#Chicago South Asian Film Festival

[lyricsolution-com]

Boman Irani Reflects On His Journey To Becoming An Actor After ‘The Mehta Boys’ Success At Chicago Film Festival | People News

Mumbai: Actor Boman Irani, whose feature directorial ‘The Mehta Boys’ made a huge noise, and received a standing ovation at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, has shared how each beat in his life has greatly contributed to him becoming a fine actor.  Boman Irani has worked as a waiter, a photographer and even worked at his family’s wafer shop before he eventually became an actor delivering…

[playermagic23]

Shreya Chaudhry expressed enthusiasm ahead of The Mehta Boys' international premiere at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, saying, "It's an absolute honour to have our work showcased on such a prestigious platform"

The Mehta Boys, the directorial debut of Bollywood actor Boman Irani, will premiere at the 15th Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) on September 20. The film, starring Boman Irani, Shreya Chaudhry, and Avinash Tiwary, delves into an alienated father-son relationship, exploring themes of identity, family, and belonging.

Actor Shreya Chaudhry, who plays the female role in The Mehta Boys, is ecstatic about the film's world premiere. She said, "I am absolutely thrilled to be heading to Chicago for the South Asian Film Festival, especially since our film, The Mehta Boys, will have its world premiere on the festival's opening night! It is an enormous honor to have our work featured on such a distinguished platform, and it is really rewarding to earn this international exposure."

Reflecting on her experience with the film and working with Boman Irani, she stated, "The Mehta Boys is a very special film for me." It has been a fantastic honor to not only act but also be directed by a legend like Boman Irani sir; it is an experience I will cherish forever. I'm also happy for the opportunity to collaborate with Oscar-winning writer Alexander Dinelaris so early in my career. Boman sir's understanding of the art and the enthusiasm he brought to the set were truly inspirational. With sir on set, every day was a lesson. I am extremely grateful to him for entrusting me with this responsibility and allowing me to be part of this journey.

Shreya went on to say, "Having a film that we've all worked so hard on be part of an international film festival that celebrates South Asian stories is one of those dream-come-true moments, especially so early in my career." To think that The Mehta Boys will be seen by a larger audience fills me with appreciation. To be able to work with such a wonderful cast and crew, all of whom poured their emotions into this picture, makes this award much more meaningful."

Celebrities such as Karan Johar, Farah Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan took to social media upon the announcement of The Mehta Boys' international debut at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.

[bhaskarlive]

‘The Mehta Boys’ to open Chicago South Asian Film Festival

The upcoming streaming movie ‘The Mehta Boys’, directed by Boman Irani is set to open the 15th Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) on September 20.

The film is written by Boman Irani along with Alexander Dinelaris Jr, who has co-written the Oscar-winning script for ‘Birdman’. The film features Boman Irani along with Avinash Tiwary, Shreya Chaudhry, and Puja Sarup.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[dtou]

Saltwater from Mild Mannered on Vimeo.

Over a period of many years, a father takes a peculiar approach to parenting his Indian-American son only to find the same lesson returned to him years later.

SALTWATER Directed by : Sachin Dharwadker @sachinfilms Produced by : Kunal M. Patel @kalysay, Rianjali Bhowmick @rianjalimusic, Kush Parmar @kushparm Production Company: Mild Mannered & Timid @mildmanneredtimid Written by: Naveed Khan @_navk Director of Photography: Spencer Mann @spencermanndp Producer: Colt Kozal @coolterkoozal Music: Rianjali Bhowmick @rianjalimusic Starring: Sanjay Chandani @sanjaychandani, Deepti Gupta @thedeeptigupta, Rishi Mahesh @rishipuff, Armaan Pun Medatia (@sheetal819) Production Designer: Armaan Pujani @p_maan96 Costumer Designer: Sweta Vakani Music: Rianjali Bhowmick @rianjalimusic Sound: Pat Birk @_pat_birk Colorist: Jake M. White @Jake.m.white 1st ADS: Giselle Bonilla @locanilla, Jonah Lipton @jonah_offline 1st AC: Anthony Minassian @minassian_fo_lyfe 2nd AC: Priscilla Mars @priscilla_mars Key grip: Nicholas Luna @nicholasluna_ Gaffer: Damon Mavroudis @dmavroudis Swing: Diane Devilers @dianedevilair HMUA: Rose Zubler @rosetarts_xmakeup BTS Photography and Videography: ShahRukh Tailor @sharkbaitwhohaha Art PAs: Paige Schaeffer @paige__schaeffer, Ivanka Lawrence @ponka_wonka, Yajie Qin @yajie_q PAs: Zeek Goodman @ez.goodman, Hank Stone Location: Ben Brams @benbrams, Shams Ahmed @theonlyshamsyouknow Catering: @pijjapalace, Biryani Box LA

**World Premiere — Wisconsin Film Festival 2023 **Selection — Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2023 **Selection — Culver City Film Festival **Screened — Greenway Court Theatre, Los Angeles

CONTACT: mmtprodco@gmail.com

[jewel-odom]

Book Review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires (2022)

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, published in 2020, is a New York Times bestseller. It’s the most recent of Hendrix’s long line of horror novels, which have been applauded by a Stoker Award, Library Journal, the Chicago Public Library, and more. A quick IMDb search also confirms that there is a TV adaptation “in development”.

