The eighth annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angles (IFFLA) will include over 30 features, documentaries, and short films.
Supported by the Canadian Consulate of Los Angeles and Telefilm Canada, the opening night festivities begin with Cooking with Stella, a comedy about a scheming cook who uses her long-term post as the personal chef to the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi to run an elaborate import business. Director Dilip Mehta will be in attendance, as well as star Lisa Ray and producer/co-writer Deepa Mehta (Water). IFFLA’s opening night is a benefit screening to support the Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research. The evening is sponsored by Chakra Cuisine and Divya Wines.
IFFLA will also host several events in an effort to strengthen the bonds between the Indian film industry and Hollywood. The IFFLA Industry Leadership Award will be presented to one U.S-based and one India-based executive who has had a substantial impact on the creation and distribution of Indian-themed content globally and have led the expansion of the entertainment and media industry in India.
This year Sanford Panitch, president of Fox International Productions that produces and acquires local language films all over the world, and Uday Shankar, CEO of STAR India, will receive the leadership award. Additionally, legendary producer Ashok Amritraj will be awarded Industry Trailblazer Award for his milestone achievement—the release of his 100th film.
Korn/Ferry International, a Los Angeles-based global provider of talent management solutions, will honor the Most Influential South Asian Women Executives in the Media and Entertainment Industry at a special event during IFFLA.
The honorees were selected in consultation with IFFLA. Among them are Indu Jain, chair of Times Group of India; well-known creator of TV serials Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms; Jhumpa Lahiri, author and member of President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities; film directors Deepa Mehta and Meera Nair; PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi; Aparna Pande of Disney Publishing Worldwide; Saijal Patel of CNBC Asia’s Market Watch and Worldwide Exchange; Shibani Joshi of Fox Business Network; Superna Kalle of Sony Pictures Television; Deborah Tellis of Summit Entertainment; and Roma Khanna of NBC Universal International.
IFFLA Executive Director Christina Marouda says, “Once again we are thrilled to showcase the best in independent Indian cinema. We are also pleased to spotlight our talented filmmakers and executives who are making a great impact in the media and entertainment industry.”
Tuesday-Sunday, April 20-25. Arclight Hollywood, 6360 W, Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. The awards presented April 22. For complete listings and additional information, go to www.indianfilmfestival.org.