3rd i

3rd i Co-presents “SHIRAZ” at the Roxie
2019-06-15 16:10 (America/Los_Angeles) | Roxie Theater, 94103
An astonishing treasure of the silent cinema, Shiraz is an ambitious and elegant film that takes creative license with the story of the life and death of the 17th-century Mumtaz Mahal (Enakshi Rama Rau), the Mughal empress whose early demise inspired her husband to construct the Taj Mahal. Inventing a backstory involving bandits, slavers, and nobility-in-disguise, the film narrative give us a robust romantic adventure, filled with teeming crowd scenes and location shots that double as invaluable documentary.
Shot entirely on location in India, it features lavish costumes and gorgeous settings — all the more impressive in this restoration by the BFI Na-tional Archive, which features a specially commissioned score by the Grammy Award-nominated Anoushka Shankar.
Produced by and starring Indian film legend Himansu Rai, the film is performed by an all-Indian cast, featuring Rai as humble potter Shiraz, who follows his childhood sweetheart Selima (Enakshi Rama Rau) when she’s sold by slave traders to the future emperor (Charu Roy).

3rd i Co-presents at CAAMfest37
2019-05-12 18:45 | AMC Kabuki 8, 1881 Post St, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
3rd i Films is pleased to Co-present When We Walk at CAAMFest37. Emmy-Award-winning director Jason DaSilva continues the documentation of his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis and its aftermath. When We Walk, (78 min ) the follow-up to DaSilva’s 2013 film When I Walk, and part of a documentary trilogy, is bracingly forthright and political in this film about inequalities that parents with disabilities face.
San Francisco Premiere
AMC Kabuki 8
Sun May 12
6:45 pm
Roxie Theater
Sat May 18
12:10 pm
For more information: https://caamfest.com/2019/movies/when-we-walk/

3rd i Co-presents at CAAMFest37
2019-05-10 19:20 | AMC Kabuki 8, 1881 Post St, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
3rd i Films is pleased to co-present Tiger at CAAMFest37. TIGER is a powerful film about a Sikh-American boxer who is banned from the boxing commission for practicing his religious beliefs. Based on a true story of Pardeep Singh Nagra (a break-out role for Prem Singh), this inspirational story explores a boxer’s real fight outside of the ring for religious freedom and against racial profiling. This knock-out cast also includes Mickey Rourke as Pardeep’s mentor/coach and Janel Parrish as a bold community lawyer.
AMC Kabuki 8
Fri May 10
7:20 pm
AMC Kabuki 8
Tue May 14
6:30 pm
Michael Pugliese (Writer) and Rocco Pugliese (Producer) will appear at the Friday, May 10 screening.
For more information: https://caamfest.com/2019/movies/tiger/

3rd i Co-presents "Shiraz" at the SF Silent Film Festival
2019-05-05 14:15 | Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, 94114, United States
An astonishing treasure of the silent cinema, Shiraz is an ambitious and elegant film that takes creative license with the story of the life and death of the 17th-century Mumtaz Mahal (Enakshi Rama Rau), the Mughal empress whose early demise inspired her husband, Shiraz (Rai) to construct the Taj Mahal. Inventing a backstory involving bandits, slavers, and nobility-in-disguise, the film narrative give us a robust romantic adventure, filled with teeming crowd scenes and location shots that double as invaluable documentary.
Shot entirely on location in India, it features lavish costumes and gorgeous settings – all the more impressive in this restoration by the BFI National Archive which features a specially commissioned score by the Grammy Award-nominated Anoushka Shankar.
Produced by and starring Indian film legend Himansu Rai, the film is performed by an all-Indian cast, featuring Rai as humble potter Shiraz, who follows his childhood sweetheart Selima (Enakshi Rama Rau) when she’s sold by slave traders to the future emperor (Charu Roy).
UK-Germany-India 1928
Directed by Franz Osten
105 minutes
Date: Sunday, May 5th, 2019
Time: 2:15 pm
Venue: The Castro Theatre