TSBCGSV in particular has received positive feedback from almost everyone. One Kirkus Reviews article says, “Fans of smart horror will sink their teeth into this one,” and I couldn’t agree more. The story revolves around five middle-class stay-at-home moms, with personalities that couldn’t get further apart, who decide to start a book club together. Not a stuffy book club, but one where they could read “trashy true crime books,” (23). When a new neighbor moves into their well-to-do neighborhood, they all take notice – Patricia Campbell especially, and not for good reasons. The story follows her struggle to convince her friends, husband, and the police that something is very, very wrong with James Harris... until she is finally forced to take things into her own hands.

I first heard of TSBCGSV on BookTok, but only really committed to reading it after a failed book club incident (which, luckily, had nothing to do with the quality of the book, nor was it a Marjorie Fretwell situation). The most endearing thing I find about this story, before the story itself even starts, is the author’s note. Hendrix honors his mother and all ‘housewives’ with this story, “…pit[ting] Dracula against my mom. As you’ll see, it’s not a fair fight,” (8). A story that highlights the strength of the often-overlooked middle-aged women who raised us? Yes, yes, yes. Honestly, when my short-lived book club realized around Chapter 15 that this was written by a man (none of us bothered to Google ‘Grady Hendrix’ previously), we were all shocked. The attention to detail and the accuracy of the female friendships and perspective made us all certain in our assumptions that the author was a woman. This, I think, is a quality to be admired in Mr. Hendrix, who can clearly inhabit his character’s minds so, so well.  

In fact, the more I dove into who Grady Hendrix was the more I felt I had been missing out. He was one of the founders of the New York Asian Film Festival? He’s written fourteen books, including a cookbook that he co-wrote with his wife? He used to be a journalist and has written articles for Playboy Magazine and The New York Post? He has a podcast on the “history of horror”? Who is this guy?

Unfortunately, I can’t answer that (yet). However, I can tell you about his latest novel. Before I dive into the spoilers-included section of this review, I feel obligated to give any unsuspecting potential readers of this book a trigger warning. Trigger warnings are a heavily debated topic of the creative writing community, which is why I don’t expect them as a given – and no reader should. However, if you are considering reading this book, and stumble upon this review first, I feel it’s my duty to give one now. There are heavy sexual tones and plot points in this book, and a lot of detailed, gory violence - sometimes those two things overlap. It’s chilling, shocking, and potentially triggering if unexpected.

~SPOILERS AHEAD~

Okay, now to talk about the actual book. My very first thoughts walking away from it: my expectations were absolutely not ready for the reality of this book. It was much more intense than I first expected, something the trigger warning above alludes to. I do think it could have been a little more fast-paced, as the first third of the book drags a little, but I suppose that’s the irritation of living in the South – nothing is fast. Though once it does pick up, it picks up quick. The sexual element of it was also unforeseen, especially since I wasn’t even sure going in if this book was actually going to be about vampires. But I don’t mind it – it reminds me of Salem’s Lot, which also contains heavy sexual overtones and a focus on children, but without the romantic B-plot that occasionally gets in the way.

Something I really love about this book is the diversity Hendrix presents. We get the stereotypical ragtag group of personality types: the tacky (Kitty), the Yankee feminist (Maryellen), the anxious worrywart (Grace), the overtly religious (Slick), and the overly polite Patricia. The real diversity of these characters appears under the surface: Kitty has money problems, Maryellen still defers to her husband, Grace is in an abusive relationship, Slick is a victim of sexual violence, and Patricia experiences a serious mental break. Furthermore, there is the racism and gentrification demonstrated via Francine and Mrs. Greene, both of whom prove to be some of the most important characters in the story in terms of driving the plot. All of these things are shown in the frame of the South in the ‘90s, meaning they’re subtle, hidden, and rarely called out into the light – perhaps like a vampire. I really appreciate Hendrix's handling of such heavy topics. He doesn't overdo it, but rather weaves it into each of the characters.

 Another clever thing Hendrix does is sort TSBCGSV into sections, titled according to what book is being read in Patricia & Co’s book club. All the books used as section titles (Cry, the Beloved Country; Helter Skelter; The Bridges of Madison County; The Stranger Beside Me; Psycho; Clear and Present Danger; Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus; and In Cold Blood) correspond to the action or theme of the section. For example, in The Stranger Beside Me, Patricia catches James Harris in the act of feeding on a young girl in Six Miles. In Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus, the most sexual violence is dealt with, and Patricia and the others finally ‘kill’ James Harris. Patricia asks for a divorce, and Slick dies. The gender lines are starkly drawn in this second-to-last section, corresponding to the title of the book James Harris chose for his book club.   

Most other online reviews are also positive. However, several reflect my own surprise at the direction this book took and the gender of the author. One Reddit thread called “Spoiler-Free Review: A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix” is particularly unforgiving and sparks a somewhat heated debate in the comments. The OP talks about how their expectations were met for the first third of the novel, then it seemed as though the story went sideways. They think the book feels more like it’s set in the 1950s than the 1990s, because of the way the women are brushed off and presented as subordinate to their husbands. OP also didn’t like how and how much Hendrix wrote about sexual violence, particularly about children. They argue that he makes it seem “light”, something I personally disagree with, since the sexual violence in the story is the central motivator for the women to act. One commenter takes up for the book, voicing that Southern suburbia and real people are just as horrible and passive as portrayed by Hendrix. It feels like it’s more realistic to the 1950s? I couldn’t agree more. But often that’s the reality of it.

However, on one point I do agree with the OP Reddit user. There seems to be very little clarity and consistency on what powers James Harris has, other than charisma. The only thing seeming to be consistent with the ‘vampire’ trope is he survives off blood and is sensitive to light. The one thing everyone can agree on, though: we all expected something much lighter than the turn The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires took.

