The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) announced the full lineup for their 20th year of celebrating Independent, art house, alternate, and diaspora films from India (July 24 – August 2). This year, the virtual edition will run online, powered by MovieSaints on nyiff.moviesaints.com. Dedicated to bringing these films to a New York audience and now in the new normal, to a wider global audience through the virtual platform, the festival will feature 12 narrative films, 4 documentaries and 30 shorts (both narratives and documentaries) on a range of subjects and languages.
Here is the entire list of the feature films being shown:
Feature Narrative Films
Aani Maani (Hindi/ Urdu), dir. Fahim Irshad
Ahaa Re (Bengali), dir. Ranjan Ghosh
Gamak Ghar (Maithili), dir. Achal Mishra
Kastoori (Hindi/ Marathi), dir. Vinod Kamble
Knock Knock Knock (Bengali, English), dir. Sudhanshu Saria
Lorni- the Flaneur (Khasi), dir. Wanphrang Diengdoh
Moothon (Malayalam, Hindi), dir. Geethu Mohandas
Nimtoh (Nepali), dir. Saurav Rai
Run Kalyani (Malayalam), dir. Geetha J
Trijya (Marathi), dir. Akshay Indikar
The False Eye (Malayalam), dir. Rahul Nair
The Prologue (Bengali), dir. Chandrasish Ray
Feature Documentary Films
Aunty Sudha, Aunty Radha (Hindi), dir. Tanuja Chandra
Son Rise (Haryanvi, English), dir. Vibha Bakshi
Two Flags (Tamil, French, English), dir. Pankaj Rishi Kumar
Yeh Freedom Life (Hindi), dir. Priya Sen
This year NYIFF continues to support regional cinema with Malayalam films book ending the festival – Opening film Run Kalyani by Geetha J and Closing film Moothon by Geethu Mohandas. Adding to that, the two centerpiece documentaries, Son Rise by Vibha Bakshi and Aunty Sudha, Aunty Radha by Tanuja Chandra, showcase films by women directors. The languages focused on are Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Kannada, Ladakhi, Punjabi, Khasi, Nepali and Haryanavi. All the films will have English subtitles.
The shorts program is divided into four groups: Queer Perspectives; Connection, Explores; Social Ideals & Illusions; and A Collection of Short Documentaries.
NYIFF Festival Director Aseem Chhabra said “We are excited to bring this year’s selection right into audience’s homes. We will be hosting intimate conversations and chats with the filmmakers and stars involved in the movies being presented. This year all the events will stream exclusively on the MovieSaints platform.”
The Indian film industry lost an outstanding actor and a wonderful human being, Irrfan Khan, this year and NYIFF will pay a tribute to him by reminiscing about his work in The Namesake. Joining in will be director Mira Nair and actor Kal Penn. Returning to NYIFF is Manoj Bajpayee who talks about his career, his directors and his experiences. The festival will be hosting a Special Spotlight on Anubhav Sinha’s Article 15 which completed one year in June this year. An incisive look at caste discrimination in India, the film was both a commercial and critical success in India. Member of Parliament Mr. Shashi Tharoor will open the panel sessions by moderating the Run Kalyani post-screening Q&A.
Said Rakesh Kaul, Vice Chairman, IAAC, “We have received tremendous support from the Consulate General India, New York as well as the associations FIA and AIA. Corporate sponsors such as Bank of Baroda are amongst others who have come forward with significant contributions. During these tough times, we hope our selection of the best of Indian Indie Cinema provides a welcoming avenue of entertainment and relief for audience across the world. With an expanded reach on a digital platform, we look forward to great audience participation. Mark your calendars!”
And here is the list of NYIFF 2020’s nominated films for awards:
NYIFF 2020 Virtual Edition Nominations
Best Film
1) Aani Maani
2) Gamak Ghar
3) Kastoori (Musk)
4) Moothon
5) Run Kalyani
Best Director
1) Achal Mishra (Gamak Ghar)
2) Akshay Indikar (Trijya)
3) Geetha J (Run Kalyani)
4) Geethu Mohandas (Moothon)
5) Vinod Kamble (Kastoori)
Best Screenplay
1) Knock Knock Knock
2 )Lorni – the Flaneur
3) Nimtoh
4) The False Eye
5) The Prologue
Best Actor
1) Adil Hussain (Lorni – the Flaneur)
2) Farrukh Seyer (Aani Maani)
3) Nivin Pauly (Moothon)
4) Paran Banerjee (Ahaa Re)
5) Prasenjit Chatterjee (The Prologue)
Best Actress
1) Garggi Anathan (Run Kalyani)
2) Priyanka Verma (Aani Maani)
3) Rituparna Sengupta (Ahaa Re)
4) Vee Kumari (Halwa)
Best Child Actor
1) Pravesh Gurung (Nimtoh)
2) Sabit Khan (Flying Wagon)
3) Samarth Sonawane (Kastoori)
4) Sanjana Dipu (Moothon)
5 )Vasudev Sajeesh Marar, Suryadev Sajeesh Marar & Ansu Maria Thomas (The False Eye)
Best Documentary (Feature)
1) Aunty Sudha, Aunty Radha
2) Two Flags
3) Son Rise
4) Yeh Freedom Life
Best Documentary (Short)
1) Gladiators on Wheels
2) In Thunder & Lightening
3) Niru’s News
4) Tailing Pond
5) Urmila Devi
6) Utran Conversations
Best Short (Narrative)
1) Arabian Nights
2) Grandfather
3) Hauah
4) Sekool
5) Wig
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