JUTTI KASOORI + HALFWAY HOME - UC Davis
2019-05-04 16:45 | International House, UC Davis, 10 College Park, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
SOUTH ASIA FILM FESTIVAL: A South Asia Without Borders Initiative
May 4, 4:45pm @ International House, Davis, CA
JUTTI KASOORI + HALFWAY HOME (2018)
Nicole Ranganath’s doc explores the rich history of the Punjabi community in Northern California, while Steve Arounsack’s doc takes us through the vibrant arts scene in the Asian American community of the Central Valley. Followed by Q&A with filmmakers and artists.
Also screening:
May 3, 5:30pm @ Alumni Center, UC Davis
AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY (1977)
This Bollywood classic offers freewheeling comedy and camp, and a potent vision of social harmony. The film will be preceded by a special reception, and a presentation by the authors of Amar Akbar Anthony: Bollywood, Brotherhood, and the Nation: William Elison (Religious Studies, UCSB), Christian Lee Novetzke (International Studies, University of Washington) and Andy Rotman (Religion, Smith College).
May 4, 1pm @ International House, Davis, CA
GOOD GUY BAD GUY (2018)
As much a portrait of the city, as of its main protagonist, Indu Krishnan’s doc chronicles five years in the tumultuous life of Zakhir, a gentle soul who lives on the streets of Bangalore. Followed by Q&A with filmmaker.
May 4, 3:15pm @ International House, Davis, CA
DRAWN TOGETHER (2017)
With a lively backdrop of superheroes and comic books, Harleen Singh’s “Drawn Together” examines issues of diversity, representation, and racism. Followed by Q&A with filmmaker.

Co-sponsors for the event include: International House Davis, Sikhlens, Asian American Studies, Cinema and Digital Media, Religious Studies, Global Affairs, UC Davis Library, and the Davis Humanities Institute.
Outreach partners include: Sikh Cultural Association, Indian Student Association, Pakistani Student Association, Jakara, Punjabi American Heritage Society, and KVIE Public Television.

For more information, please visit:
mesa.ucdavis.edu

Drawn Together - UC Davis
2019-05-04 16:15 | International House, UC Davis, 10 College Park, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
SOUTH ASIA FILM FESTIVAL: A South Asia Without Borders Initiative
May 4, 3:15pm @ International House, Davis, CA
DRAWN TOGETHER (2017)
With a lively backdrop of superheroes and comic books, Harleen Singh’s “Drawn Together” examines issues of diversity, representation, and racism. Followed by Q&A with filmmaker.

Also in this festival:
May 3, 5:30pm @ Alumni Center, UC Davis
AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY (1977)
This Bollywood classic offers freewheeling comedy and camp, and a potent vision of social harmony. The film will be preceded by a special reception, and a presentation by the authors of Amar Akbar Anthony: Bollywood, Brotherhood, and the Nation: William Elison (Religious Studies, UCSB), Christian Lee Novetzke (International Studies, University of Washington) and Andy Rotman (Religion, Smith College).
May 4, 1pm @ International House, Davis, CA
GOOD GUY BAD GUY (2018)
As much a portrait of the city, as of its main protagonist, Indu Krishnan’s doc chronicles five years in the tumultuous life of Zakhir, a gentle soul who lives on the streets of Bangalore. Followed by Q&A with filmmaker.
May 4, 4:45pm @ International House, Davis, CA
JUTTI KASOORI + HALFWAY HOME (2018)
Nicole Ranganath’s doc explores the rich history of the Punjabi community in Northern California, while Steve Arounsack’s doc takes us through the vibrant arts scene in the Asian American community of the Central Valley. Followed by Q&A with filmmakers and artists.

Co-sponsors for the event include: International House Davis, Sikhlens, Asian American Studies, Cinema and Digital Media, Religious Studies, Global Affairs, UC Davis Library, and the Davis Humanities Institute.
Outreach partners include: Sikh Cultural Association, Indian Student Association, Pakistani Student Association, Jakara, Punjabi American Heritage Society, and KVIE Public Television.