I am quite the fan of thrillers, Stephen King-esque, and Grady Hendrix has done a wonderful job of creating a goosebump-causing, blood-runs-cold, hair-standing-up story that sits right up there with Salem’s Lot, in my opinion. It could have been a little more fast-paced, sure, and I was surprised that it was a man choosing to write about the lives of five stay-at-home moms. But none of that took away from my enjoyment of the book, and the chills it sent down my spine. As always, let me know what you think in the notes.

Happy Friday!

Jewel Odom

Sources:

Grady Hendrix’s Website: https://www.gradyhendrix.com/

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11778700/

Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/grady-hendrix/the-southern-book-clubs-guide-to-slaying-vampires/

Reddit Thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/mjwqvj/spoilerfree_review_a_southern_book_clubs_guide_to/

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] Sarwat Gilani will be headlining the opening project, titled Farar, reports Variety. The show is a six-part web series that will premiere at the 14th annual Chicago South-Asian Film Festival on September 23, 2023.  Directed by New York-based, Pakistani television and film director Mehreen Jabbar, the series also stars Mariam Saleem of Ek Jhoothi Love Story fame and Maha Hasan.  As per the official poster for the series that was unveiled recently, the two will fulfill leading roles alongside Gilani. Farar was created in collaboration with producers Umnia Iftikhar, credited for producing the short film The Desert Journey, and Shailja Kejriwal who is the chief creative officer of special projects at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.  Not much has been revealed about the storyline, with just a short synopsis informing potential viewers that the series will revolve around the friendship between the three main female characters and their navigation through life’s various challenges.  The series will give us an insight into the lives of widowed hairdresser Sabrina as she struggles with the difficulties of being in a complicated relationship, aspiring actor Tanya as she grapples with her body-image issues, and ambitious track and field runner Huma as she resists societal pressures to get married.  We can expect their individual tales to intertwine at different points throughout the course of the drama series, delving into possible themes of heartbreak, grief, love, sisterhood, empowerment, and so much more against the hustling and bustling backdrop of one of Pakistan's biggest metropolitan cities, Karachi.  After riding the towering wave of success of Joyland receiving a standing ovation and winning a jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival and the film being shortlisted for the Oscars, Gilani is starring in yet another project that is bound to attract international audiences and wide-reaching appreciation, especially across India and Pakistan.  “As an actor, being part of Farar has been an incredible journey of exploration and dedication. This show is not just a story for us; it’s a piece of our souls, a representation of the rich emotions that connect us as humans,” shared Gilani on her experience of working on the much-awaited web series. [ad_2]

[digitalshrutijain]

LOST MOVIE TRAILER OUT; YAMI GAUTAM AS A REPORTER LOOKS PROMISING

Yami Gautam has been in discussion for a long time about her film ‘Lost’. Today on 1 February, the trailer of Yami Gautam’s film ‘Lost’ was out by zee5 originals. Yami Gautam will be seen in the movie as a reporter who gets entangled between love, betrayal, and politics. Lost Movie had its world premiere on September 22, 2022, at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival. It had its Asian premiere at the 53rd International Film Festival of India, Goa.

Want to see the full trailer click on the link given below-

[desi-lgbt-fest]

https://americankahani.com/uncategorized/all-the-love-they-could-get-audiences-embrace-lgbtq-films-at-chicago-south-asian-film-festival/

[panicinthestudio]

Conversation with the Filmmakers: Who Killed Vincent Chin?, June 15, 2022

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Vincent Chin, PBS Books, in collaboration with DPTV, is pleased to host an important conversation about "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" with Filmmakers Christine Choy and Renee Tajima-Peña, along with executive producer Professor Juanita Anderson and attorney/activist Jim Shimoura. The conversation will be moderated by William Kubota, a Senior Producer at Detroit Public Television’s One Detroit.

Join us to understand more about the process of creating this incredible documentary film, the challenges and obstacles the filmmakers needed to overcome, and the importance of the film. In addition, you can expect to learn about the film’s relevancy against today’s current climate; the role of this documentary film in Asian American and Pacific Islander history, and the activism from the 1980s to today. Given recent Asian American discrimination and hate crimes in the last few years, we encourage a broad audience to join this program to learn about this important documentary film 40 years later.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS:

Filmmaker Christine Choy was born in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, and grew up in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and the United States. As an educator, artist and pioneer Asian American filmmaker, she has produced, directed, and photographed works in various forms. Choy has made more than eighty-five films and received over sixty international awards. She has been a recipient of numerous fellowships, among them: John Simon Guggenheim, Rockefeller, Asian Cultural Council, Fulbright Senior Research, and an award for best cinematography from the Sundance International Film Festival. Choy’s latest collaborative documentary film, "The Exiles" won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2022.

Choy was trained in architecture, but later studied directing at the American Film Institute to become a filmmaker. Her work is concerned with discrimination and migration issues. In addition to the Academy Award-nominated co-directed "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" (1987), Choy also directed "From Spikes to Spindles" (1976) which focuses on Chinese migrant workers. Her works have been broadcasted on HBO, PBS, Sundance Channel, Lifetime, NHK, and many other stations and featured in festivals all over the world. She is the founding director of Third World Newsreel and School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong, a member of Project Vetting committee of the Film Development Fund, Hong Kong, and a member of AMPAS (Academy of Motion Pictures and Science of United States of America). Choy is currently a Professor of Film and Television at NYU’s Tisch School of Arts and has taught at Yale, Cornell, and SUNY Buffalo.

