This smart and engaging black comedy finds humor in the tenuous nature of democracy. Conscientious clerk, Newton, must keep devious military personnel and oddball bureaucrats in check during election day in the conflict-ridden “tribal” area of Chhattisgarh.
Set amidst the stunning landscape of Ladakh, this mesmerizing doc is a tribute to the unbreakable bond between humans and animals, and captures a disappearing way of life that is deeply intertwined with nature.
Stylish and edgy, with a deep, dark twist, GURGAON is a neo-noir based on the true life story of a kidnapping gone awry, in the shiny outer reaches of the fast growing Delhi metropolis.
Filmmaker via Skype! In this gorgeous, multi-layered documentary about immigration and integration, Ali Kazimi ("A Continuous Journey") brilliantly weaves a rich tapestry of history and memory.
Filmmaker in Person! Deeply moving and smart, Arshad Khan’s outstanding documentary Abu is a quintessential immigrant story that captures the tumultuous journey of his family's move to Canada, from Pakistan, in the early 90s.
Bay Area Filmmakers in Person!! From power to pleasure, courage to comedy, this year's kaleidoscope of cinematic offerings engage the sexual and the sensual: a young man gathers strength to approach his crush, while a young woman plots a shocking escape from marriage; Audrey Lorde's poetry and Justin Bieber's music become fodder for queer interventions; and SF's Sexy Circus ponders its future.
Harune Massey in Person!! With echoes of Romeo and Juliet, "Gardaab" is a taut and stylized thriller about two lovers caught in a web of family and gang warfare in the underbelly of Karachi. Harune Massey's restrained direction offers a compelling meditation on love, and on the fragility of human life, and points to an exciting new wave of Pakistani filmmakers on the horizon.
Skype Q&A with Naeem Mohaiemen!! This striking and hypnotic documentary offers a fascinating interrogation of the legacy of radical left-wing movements. Using archival sound and surveillance video, Mohaiemen reconstructs the hijacking of an airplane at the hands of the Japanese Red Army in 1977, during which it was forced to land in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Premiering to a standing ovation at the Busan Film Festival, "Aligarh" is one of the most vital films to come out of India in recent years. Based on the true story of Dr. Siras, a linguistics professor who faced suspension due to his sexual orientation, the film is a heartfelt demand for the right to love, and a poetic call to transcend identity.
Skype Q&A with Amit Gupta!! Set in London, Amit Gupta's witty script produces a romantic comedy that echoes the best of Woody Allen. Jay is a former daytime TV star whose life has hit rock bottom until he meets his dream girl. Hannah is bright, beautiful and hates modern life. There's just one problem. How does Jay tell Hannah about the leaked sex tape which made him an internet sensation?
A charming portrait of one of the last hand-painters of colorful and dramatic Bollywood posters, "Original Copy" is an exemplary and insightful doc about the magic of cinema, and about the keepers of a disappearing artform in the face of India's changing film industry. Preceded by Ashim Ahluwalia's short, "Events in a Cloud Chamber."
Set along the picturesque Ganges river in Benaras, "Masaan" (an Anurag Kashyap production) weaves together two stories concerning the effect of narrow-minded tradition on the budding desires of youth.
Secret Screening Followed by Q&A with filmmaker & cast A smart and sassy comedy, featuring show-stopping performances by Pia Shah and Emily C. Chang, this project-in-development from Tanuj Chopra (director of Punching at the Sun, and shorts Pia and Clap, Clap) is a 'high'-light of the festival. This 'secret' work-in-progress screening will be followed by a talkback with the talent. We'll bring the director, the actresses, and the editor - you bring Mary Jane.
Followed by Q&A with Bay Area filmmakers From the streets of San Francisco to a Parsee home in Bombay, from gorgeously animated watercolors to hip-hop music video, from queer comedy to social documentary, this year's outstanding set of shorts offer us profiles of culture, celebration, courage and change!
Followed by Q&A with the filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage's (With You, Without You, SFISAFF 2013) thought-provoking film is a carefully crafted indictment of institutionalized forms of power that follows the story of two women who seek justice for being sexually abused by a Judge. An excellent analysis of how patriarchy and power work together to infect the courts, the media and the lives of Sri Lanka's most disenfranchised citizens.
Lyrical and intimate, this unique cinematic experience delves into the lives of an ordinary couple whose competing work schedules keep them apart. Sengupta's arresting visuals build into a beautiful, dreamlike crescendo, while the resonant soundscape and retro score fill the silences with deep emotional textures. An ode to so many labors of love, including that of cinema, this film is a must-see for cinephiles.
Winner of the Cannes Film Festival's highest honor, the Palme D'Or, Jacques Audiard's (A Prophet) latest film is an immensely powerful work that celebrates the human spirit. A former soldier, a young woman, and a little girl, pose as a family so they can immigrate into France. They end up settling in a housing project outside Paris – but it turns out that they've just left one conflict zone for another.
Live Performance! Followed by Q&A with Fawzia Mirza Told through the lens of two women’s shared love for glamorous Bollywood film star Sharmila Tagore, Me, My Mom, and Sharmila is a hilarious and heartbreaking coming-of-age story peppered with personal anecdotes, pop culture and more! Writer-performer Fawzia Mirza's dynamic piece chronicles her struggle to connect with her mother as she grapples with her own emerging identity as a queer woman of color.
Followed by Skype Q&A with filmmaker An unparalleled and exclusive look into one of the most iconic musicians of our time – A.R.Rahman. Renowned in the West for his Oscar-winning soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire and his work with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rahman is a household name in India. In this doc, he talks about his work and life experiences in unprecedented personal terms, and provides a glimpse into the spirituality that drives his genius.
Lily Prasad is a valedictorian who wants to win at all costs — but she’s lost her boyfriend to the reigning Miss India National. She schemes to win him back by winning the beauty pageant herself, in this hilarious comedy.