For more information, please visit:
mesa.ucdavis.edu

Good Guy Bad Guy - UC Davis
2019-05-04 13:00 | International House, UC Davis, 10 College Park, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
SOUTH ASIA FILM FESTIVAL: A South Asia Without Borders Initiative
May 4, 1pm @ International House, Davis, CA
GOOD GUY BAD GUY (2018)
As much a portrait of the city, as of its main protagonist, Indu Krishnan’s doc chronicles five years in the tumultuous life of Zakhir, a gentle soul who lives on the streets of Bangalore. Followed by Q&A with filmmaker.
Also in this festival:
May 3, 5:30pm @ Alumni Center, UC Davis
AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY (1977)
This Bollywood classic offers freewheeling comedy and camp, and a potent vision of social harmony. The film will be preceded by a special reception, and a presentation by the authors of Amar Akbar Anthony: Bollywood, Brotherhood, and the Nation: William Elison (Religious Studies, UCSB), Christian Lee Novetzke (International Studies, University of Washington) and Andy Rotman (Religion, Smith College).
May 4, 3:15pm @ International House, Davis, CA
DRAWN TOGETHER (2017)
With a lively backdrop of superheroes and comic books, Harleen Singh’s “Drawn Together” examines issues of diversity, representation, and racism. Followed by Q&A with filmmaker.
May 4, 4:45pm @ International House, Davis, CA
JUTTI KASOORI + HALFWAY HOME (2018)
Nicole Ranganath’s doc explores the rich history of the Punjabi community in Northern California, while Steve Arounsack’s doc takes us through the vibrant arts scene in the Asian American community of the Central Valley. Followed by Q&A with filmmakers and artists.
Co-sponsors for the event include: International House Davis, Sikhlens, Asian American Studies, Cinema and Digital Media, Religious Studies, Global Affairs, UC Davis Library, and the Davis Humanities Institute.
Outreach partners include: Sikh Cultural Association, Indian Student Association, Pakistani Student Association, Jakara, Punjabi American Heritage Society, and KVIE Public Television.
For more information, please visit:
mesa.ucdavis.edu

3rd i Co-presents South Asia Film Festival - Davis
2019-05-03 17:30 | Alumni House, UC Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
SOUTH ASIA FILM FESTIVAL: A South Asia Without Borders Initiative
May 3, 5:30pm @ Alumni Center, UC Davis
AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY (1977)
This Bollywood classic offers freewheeling comedy and camp, and a potent vision of social harmony. The film will be preceded by a special reception, and a presentation by the authors of Amar Akbar Anthony: Bollywood, Brotherhood, and the Nation: William Elison (Religious Studies, UCSB), Christian Lee Novetzke (International Studies, University of Washington) and Andy Rotman (Religion, Smith College).

May 4, 1pm @ International House, Davis, CA
GOOD GUY BAD GUY (2018)
As much a portrait of the city, as of its main protagonist, Indu Krishnan’s doc chronicles five years in the tumultuous life of Zakhir, a gentle soul who lives on the streets of Bangalore. Followed by Q&A with filmmaker.

May 4, 3:15pm @ International House, Davis, CA
DRAWN TOGETHER (2017)
With a lively backdrop of superheroes and comic books, Harleen Singh’s “Drawn Together” examines issues of diversity, representation, and racism. Followed by Q&A with filmmaker.

May 4, 4:45pm @ International House, Davis, CA
JUTTI KASOORI + HALFWAY HOME (2018)
Nicole Ranganath’s doc explores the rich history of the Punjabi community in Northern California, while Steve Arounsack’s doc takes us through the vibrant arts scene in the Asian American community of the Central Valley. Followed by Q&A with filmmakers and artists.

Co-sponsors for the event include: International House Davis, Sikhlens, Asian American Studies, Cinema and Digital Media, Religious Studies, Global Affairs, UC Davis Library, and the Davis Humanities Institute.
Outreach partners include: Sikh Cultural Association, Indian Student Association, Pakistani Student Association, Jakara, Punjabi American Heritage Society, and KVIE Public Television.