Filmmaker Renee Tajima-Peña was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her grandparents moved from Japan during the Asian Exclusion Era in the early 1900s. She is known for her films "No Más Bebés" (2015), "Calavera Highway" (2010) and "My America… or Honk If You Love Buddha" (1997). Tajima-Peña is a Harvard University alumna and majored in East Asian Studies and sociology. She is heavily involved with the Asian American movement and the Civil Rights Movement.

Her work focuses on issues of immigration, race, gender, and social justice and has been screened internationally and at festivals such as Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. Tajima-Peña most recently produced a five-part PBS series "Asian Americans" (2020). She is currently a Professor of Asian American Studies at UCLA.

ABOUT THE FEATURED GUESTS:

Juanita Anderson is a veteran producer, director, and documentary filmmaker who has amassed a significant body of work in public television and independent media. A native of Detroit, she is currently Associate Professor of Teaching and Area Head of Media Arts and Studies in the Department of Communication at Wayne State University. 

As Executive Producer of Cultural Affairs and Special Projects at Detroit Public Television from 1982-1988, she developed and oversaw the production of "Who Killed Vincent Chin?". She was also the executive producer of groundbreaking PBS news and public affairs specials focused on highlighting Black America, as well as other important social issues. She is currently the Resident Artist in Media Arts at The Carr Center in Detroit.

Jim Shimoura has been an attorney and activist for 35 years and his experience has spanned a wide variety of areas from legal aid, staff counsel for two national insurance carriers, and was a partner at a major Detroit area law firm. He has acted as the counsel to OEM automotive suppliers to the Big Three Manufacturers. Among his numerous civic and political activities, Mr. Shimoura was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, where he served as a commissioner for nearly a decade. He has received numerous civic awards.

PBS Books

[csaff21]

EDUCATION IS NOT A BASIS OF A PERSON'S COMPETENCE !

And this is perfectly proven by Njattyela Sreedharan, a fourth standard drop-out.

He compiles a dictionary connecting four Indian languages.

Witness the hardwork of this man travelling across four states and doing extensive research and spending twenty five years making the multilingual dictionary in the film- "DREAMING OF WORDS " - An official Selection of Chicago South Asian Film Festival 🌟 !

🎬 A FILM DIRECTED and PRODUCED by @Nandan

For more information, Drop an email to us.

📧 info@csaff.org

Stay tuned with us for latest updates on Chicago South Asian Film Festival !

#festivaldirectorjigarshah

🌟CHICAGO SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL🌟 - Coming🔜 !!

Supported by Atlanta Indian Film Festival.

For more information, contact our Festival Director - Mr. Jigar Shah

Facebook- @jigar.shah.35325 Instagram- @jam_with_jigs

Twitter - @jigsmania

#csaff21 #chicagosouthasianfilmfestival #officialselection #csaffcomingsoon #csaffestival #filmfestival #shortfilm #dreamimgofwords

#chicago

#usa

[kinobasel]

Deer Boy by Katarzyna Gondek from RADIATOR IP Sales on Vimeo.

EXPERIMENTAL, FANTASY, FICTION / 2017 / 15 MINUTES / NO DIALOGUE / SHORT FILM / 4K-UHD / 25FPS / 5.1 SURROUND / POLAND, CROATIA, BELGIUM

Synopsis: A story about a hunter’s son, who was born with antlers, and about how each man kills the thing he loves.

Director: Katarzyna Gondek Production: Centrala Film Co-production: Bekke Films / Motion Cast: Janusz Chabior, Katarzyna Sobiszewska, Eryk Maj Director of photography: Maciej Twardowski Editor: Jarek Piekarski Sound: Katarzyna Szczerba, Ivan Zelic Producers: Pawel Kosun, Agnieszka Janowska Co-producers: Ben Vandendaele, Barbara Vekaric Music: Marcin Lenarczyk Graphic design: Andrzej Dobosz Colorist: Kene Illegems Supported by Poznan Film Commission, Croatian Audiovisual Fund, Stern Pictures, The Fridge, Alchemiq Studio, PUK Studio, Studio Fandando Participant of NISI MASA European Short Pitch 2016, Euroconnections 2016, Visegrad Forum 2016

Festivals

2018 Sundance, North-American premiere - United States Rincon, South American premiere - Puerto Rico BIFF - Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Belgian premiere - Belgium Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF) - Belgium Friss Huss, Hungarian premiere - Hungary Short Waves - Poland Dresden Film Fest, German premiere - Germany Figari, Italian premiere - Italy Valletta International Film Festival - Malta Kameralne Lato - Poland Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Asian premiere - Korea, Democratic People's Republic of New Horizons - Poland DOKUFEST, Balkan premiere - Kosovo WIZ-ART, Ukranian premiere - Ukraine Off-Courts Trouville - France Aegean International Film Festival - Greece Encounters International Short Film Festival, UK premiere - United Kingdom Sioux Empire Film Festival - United States Psarokokalo, Greek premiere - Greece Chicago Critics Film Festival - United States IFF Pacific Meridian, Russian premiere - Russian Federation Hollyshorts - United States 24fps International Film Festival - United States Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival - France Quebec City Film Festival - Canada Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, Spanish premiere - Spain Phenomena Festival, Brasilian premiere - Brazil Cork Film Fest, Irish premiere - Ireland Bogota Short Film Festival - Bogoshorts, Colombian premiere - Colombia Medfilm Festival - Italy

2017 Krakow International Film Festival, World premiere - Poland FNC - Festival du Nouveau Cinema, International premiere - Canada Warsaw International Film Festival - Poland NDU International Film Festival, Middle Eastern premiere - Lebanon Zubroffka International short film festival - Poland

deerboy.pl radiatorsales.eu/film/deerboy/ kgondek.com/ imdb.com/title/tt5363486/ instagram.com/deerboyshortfilm/ facebook.com/DeerBoyShortFilm

#deerboyshortfilm

[reveriesofawriter]

Something from history that I adore for @rwrb-social-isolation

I’ve mentioned it before in passing but in the recent past (think 80s-90s) there were publications - newsletters - in the US distributed specifically by and for South Asian WLW. I love knowing that there was a place being built for me even before I existed, before I had any concept of who I was.

