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InterviewKavya Prakash speaks about making a film based on Unni R’s story.CrisSomething about the way Unni R narrated the story had her hooked. Kavya Prakash listened attentively as this man, whom she found enigmatic and highly intellectual, told the story of Vaanku, which is about a young girl’s dream to call the azan. Kavya had graduated in visual communication, specialising in films and advertising, but was not looking to make a feature film just yet. Until Unni’s story fell on her lap and then she had to make it into a film. Shabna Mohammed, a Ponnanikaari (native of Ponnani in Kerala), wrote the script and Kavya directed it, all – she would say half a dozen times – with the guidance of Unni. “It was all organic. He was visiting dad’s office when I met him,” Kavya says. Dad is Vk Prakash, renowned director of Malayalam films...

Elizabeth Ekadashi, directed by Paresh Mokashi, will screen as the opening Feature Film of the Indian Panorama section at the 45th International Film Festival of India 2014. The other highlights in the feature-film section include Kaushik Ganguly’s Chotoder Chobi, Rajat Kapoor’s Ankhon Dekhi, Rajeev Ravi’s Njan Steve Lopez, Shaji N. Karun’s Swapaanam and Avinash Arun’s Killa.

The Last Adieu by Shabnam Sukhdev has been chosen as the Opening Film of the Non-Feature Film section of Indian Panorama 2014.

Feature Films

Title of the Film Language Director Othello Assamese Hemanta Kumar Das Punashcha Bengali Souvik Mitra Chotoder Chobi Bengali Kaushik Ganguly Bodhon Bengali Ayananshu Banerjee Jodi Love Dile Na Praane Bengali Sudeshna Roy and Abhijit Guha Teenkahon Bengali Bauddhayan Mukherji Gour Hari Dastaan – The freedom File Hindi Ananth Narayan Mahadevan Ankhon Dekhi Hindi Rajat Kapoor 1-December Kannada P. Sheshadri Ri Khasi Pradip Kurbah 1983 Malayalam Abrid Shine North 24 Kaatham...

The Mumbai Film Festival (Oct 14-21), recently saved by public donations following a funding crunch, unveiled its line-up today including the India Gold Competition and International Competition for first features.

The festival also announced that Catherine Deneuve will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, while master classes will be held by DoP Christopher Doyle and director Mahamat Saleh Haroun.

The International Competition includes Benjamin Naishtat’s History Of Fear, Sudabeh Mortezai’s Macondo and Chaitanya Tamhane’s Court, fresh from its Venice success. The India Gold competition includes Bikas Mishra’s Chauranga, Avinash Arun’s The Fort (Killa) and Ms Prakash Babu’s Fig Fruit And The Wasps (see full list below).

Serbian director Goran Paskaljevic will head the India Gold jury, while the Dimensions Mumbai short film competition jury comprises directors Gauri Shinde and Homi Adajania, actors Satish Kaushik and Huma Qureshi and critic Rajeev Masand.

Key films outside the competition sections include Xavier Dolan’s [link...

Acclaimed French actor Catherine Deneuve, known for her iconic roles in films such as Repulsion (1965), Belle de Jour (1967) and Tristana (1970), and more recently in Dancer in the Dark (2000) and 8 Women (2002), will be conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award at the 16th Mumbai Film Festival. The festival will screen a selection of her movies as a tribute.

Side bar events of the festival include master classes by internationally acclaimed cinematographer Christopher Doyle, of Paranoid Park, Lady in the water, Psycho, In the Mood for love and Chunking Express; and noted director and writer Mahamat Saleh Haroun known for his films, Girgis, Bye Bye Africa, A Screaming Man.

Chaitanya Tamhane’s Venice “Lion of the future” winner Court is the only Indian film in international competition. The India Gold competition will showcase films like Avinash Arun’s Killa, Bikas Mishra’s Chauranga, Venu’s Munnariyippu, Dr. Biju’s Names Unknown and Vivek Wagh’s Siddhant.

The 16th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival announced its line-up in a press conference today.

Here is the complete list of films which will be screened at the festival:-

International Competition

Difret

Dir.: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari (Ethiopia / 2014 / Col / 99)

History of Fear (Historia del miedo)

Dir.: Benjamin Naishtat (Argentina-France-Germany-Qatar-Uruguay / 2014 / Col / 79)

With Others (Ba Digaran)

Dir.: Nasser Zamiri (Iran / 2014 / Col / 85)

The Tree (Drevo)

Dir.: Sonja Prosenc (Slovenia / 2014 / Col / 90)

Next to Her (At li layla)

Dir.: Asaf Korman (Israel / 2014 / Col / 90)

Schimbare

Dir.: Alex Sampayo (Spain / 2014 / Col / 87)

Fever

Dir.: Raphaël Neal (France / 2014 / Col / 81)

Court

Dir.: Chaitanya Tamhane (India (Marathi-Gujarati-English-Hindi) / 2014 / Col / 116)

Macondo

Dir.: Sudabeh Mortezai (Austria / 2014 / Col / 98)

India Gold Competition 2014

The Fort (Killa)

Dir.: Avinash Arun (India (Marathi) / 2014 / Col / 107)

Unto the Dusk

Dir.: Sajin Baabu (India (Malayalam) / 2014 / Col / 118)

Names Unknown (Perariyathavar)

Dir.: Dr. Biju (India (Malayalam) / 2014 / Col / 110)

Buddha In a Traffic Jam

Dir.

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival, to be held between September 18th and 21st, will open with Geethu Mohandas’ Liar’s Dice. The film has Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Geetanjali Thapa in lead roles and was screened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

Amit Kumar’s Monsoon Shootout will be the centerpiece film of the festival. Agneya Singh’s M Cream will be screened as the Friday night feature. Rajat Kapoor’s Ankhon Dekhi will close the Festival on Sunday evening.

Here is the complete lineup of the festival:

A Boy Called Boris (Director: Ashok Vish): World Premiere; Short Film; United States; Max Kolby, Brian Gildea, Jose Amor

Algorithms (Director: Ian McDonald): U.S. Premiere; Documentary; India

Ankhon Dekhi (Director: Rajat Kapoor): Chicago Premiere; Feature; India; Sanjay Mishra, Rajat Kapoor, Seema Pahwa

Are You Listening! – Shunte Ki Pao! (Director: Kamar Ahmad Simon): U.S. Premiere...