For more information, please visit:
mesa.ucdavis.edu

3rd i Co-presents at SF Film Fest
2019-04-14 12:00 | Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, 94114, United States
3rd i co-presents the new film Photograph at the Castro Theatre.
This powerfully romantic and gently comedic film from India comes from the same director as the cult hit The Lunchbox (2013). It quietly traces the story of a street photographer who convinces an upper-class girl he meets at a tourist site to pose as his fiancée so that his earthy grandmother, soon to arrive from the countryside, stops pressuring him to get married. Director Ritesh Batra is reunited here with the magnetic actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, among the most interesting and intriguing presences in global cinema.
This screening of Photograph will feature a special onstage conversation with actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, reflecting on his career to date and recent work in film and television.
Date: Saturday, April 14, 2019
Time: 12 noon
Venue: The Castro Theatre, San Francisco
Visit the San Francisco International Film Festival website for tickets.

3rd i Presents "The Escapists"
2019-04-04 08:00 - 17:00 | ATA, 992 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA, 94608, United States
3rd i Presents The Escapists, directed by Saprina Panday—a work-in-progress discussion with emerging film maker Saprina Panday and moderated by Tanya Tandon and Anjana Iyer

Date: Friday, April 26th, 2019

Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm (film 20 min, followed by discussion)
Location: ATA – 992 Valencia Street

The Escapists is about three immigrant best friends who chase their dreams and disappoint their families. Helmed by a predominantly womxn-of-color crew and told through the lens of three millennial womxn of color, the web series covers the tumultuous journey of growing into oneself despite societal pressure.

3rd i Supports Cinequest
2019-03-05 19:15 | California Theatre, SJ, 345 S. First St., San Jose, CA, 95113, United States
3rd i is proud to support Cinequest Film festival and the screenings of Manto and Widow of Silence.
MANTO
(DIR. NANDITA DAS)
TUE 3/5; 7:15PM | CALIFORNIA THEATRE, SAN JOSE
Nandita Das presents her sweeping biopic, Manto, a moving and gorgeously crafted look at the work and life of India’s beloved—and controversial—writer, Saadat Hasan Manto. At the dawn of India’s independence, an air of optimism sweeps the country. Yet the euphoria flees when the country faces turmoil, violence, and fear of their quickly-changing world. A horrified Manto bears witness to the upheaval in his homeland and channels his emotions into writing.
Buy Tickets

WIDOW OF SILENCE
THU 3/14; 8:30 PM | CENTURY 20, REDWOOD CITY
FRI 3/15 4:30 PM | CENTURY 20, REDWOOD CITY
Seven years ago, in the middle of the night, Aasiya’s husband was picked up by army officers. Ever since, she has led an incomplete life. Living life as a half-widow, she wants closure more than anything. In her attempts to obtain his death certificate from the government, she faces multiple challenges. Through her quiet strength, she carries her family, but she can’t keep juggling between her past and the present.
Buy Tickets

A Suitable Girl
2018-11-17 16:15, 2018-11-17 14:30 | Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94303, United States
A rarely-seen portrait of India’s urban middle class, this film documents the arranged marriage and matchmaking process in vérité over four years, and examines women’s complex relationships with marriage, family, and culture, and the many nuanced ways society molds them into traditional roles.
Ritu, Dipti and Amrita represent the new India. Educated, financially stable and raised with a mix of traditional and contemporary values in the urban cities of Mumbai and New Delhi, they have access to the world in ways their mothers did not. Yet their lives take a dramatic turn when the pressure to settle down and get married hits. Career aspirations become secondary to the pursuit of a husband, and the women struggle with the prospect of leaving their homes and families to become part of another.
“Oscar worthy. It’s impossible to not be moved by A Suitable Girl.”
— Clay Cane, BET.com
Winner of the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director, at the Tribeca International Film Festival, 2017