The first one was called Anamika, which in Sanskrit means “nameless” but is also a feminine word to describe the lack of terms in any South Asian languages for women in relationships with other women. This publication was based in Brooklyn and they printed 3 issues between 1985 and 1987. These newsletters contained creative writing, personal essays by South Asian women, and articles concerning queer experiences of South Asian women all around the world. The publication was mailed to women in South Asia for free, and could be purchased for $5 for all 3 issues here in the US. Subsequently, a pair of gay South Asian men in the Bay Area started a gay and lesbian journal called Trikon (”triangle” in Hindi, like the pink triangles that are gay symbols to this day) in 1986, although I assume people didn’t see the different publications as competitors as much as a sign that awareness was growing for this pocket of community. Trikon, unlike Anamika, is still around now, and they are still a magazine, as well as a nonprofit that organizes queer conferences and a film festival. They also participate in San Francisco Pride every year.

The second publication was called Shamakami, which is a Bengali term that means “love for your equal” and though it did not originally refer to WLW it was reclaimed by the community in attempt to find a name for themselves in a language that offered none. Shamakami was created in Cambridge, MA, and published out of San Francisco from 1990 to 1997, and each issue cost $10. Similarly to Anamika, these journals contained creative writing and personal essays, as well as poetry and news about relevant conferences and resources. Each issue was 10 pages long, and they were primarily distributed through the US. The University of Chicago currently has a few original issues in their library collection but alas I live too far away to make a casual road trip up just to read them. I have read one online though, and there was some super soft romantic sapphic poetry in it.

These were the only 2 publications I could find that were made in the US specifically for South Asian WLW. There are others, both from the past and which are currently still in publication, around the world, mainly in India but also one in Toronto (which is sadly one of the ones out of publication). Pre-internet, these small journals were one of the most popular ways to find a network of like-minded people. They were one step up from zines in that they were a little bigger, a little more costly to put together, and distributed more widely.

Final fun fact: there was (is?) a print publication in India called Scripts, which is described on their website as "a vibrant space for multiple conversations of queer/feminist/activist/creative voices." Unfortunately the website is behind some kind of permission wall. I’ve emailed them asking for permission to view the page, so we’ll see. The fun part is, the publication is made by an organization called Lesbians And Bisexuals In Action a.k.a. The LABIA Collective. I can’t find any current information on them anywhere, I’m sure I’d have more luck if I was in India but that’s not gonna happen anytime soon.

[redcarpetview]

Academy Announces 2019-20 FilmCraft and FilmWatch Grant Recipients

   LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today the 47 recipients of its 2019 FilmCraft and FilmWatch grants.

   “The Academy’s Grants Committee is honored to continue to provide support and inspire generations of filmmakers new and old to connect the world through motion pictures,” said Marcus Hu, chair of the Academy’s grants committee. “We are confident the 47 organizations chosen to receive this year’s grants will leave a lasting impact on our society through their diverse and fresh perspectives.”

    The Academy’s FilmCraft and FilmWatch grants were established to identify and empower future filmmakers from nontraditional backgrounds, cultivate new and diverse talent, promote motion pictures as an art form, and provide a platform for underrepresented artists. Grants range from $5,000-$20,000, and a total of $500,000 was awarded for the 2019-2020 grants year. 

    The grant recipient institutions and programs are as follows:

FilmCraft Grants

Bard College (New York, NY) – Creative Process in Dialogue: Art and the Public

Program will include a master class hosted by leading black American filmmakers Charles Burnett, Julie Dash, and Bradford Young, followed by a public dialogue featuring the filmmakers.

California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) – Women Making Film

Supports collaboration with Cal State LA’s Television, Film and Media Studies Department and the Canon Burbank facility where 10-12 female students will participate in a series of workshops and classes held at the Canon facility in which students receive hands-on experience and instruction.

Camden International Film Festival (Camden, ME) – Points North Institute Artist Programs

The 2019 Artist Programs, which include a fellowship, two residencies, an   industry marketplace and conference, bring hundreds of documentary     filmmakers and film professionals from diverse backgrounds to rural towns on the coast of Maine, providing unique opportunities for mentorship, education, networking and artistic inspiration.

Cine Qua Non Lab (Morelia, Mexico) – CQNL’s Script Revision Lab

Supports CQNL’s 2019 Script Revision Lab in English: a two-week intensive residency that will give 12 independent screenwriters from around the world the opportunity to develop their feature-length narrative scripts within a guided and supportive environment.

Creative Capital Foundation (New York, NY) – 2019 Creative Capital Artist Retreat

The Artist Retreat is a multi-day convening that provides career development and mentorship for a diverse group of Creative Capital artists, including powerful filmmakers, and pitch sessions for artists to present their projects to an audience of 200+ cultural influencers poised to advance their work.

