This year, UK and Europe’s largest South Asian film festival, takes place at the prestigious BFI, Barbican (London), and MAC (Birmingham). The London Indian Film Festival and Birmingham Indian Film Festival presents a selected season of films and shorts premieres in June, with a larger programme returning in September across the UK.
The exciting June season, supported in London by the Bagri Foundation, includes the European premiere of multi-starrer The Storyteller directed by Ananth Mahadevan on 22nd June at BFI Southbank and 23rd June at MAC Birmingham. This sumptuous film is based on the writings of Satyajit Ray and includes charming performances from Indian arthouse stalwarts Paresh Rawal as a struggling writer with Adil Hussain and Tannistha Chatterjee amongst the glittering cast, presented by Jio Studios. Cast and crew Q&A expected.
Winning awards at Toronto International Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival high-impact documentary To Kill A Tiger comes to the UK, with the harrowing, but ultimately hopeful story of a village teenager and her loving father, who fearlessly take on their society, demanding justice, when the young woman is attacked by a group of men. A Q&A with director Nisha Pahuja is expected.
A special showcase at the festival are new British Asian movies including a special preview of comedy drama The Effects of Lying prior to its ITVX release, with an all-star British cast including Laila Rouass, Mark Williams, Navin Chowdhry, Ace Bhatti and Bhasker Patel. Following on its heels is our ever popular platform of Brit-Asian shorts showcasing new and emerging film talent from around the UK. Expect a lively panel debate with British filmmakers.
Director N Padmakumar (A Billion Colour Story) returns to the festival with the super-cute love story Max, Min & Meowzaki (world premiered at Busan). This charming film is a must for all cat lovers and fans of anime.
The European Premiere of US documentary Call Me Dancer directed by Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmour is a live-your-dreams film charting the journey of Manish, a charismatic teenage street dancer from Mumbai, who dreams of entering the world of ballet against the wishes of his struggling parents.
The compelling debut feature of director Siddharth Chauhan, Amar Colony uncovers the secretive and connected lives of residents in a dilapidated apartment block in a small hill town in the lower Himalayas, unveiling sexual desires and emotional desperations.
The festival is delighted to present a special classic showcase at Barbican of two award-winning features of director Deepa Mehta and starring actor Nandita Das, Fire and Earth, followed by panel debates.
Completing the June in-cinema season is the festival’s most popular annual shorts programme Too Desi Too Queer, which will include the world premiere of documentary Discovering Kali – 25 years of the Legendary Club, charting the ascent of the British Asian LGBTQIA+ scene.
Alongside the cinema season the festival are presenting a range of shorts packages online on BFI Player from 22 June.
The main film festival in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds will take place between 7- 14 September and is expected to showcase premieres of features, documentaries and shorts, as well as new South Asian series, gaming and XR.
For more information on the festival check out www.londonindianfilmfestival.