Shalom Bollywood: The Untold Story of Indian Cinema
2018-11-04 18:30 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
Featuring archival jewels from cinematic history, Shalom Bollywood reveals the forgotten history of early Indian cinema, when Jewish stars reigned supreme on the desi screen. Acting was a taboo profession for Hindu and Muslim women in those days, and so the Jewish women of Bombay’s Bene Israel and Bagdadi communities took to the movies, and catapulted into superstardom! What began with Ruby Myers — aka Sulochana, the first lady of Indian cinema in the 1920s — was cemented with Nadira, the quintessential vamp in the 1960s. Following the stories of nice Jewish girls who ruled the Indian screen for over four decades, Ben-Moshe’s entertaining and eye-opening doc includes interviews with Bollywood icons and kitschy animation, and shows us how cinema has always been a medium for bridging cultures.
“Danny Ben-Moshe tells the story of four extraordinary female superstars — Sulochana, Pramila, Miss Rose and Nadira — as well as popular character actor David Abraham, in a lively, audience-friendly documentary that…is full of surprises.”
– Deborah Young, Hollywood Reporter

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Sir
2018-11-04 16:30 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
San Francisco Premier
A beautifully nuanced, sensual and insightful feature film that premiered at Cannes, Sir delves into the spiritual and romantic connections of two people living parallel yet entirely separate lives. Rohena Gera tentatively explores the forbidden attraction between Ratna (Tillotama Shome), a maid, and her employer Ashwin (Vivek Gomber), a wealthy Mumbai bachelor.
The film gains gravity for its insight into Indian social rigidities that tether both impoverished villagers and well-heeled urbanites, with each character quietly yearning to break free from the narrow bounds of their class and gender-based expectations.
Drawing on similarities to two other critically acclaimed films, Lunch Box and In The Mood For Love, Gera achieves a particular delicacy in her directing, combining an appealing, understated sweetness with an edge, and thwarting all expectations and stereotypes of a typical Indian love story.
“Gera is a female Indian director making her mark celebrating women’s empowerment against dire economic odds… her direction exudes a simple grace that transcends local issues.”
– Variety, Cannes Film Festival Review
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Up Down & Sideways
2018-11-04 14:45 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
Bay Area Premier
Hypnotic rhythms and complex polyphonic music reverberate through the hills of Nagaland in this ethnographic portrait of an indigenous community and their remarkable musical traditions. Directors Anushka Meenakshi and Iswar Srikumar take their camera to an alluring corner of India — the village of Phek in the northeast, bordering with Myanmar — where people rely on rice cultivation as their primary means of subsistence.
As both men and women labor, they sing Lis, a “call and response” style of work songs. The lyrics about flirtatious love, mischief-making, and friendship, echo timeless themes and mirror their relationship to the land. The title of the film derives from the belief that Li cannot be sung by a single voice, and needs to rendered as a harmonious group that goes “up, down and sideways”.
“This portrait of a people with an extraordinary musical culture is lovingly filmed with an eye for detail.”
– International Documentary Film Association