Dreaming Tree Foundation (Rock Island, IL) – Fresh Films Career Path

Fresh Films Career Path engages diverse at-risk teens in Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and the Quad Cities in an eight-month filmmaking program that builds creative and technical skills through working on a film series.

Educational Video Center (New York, NY) – Youth Documentary Workshop

Youth Documentary Workshop (YDW) program is an afterschool and summer program that provides workshops for at-risk youth to shoot, edit, and produce short documentaries, followed by paid internships that provide opportunities to pursue careers in the film and television industry.

Film Independent (Los Angeles, CA) – Film Independent Producing Lab

The Lab is a high-caliber artist development program that supports up to eight diverse, innovative independent producers annually. Producers develop strategies and action plans to bring their selected narrative feature to fruition.

Independent Filmmaker Project (New York, NY) – Independent Filmmaker Labs

This unique, year-long free program provides education, mentoring, and     essential industry connections to filmmakers throughout the country     through completion, marketing, and distribution of their first feature     films.

    Indie Memphis Film Festival

    Indie Memphis (Memphis, TN) – Black Creators Forum

A program of the Indie Memphis Film Festival that is designed to build a     supportive community, provide educational opportunities, and new     productions for black filmmakers.

Inner-City Arts (Los Angeles, CA) – Inner-City Arts’ Animation & Filmmaking Workshops

The  Animation and Filmmaking Workshops will provide 90 underserved high school  students with 20 hours of high-quality arts instruction. Workshops will take place in our fully equipped media arts studio and will be taught by professional Teaching Artists, practicing artists who have experience working in the creative industry.

Jacob Burns Film Center (Pleasantville, NY) – Creative Culture Artists-in-Residence Program

Creative Culture is a fellowship and residency program that fosters a diverse community for emerging and established filmmakers in the region, across the country and around the globe. Funds will support two JBFC     series-focused Artists-in-Residence, such as Global Watch, REMIX (The     Black Experience in Film), Contemporary Arab Cinema.

Leap, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) – Production Assistant and Post Production Training Programs

Program seeks to bridge the skills gap for underrepresented individuals from low-income communities, increasing their access to careers in the     television and film production industry.

Maysles Institute (New York, NY) – Community Producers Program 

The Community Producers Program (CPP) is a 16-week hands-on documentary production and outreach program for justice-involved young adults, ages 18-24, who are interested in building community, engaging in personal development, and gaining healing and leadership practices through documentary filmmaking.

        Montclair State University Foundation (Montclair, NJ) – Intensive Craft Seminars

The seminars, focusing on below-the-line crafts like sound design, foley     artistry, production design, and camera work, will give students from     underserved communities access to and experience with professionals in the industry that they otherwise would have difficulty accessing.

San Francisco Film Society (San Francisco, CA) – SFFILM Doc Talks

Doc Talk workshops provide documentary filmmakers with artistic guidance and build practical filmmaking skills.

Scribe Video Center (Philadelphia, PA) – Film Scholars

Film Scholars is a series of documentary filmmaking courses focusing on     planning/scripting, production management, production and editing that     will provide a cohort of emerging and mid-level artists from groups     traditionally not represented in commercial media with the skills to     complete new documentary works.

Southern Documentary Fund (Durham, NC) – 2019 SDF Artists Convening

The Artists Convening is a three-day gathering that offers workshops,     mentorship, networking, and other opportunities for Southern media-makers to develop their craft and build vocational infrastructure for film in the South.

Toronto International Film Festival (Toronto, Canada) – Filmmaker Lab 2019

The Filmmaker Lab program provides intensive professional development, including workshops, networking and coaching opportunities with internationally acclaimed filmmakers, for emerging and diverse directors during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

UnionDocs, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) – Union Docs Labs

The labs enhance artistic vision, offer practical knowledge of the field,     provide significant professional development, bolster writing and     technical skills, and ultimately advance the participants’ creative     documentary projects for 36 emerging and mid-career filmmakers.

Visual Communications (Los Angeles, CA) – Armed with a Camera Fellowship

Program helps emerging Asian American Pacific Islander filmmakers to create new and original work.

Youth FX, Inc. (Albany, NY) – NeXt Doc

The NeXt Doc program amplifies the voices of emerging nonfiction filmmakers of color by providing access to training from established documentarians in the field.

FilmWatch Grants

African Film Festival (New York, NY) – 50 Years of FESPACO

Program is a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the venerated Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO). We will present a series of five events examining the legacy of this landmark festival.

American Museum of Natural History (New York, NY) – 2019 Margaret Mead Film Festival

Funds will support community outreach and support participation by documentary filmmakers and film subjects.

Anthology Film Archives (New York, NY) – The Cinema of Gender Transgression

Supports an ongoing series that explores the ways cinema has intersected with the experiences, struggles, and ideas within the transgender community by showcasing historical films that have explored the concept of gender transgression, and contemporary works emerging from the transgender community.

Ashland Independent Film Festival (Ashland, OR) – The Pride Award Series: Queer Intersectionality

The “Pride Award Series: Queer Intersectionality” will be programmed by internationally renowned film critic B. Ruby Rich, recipient of our 2019 Pride Award. The series of screenings and conversations will call     attention to artists and films that highlight productive and combustible     intersections of race, class, gender, and sexual preference.

       Asian American International Film Festival (Brooklyn, NY) – Beyond Representation

“Beyond  Representation” is a 10-day series of screenings, panel discussions and readings, analyzing the impact of Asian-led films, exploring the relationship between Asian Americans and other communities, dissecting the impact of recent immigration restrictions, and forging visions for the future.

