats off to you – Shyam Benegal

If you think you can expect only rib-tickling comedies from Priyadarshan, his latest and most ambitious film Kanchivaram will prove you wrong. Clearly the film where the prolific director reaches his creative pinnacle, Kanchivaram is one of the rare film experiences you simply should not miss. Priyadarshan describes this one as his “dream project” and a “true achievement”: “I always do films for others but this is for me…to satisfy my emotions and feelings.”

With exquisite visuals and the usual Priyadarshan touch, Kanchivaram tells the story of a common man caught in the conflict between one’s adopted ideals and individual dreams.

Prakash Raj plays Venkatam, a master weaver who creates the first spark of a revolution, and his performance is a stunner.
To learn more about the film, visit www.kanchivaramthefilm.com

Women of Tibet – A Quiet Revolution

USA-Tibet/2007/Docu-Feature/ 60 min/ English
Director: Rosemary Rawcliffe
SILVER and BRONZE 2008 TELLY AWARDS Winner

Featuring His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

The director will be present during the festival.

An extraordinary film about the brave women of Tibet, and an inspiring document of one of the greatest movements of nonviolent resistance in modern history – when 15,000 unarmed Tibetan women took to the streets to oppose the violent occupation of their country by the China. The film, for the first time in history, interviews those handful women who have survived everything – these being the last generation of women left to share the story of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising and to impart their cultural legacy. Breathlessly beautiful and thought-provoking, along with rare photographs, footage and interviews of the spirited and tough women as well as an extended interview of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama the film is an incredible compilation of little known stories and accounts of courage and compassion. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Himalayas, Women of Tibet shows the strength and perseverance of a people dedicated to the principles of peace, non-violence, and compassion.

The film tells a story which has deep importance to the Tibetan nation, and I believe greater relevance to the wider world as well. – Tenzin Tethong, President, the Dalai Lama Foundation

Women of Tibet present an enlightened look at how women’s issues fit into the Tibetan struggle for freedom. – American Public Television

To learn more, visit http://womenoftibet.org/pages/index.php

Watch the trailer for the film here:

Pancham Unmixed – An Unending Journey

Director: Brahmanand Singh
East Coast Premiere

The only documentary ever made about the legendary music composer RD BURMAN

The director, Brahmanand Singh will be present to share his experience of making this unique film

Featuring:Asha Bhosle, Gulzar, Shammi Kapoor, Shakti Samant, Bhupinder, Manna Dey, Rishi Kapoor, Pyarelal, Ameen Sayani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Vishal Bharadwaj, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Usha Uthup, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Kavita Krishnamurthy, and many others – over 40 eminent personalities from the industry, who remember Pancham with fondness and humor and unequivocally vouch for his genius and largesse as a human being.

One of the most versatile composers the Hindi Film Music Industry had ever seen, RD Burman brought about a revolution in the popular music of its time almost single-handedly. This is a never-before incisive look into the composer’s reflective artistry and buoyant-but-also-lonely inner being. You will hear many untold and told stories by the most talented people from the film industry, not to mention his evergreen songs. A unique, up-close and moving remembrance of the legend by the people closest to him.

The tribute is a thorough look at R D Burman’s life and work – and what exactly made his music so trend setting and timeless … – HT Café

A poignant portion is when Vidhu Vinod Chopra speaks about the dark phase in Pancham’s career — apparently RDB had almost been written off by the music industry … – DNA

The film takes an incisive look not only at the body of work of the legendary composer, but also reveals various facets of R D Burman that you would never know. – Yahoo.com, In.Movies

To learn more, visit http://www.brahmanandsingh.com/RDB.htm

Brahmanand Singh

And while you remember the most adored music genius of our time, we leave you with these videos below, of some of his innumerable evergreen creations:

Watch out for the complete list of films selected will be posted soon on our website, www.njisacf.org

Online ticketing will be open soon on our website.

Volunteer/ Sponsor for NJISACF 08
To be a part of our enthusiastic gang and contribute to the success of this event, email volunteers@njisacf.org or call 732-310-0236.
Watch some of the latest and breathtaking South Asian films for free!
For Advertisements and Sponsorships to reach an audience of more than 2000 South Asians, email

NJISACF 08 Venue
Rutgers Busch Campus Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
Asian American Film and Theater Project, PO Box 136, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, 08852, USA
732.310.0236/ saktis@njisacf.org

NJISACF 08 Official Sponsors

Open Road Honda

New Jersey State Council on the Arts

Radio EBC