Azmaish: a Journey Through the Subcontinent
2018-11-04 12:30 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
Bay Area Premier
Followed by a facilitated discussion on the rise of political nationalism today, led by Taymiya R. Zaman (Associate Professor, History, USF) and Chris Chekuri (Associate Professor, History/South Asia Studies, SFSU).
Sabiha Sumar’s (Dinner with the President) inspiring and probing documentary explores the complex relationship between India and her native country Pakistan. Traveling the two nations, Sumar and Indian actress Kalki Koechlin (Margarita with a Straw), witness radically changing political landscapes, their encounters giving rise to a personal and poetic search to uncover the voices of the silent majority, particularly those of women.
At home, Sumar has candid interviews with Pakistanis from different classes and regions, conversations where she is often the lone woman at the table. In India, Sumar and Koechlin speak with political figures and ordinary people, examining the rise of Hindu fundamentalism. As they despair at the decline of secular thought and the narrowing of expression they see in both nations, they also uncover the shared humanity beyond the divisive political rhetoric.
“An inspiring and stunning transnational journey through India and Pakistan.”
– Cameron Bailey, Toronto International Film Festival
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Tumbbad
2018-11-03 21:45 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
A perfect post-Halloween treat with sumptuous cinematography, this Tim Burton-esque light horror transcends its genre barriers, opening International Critics Week at this year’s Venice Film Festival. Sohum Shah’s and Anand Gandhi’s (Ship of Theseus) gothic fantasy is set in the perpetually stormy village of Tumbbad, where a decaying castle hides an immeasurable fortune guarded by something ancient, sinister, and monstrous.
What starts with a few gold coins, quickly spirals into a perpetual yearning, spanning India’s colonial past through independence and beyond, leading to a jaw-dropping denouement that is as sobering as it is spectacular.
“Mad creature-feature designs, Academy-worthy blends of color and pristine optical packaging… Tumbbad is a full genre package seasoned with a pungent foreign kick. A welcoming breed of horror that transcends barrier, creeds, and beliefs.”
–Fantastic Fest Review, Slash Film
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Ask the Sexpert
2018-11-03 19:30 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
Bay Area Premier
Followed by Skype Q&A with the filmmaker!
Entertaining, insightful, and with a wry sense of humor, Ask the Sexpert is a feature-length documentary about a highly popular 93-year-old sex advice columnist for a daily newspaper in Mumbai. Dr. Mahinder Watsa has no time to mince his words: “Why not try masturbation, after all, it’s harmless,” he advises one correspondent.
The column’s brand of advice and humor also addresses topics like gender equality and sexual pleasure in non-moralistic terms. The need for honest and factual discussion about sex leads him to answer hundreds of emails, and even counsel couples and strangers who arrive at his home unannounced.
However, Dr. Watsa’s lifelong commitment to sex education has made him a willing combatant against the conservative elements of Indian society that see his work as immoral. With charm and joy, Ask The Sexpert champions the power of knowledge over ignorance.
“As Vaishali Sinha’s (Made In India) camera cuts to a cheeky shot of fruit and veg in a local market, there’s a sense that Ask The Sexpert is going to be an entertaining film.”
– Screen Daily (Hot Docs Review)

Drawn Together + Shorts
2018-11-03 17:30 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
Filmmakers Harleen Singh and Rucha Chitnis in person! With special guest, Ann Marie Sayers.
With a lively backdrop of superheroes and comic books, Harleen Singh’s Drawn Together: Comics, Diversity, and Stereotypes (USA, 2017) gathers together three comic book artists (SF-based Eileen Alden, NC-based Keith Knight, and NY-based Vishvajit Singh, aka “Sikh Captain America”) to examine issues of diversity, representation, and racism.
A stereotype-busting film, it provides an opportunity to explore the subjects of race, gender, and religion through the universally popular medium of comic books and cartoons, boldly encouraging viewers to look beyond the obvious, and unlearn and confront media prejudices.
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“In the Land of My Ancestors”
World Premier
Rucha Chitnis’ short In the Land of My Ancestors (USA, 2018, 10 min) celebrates the living legacy of Ohlone elder Ann Marie Sayers, who has devoted her life and her land to keeping Ohlone knowledge and traditions alive.

“The Fish Curry (Macher Jhol)”
Bay Area Premier
The Fish Curry (Macher Jhol) (India, 2017, 10 min), Abhishek Verma’s animation, captures the trials and tribulations of a Bengali man coming out to his father, over a meal of fish curry.