Azubuike African American Council for the Arts (Davenport, IA) – Film and Conversation Series: The LA Rebellion

The series will feature 12 L.A. Rebellion films, including on-site presentations by filmmakers Charles Burnett, Julie Dash, Haile Gerima and Zeinabu Irene Davis.

Big Sky Film Institute (Missoula, MT) – Native Filmmaker Initiative

The Native Filmmaker Initiative (NFI) elevates Indigenous artists, brings     Native stories to diverse audiences, and educates youth about contemporary and historical Indigenous issues through nonfiction film. The initiative includes the Native Filmmaker Fellowship, Native Voices festival programming, and educational outreach.

Black Harvest Film Festival (Chicago, IL) – Spotlight on Emerging Filmmakers

Spotlight on Emerging Filmmakers will focus on acknowledging first-time filmmakers of African descent or those who have created no more than three films (shorts or feature-length). 

Brooklyn Academy of Music (Brooklyn, NY) – Expanding the Frame

Expanding the Frame is designed to amplify marginalized voices within the dominant cinematic narrative. This year-long program will challenge hegemonic perspectives by highlighting important, though often overlooked, artists in American and international film.

California Institute of the Arts (Valencia, CA) – Jack H. Skirball Screening Series at REDCAT

The Jack H. Skirball Screening Series will feature today’s most adventurous independent filmmakers, rarely seen cinematic landmarks, and festivals devoted to topics in world cinema during the 2019/20 season.

Canyon Cinema Foundation (San Francisco, CA) – Canyon Cinema Discovered

Canyon Cinema Discovered is a platform for engaging new audiences in experimental cinema. A diverse group of curators will be selected to explore Canyon Cinema’s unique collection, resulting in a nationwide programming initiative.

Chicago International Film Festival (Chicago, IL) – Spotlight: Architecture+Space+Design

The Spotlight: Architecture+Space+Design Program will showcase the less visible craft of production design by highlighting the work of a diversity of designers and by examining how world-building in film reflects and  informs real-world architectural and social structures.

Chicago Latino Film Festival (Chicago, IL) – Educational & Outreach Programs

Educational & Outreach programming during the 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival will include Q & A sessions with filmmakers; free student matinees; and film screenings at community venue partners

Cleveland International Film Festival (Cleveland, OH) – To Be Continued: Focus on Women Filmmakers

To Be Continued supports and encourages the female voice in film and aims to create more equity and diversity in the film industry.

Facets Multi-Media, Inc. (Chicago, IL) – Reels on Wheels

Reels     on Wheels will present award-winning films from the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival to the West and South sides of Chicago – urban,  low-income areas which are virtual movie deserts. A primary focus is to  re-establish the concept of a neighborhood movie house as a platform for community engagement.

Film Forum (New York, NY) – Decolonize the Screen, 1964-1979

This 2-3-week May 2019 series will present 25-30 rarely screened, 16mm and 35mm documentaries and narratives – produced primarily in Africa and Latin America – that chronicle liberation struggles, explore colonial legacies and eschew Western cinematic conventions.

The Film Society of Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minneapolis, MN) – Cine Latino 

Cine Latino, the Upper Midwest’s only showcase of Spanish-language cinema, puts a spotlight on and gives voice to the stories of Minnesota’s largest immigrant group – native Spanish-speakers from many cultures and countries.

GALA Inc. (Grupo de Artistas LatinoAmericanos) (Washington, DC) – Community Engagement: From the Street to the Screen

Support for GALA Theatre’s international film festival featuring contemporary Latin American films with provocative content and innovative techniques. Funding will allow for expanded community programming to engage audiences in vibrant cross-cultural exchanges with emerging Latin American film directors, producers, and actors.

Indigenous Showcase (Seattle, WA) – Indigenous Showcase

Indigenous Showcase provides community screenings of Indigenous-made films and educational opportunities in filmmaking.

International Children’s Media Center (Chicago, IL) – Global Girls & WorldScene Film Immersion Residencies

The Global Girls/WorldScene Residency & Film Festival is an immersive  16-week curating and filmmaking program for at-risk youth that culminates in a high-profile festival of top-tier independent films. By jurying high-quality international films, participants in jails, shelters and care agencies gain important job skills, self-esteem and personal agency.

International Film Seminars (New York, NY) – Flaherty Seminar

The Flaherty Seminar, held every June, brings together filmmakers, curators, educators, students, and film lovers to participate in an intensive, intimate experience that obliterates traditional barriers between makers and audiences. 

Morelia International Film Festival (Morelia, Mexico) – First Nations Forum 

The First Nations Forum 2019 will consist of a four-day workshop, a panel, and two programs of shorts showcasing the work of eight Indigenous women directors from different regions of Mexico.

ReelAbilities International Film Festival (Multiple Cities) – Enhancing Accessibility Options

Support provides open captioning and audio description for approx. 30-35 films that will screen to 30,000+ audience members attending 19 ReelAbilities Film Festivals throughout North America

     Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Urbana, IL) – Diversity in Film

The Diversity in Film Program will strengthen our commitment to show a series rooted in inclusivity and that expands and extends conversations about  understanding, tolerance, and diversity with an underserved community rarely exposed to such films.

San Diego Latino Film Festival (CA) – ¡Que Viva La Raza! Chicano Legacies in Film, Then and Now

A multidisciplinary and dynamic celebration of Chicano cinema. Through this showcase, a road map (and preservation initiative) of Chicano history will be created using films released during the height of the Chicano Movement and the present.

The Academy’s Grants program provides financial support to qualifying film festivals, educational institutions and film scholars and supports the Academy’s overall mission to recognize and uphold excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences, inspire imagination and connect the world through the medium of motion pictures. The Academy Grants program has awarded more than $12,000,000 to non-profit institutions and film festivals.

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Year in Review | Fiscal Sponsorship in 2018

To wrap up what has been an eventful year, NYFA is commemorating our artists’ blossoming achievements!

NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship is proud to support these projects by helping them fundraise and bring their work to wider audiences. Here are a few highlights from this past year:

Monika Fabijanska THE UN-HEROIC ACT: Representations of Rape in Contemporary Women’s Art in the U.S.

In September, art historian and curator, Monika Fabijanska, launched the impactful exhibition, THE UN-HEROIC ACT: Representations of Rape in Contemporary Women’s Art in the U.S., at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Fabijanska’s vision for the curated exhibition was sparked by seeing Carole Thea’s Sabine Woman sculpture in 2015. The exhibition was a milestone not only for female artists who aim to dismantle the romantic representations of rape in the media, but also for survivors whose voices and perspectives have been left out in contemporary art. The New York Times featured THE UN-HEROIC ACT as an exhibition in which “female artists delete rape’s ‘heroic’ underpinnings.”

The Luminal Theater

Founded by Curtis John, The Luminal Theater is a microcinema based in Central Brooklyn which provides a platform for filmmakers and film enthusiasts who exhibit media of the African diaspora. The Luminal Theater has catered to their growing audiences by screening films from emerging filmmakers and film enthusiasts through their Cinema Garden Parties and special film screening events. In June, The Luminal Theater’s short films Kafou and Tezen were shown at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as part of BAM’s Caribbean Film Series event. The organization also co-hosted Selebrasyon!, a film festival celebrating film made by the Caribbean diaspora, with Haiti Cultural Exchange, Caribbean Film Academy, and Hudson Guild. The Luminal Theater was awarded a 2018 NYSCA Grant.

Deanna Witkowski Nossa Senhora Suite

Pianist and Composer Deanna Witkowski has had a jam-packed year with Nossa Senhora Suite, a musical project which fuses Afro-Brazilian ritual music and jazz. The idea for Nossa Senhora Suite grew from Witkowski’s first visit to Brazil in 2006, where she returned as a performer in 2007 and 2010. Witkowski was selected as a 2018 NYSCA individual artist grant recipient and was also awarded a residency fellowship at the Sacatar Institute in Itaparica, Bahia, Brazil, where she met fellow pianists, held workshops, and continued doing research for Nossa Senhora Suite. Witkowski’s next performance is on Saturday, December 8 at The Hillman Center in Pittsburgh, PA. 

Zakir Thaver Salam - The First ****** Nobel Laureate

After a decade of research and compilation, Zakir Thaver premiered the documentary film Salam - The First ****** Nobel Laureate to audiences in the U.S. and abroad. The documentary follows the history of Nobel Prize-winning Pakistani Physicist Abdus Salam, who made a profound impact on modern science but who was shunned in his home country because of his religion. In 2018, Salam has managed to snag a plethora of awards and official selections from the Raw Science Film Festival, Washington, D.C. to Chicago’s South Asian Film Festival, and the Human Rights Film Festival, to name a few. The next screening of Salam will be on Saturday, December 15 at The South Asian International Film Festival in the NYIT Auditorium on Broadway in New York City.

Roger Grunwald The Obligation

Internationally-acclaimed actor Roger Grunwald premiered his one-man performance The Obligation at Potrero Stage in San Francisco, CA. The story follows the life of a Polish Jew living in Bialystok during World War II. The Obligation was a 2018 Theater Bay Awards Finalist for Outstanding Solo Production, Outstanding Lighting Design, and Outstanding Sound Design. Broadway World called Grunwald’s performance “a thoroughly compelling, thrilling experience.”

- Eleysha Sajous, Fiscal Sponsorship Intern

NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship’s next quarterly no-fee application deadlines are December 31, March 31, June 30, and September 30, with out-of-cycle reviews accepted year-round. You can learn more about NYFA’s Fiscal Sponsorship program here.

Images From Top: The Obligation, Courtesy of Roger Grunwald; The Coerced Contact, Roya Amigh, Courtesy of Monika Fabijanska; Act of Protest, Courtesy of The Luminal Theater; Sacatar Institute in Brazil, Courtesy of Deanna Witkowski; Abdus Salam, Courtesy of Zakir Thaver; The Obligation, Courtesy of Roger Grunwald.

[newsaza]

Yami Gautam-starrer Lost to have Asian premiere at IFFI- Cinema express

Yami Gautam-starrer Lost to have Asian premiere at IFFI- Cinema express

Yami Gautam-starrer Lost will have its Asian premiere at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa this month. Helmed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Lost is an investigative drama thriller starring Yami as a journalist. The film had previously played at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival and the Atlanta Indian Film Festival. Inspired by true events, Lost follows crime reporter in her…

[squarwell-breakingnews]

Yami Gautam Dhar starrer 'Lost' gets a standing ovation at CSAFF 2022 premiere

Yami Gautam Dhar starrer ‘Lost’ gets a standing ovation at CSAFF 2022 premiere

New Delhi: Yami Gautam Dhar has returned with more exciting news for her fans, as her film ‘Lost’ not only premiered at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) 2022, but also received a fantastic response from the audience.  Taking to social media, she wrote “It truly gives us joy to share with you all that #Lost received a standing ovation at the @csaffestival, along with high praises…