A Better Man
2018-11-03 15:00 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
Bay Area Premier
Followed by cross-cultural panel discussion with Reina Sandoval-Beverly (STAND!) and Firoza Dabby (Asian Pacific Institute on Gender Based Violence); Moderated by Ulash Thakore-Dunlap (The Wright Institute).
A brave and compassionate doc, A Better Man illuminates how important it is to dialogue, to meet and speak with the enemy, in order to find a way through the fears that haunt our memories. For Attiya Khan, this happens 20 years after her abusive relationship with her then-boyfriend Steve, when she invites him to have a conversation about their two years together.
Made in collaboration with Toronto-based filmmaker Lawrence Jackman, the doc intercuts Attiya’s personal narrative with a series of intimate conversations mediated by therapist Tod Augusta-Scott, showing us how we can change the conversation on domestic abuse, especially when men take responsibility for their actions.
Initiated by one of the most successful documentary crowdfunding campaigns in Canadian history, which exceeded its stated target by 50 percent, the project is supported by public figures such as Margaret Atwood and Leslie Feist
“Among this year’s… most emotionally stunning films, A Better Man takes a brave and open-minded approach to processing trauma and healing.” – Hot Docs Festival

Demons in Paradise
2018-11-03 13:00 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
West Coast Premier
Jude Ratnam’s inventive and revealing documentary takes us back into Sri Lanka’s civil war, through his childhood memories and his family’s personal stories. Ratnam was 5 when civil war broke out in Sri Lanka, in 1983. On a red train, he fled the massacre of Tamils by the pro-Sinhalese majority in the northern parts of the country; now he reboards that train back up north, in order to confront the history that haunts him.
Traveling with his uncle, who fought in this decades-long upheaval (and now lives in Canada), Ratnam digs deep to unearth the traces of war hidden in the country’s psyche — reuniting with old friends, reliving past traumas, and discovering the legacy of the Tamil Tigers. The scars are deep: even now, Ratnam feels uneasy when his young son speaks Tamil in public places.
“[Ratnam] unveils the repressed memories of his compatriots, opening the door to a new era and making peace possible again… For the first time, a Tamil documentary filmmaker living in Sri Lanka is seeing the Civil war from the inside.” – Cannes Film Festival

Befikre (Carefree)
2018-11-02 21:30 | Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, 94114, United States
Friday night!
Come experience the passion of Befikre through the colorful celebration that is Bollywood at the Castro!!
An exuberant, fun, romantic comedy, directed by the legendary Aditya Chopra (DDLJ), this sexy film is set in the picturesque city of love — Paris — and takes us on a journey about romance and friendship. Bollywood’s hottest stars, Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor, star as two commitment-phobic friends who enter into a casual relationship that turns out to be fraught with more emotion than they can handle.
Ranveer Singh flaunts his impressively sculpted physique whenever possible, happily ensuring gender parity in body objectification, though he seems to want to upstage his co-star at all times! The stars’ sparkling on-screen chemistry is enhanced with passionate kisses, rumpled bed sheets, musical showstoppers and a narrative that wonderfully stretches credulity and entertains at all times.

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Village Rockstars
2018-11-02 19:30 | Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, 94114, United States
Bay Area Premier
As visually stunning as it is delightful, Village Rockstars is a labor of love to Assam, every frame brimming with affection. Not surprising given that writer/director Rima Das hails from Chhaygaon, where the film is set.
A magical coming-of-age film, reminiscent of Satyajit Ray, it follows the feisty young Dhunu and her frolicking band of friends, who rock out to their styrofoam instruments and dream of becoming real musicians. When the village elders complain about Dhunu’s tomboyish ways, her mother stands up for her, in the film’s subtle yet radical feminist gesture.
A not-to-be-missed offering at this year’s festival, this feel-good indie favorite is a perfect antidote to “poverty porn.”
“Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, VILLAGE ROCKSTARS has a soul and vision rare in Indian cinema today and marks Das as a major emerging filmmaker.” – IFFLA
Village Rockstars is India’s official entry to the Oscars 2019.

Good Guy Bad Guy
2018-11-01 19:15 | New People Cinema, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, United States
US Premier
Q&A with director Indu Krishnan
Deftly composed, smart, and socially-engaged, SF-based Indu Krishnan’s doc chronicles five years in the tumultuous life of Zakhir, a gentle soul who lives on the streets of Bangalore (India’s Silicon Valley). He survives on the margins, recycling plastic and garbage, and drinks himself to sleep at night, to escape the violence that comes with homelessness.
Following Zakhir’s filmi dreams to direct a fantasy blockbuster, Indu reveals a hidden city that thrives on the margins of conspicuous consumption. However, a darker story lies in the offing: Zakhir goes missing part way through the shoot, and Indu discovers that he is in jail on a murder charge.
Should she bail him out? Should she insert herself into his story? Good Guy Bad Guy navigates these troubled terrains with refreshing compassion and integrity.
“The camera follows Indu and Zahkir through the mad color and bizarre social schisms of the city as they participate in each other’s filmmaking dreams.”
– Indira Chandrashekar, (Author of Polymorphisms, Harper Collins/2017)

3rd i Co-Presents with the Jewish Film Festival — Shalom Bollywood
2018-08-05 12:15 | Landmark Piedmont Theater, 4186 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94611 , United States
In the early 20th century, the Hindu and Muslim communities of India discouraged women from appearing on the silver screen. This created an opening for aspiring actresses drawn from India’s small Jewish community, who faced no such restrictions.In Shalom Bollywood: The Untold Story of Indian Cinema, Danny Ben-Moshe tells the compelling tale of Jewish actresses with last names like Myers and Abraham who performed under exotic pseudonyms like Sulochana, Miss Rose, Pramila and Nadira. Products of the Baghdadi Jewish and India’s Bene Israel communities, these women rose from obscurity to become early trailblazers in India’s film industry and national celebrities. Featuring interviews with descendants as well as making imaginative use of archival film footage, animation and a true Bollywood soundtrack, Ben-Moshe highlights how these female cinematic pioneers carved their own paths in Bollywood.
Thursday, July 26th 12:10 pm – CineArts Palo Alto
Saturday, August 4th, 11:30 am – Smith Rafael, Marin
Sunday, August 5th 12:15 pm – Piedmont Theater
For more information:
https://jfi.org/sfjff-2018/film-guide/shalom-bollywood-the-untold-history-of-indian-cinema

3rd i Co-Presents with the Jewish Film Festival — Shalom Bollywood
2018-08-04 11:30 | Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States

3rd i Co-Presents with the Jewish Film Festival — Shalom Bollywood
2018-07-26 12:10 | CineArts at Palo Alto Square, 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, United States

3rd i Co-Presents at the SF Silent Film Festival
2018-06-02 12:00 | Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, 94114, United States
3rd i is proud to Co-Present A Throw of Dice (Prapancha Pash) with the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.
-A classic silent film from 1929-
A Throw of Dice (Prapancha Pash)
Inspired by a tale in the Mahabharata, A Throw of Dice tells the story of two kings vying for the hand of a young woman.
Filmed entirely on location in India, the film features Indian screen legends in the starring roles, a cast of more than 10,000 extras, and stunning visuals that capture exquisite landscapes.
Live musical accompaniment by Guenter Buchwald and Frank Bockius
74 minutes | $17 general / $15 member
India, 1929, directed by Franz Osten
Cast: Seeta Devi, Humansu Rai, Charu Roy
June 2, 12:00 noon at the Castro Theatre, San Francisco

3rd i Co-presents HALFWAY HOME at CAAMFEST 36
2018-05-19 19:00 | Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
3rd i co-presents HALFWAY HOME, at CAAMFEST 36
Directed by Steve Arounsack, (27 min)
HALFWAY HOME introduces three artists living and working in Central Valley California and explores their artistic traditions of their homelands.
Harjeet Singh and Paramjeet Kaur have a shared passion for bhangra, a traditional Punjabi dance that they teach to the Sikh community in Yuba City. In Stockton, Lon Chan shares his devotion to hand-making traditional costumes for Cambodian classical dance. Nikiko Masumoto, reveals how she creatively uses her work as both farmer and playwright to share the stories and traditions of Japanese Americans. HALFWAY HOME brings to light how communities can use artistic practices to meld a sense of belonging with celebration of cultural histories.
When: May 19th, 7pm
Where: Oakland Asian Cultural Center
$14 general
More info: https://caamfest.com/2018/films/halfway-home-asian-american-art-in-the-central-valley/
