AND HERE WE GO AGAIN, TOMORROW!
Tomorrow, ISAFF will bring to you movies from both local as well as international moviemakers. Movie-making is an art and making cinema that matters is even a faster disappearing art-form. At ISAFF, we will bring you cinema that matters, and filmmakers who will meet you in person and discuss their movies with you.
Buy those tickets today and bring your family to watch great cinema, the good old-fashioned way. Festival opens Friday evening! |
FESTIVAL TIDBITS
- festival website at: http://www.tasveer.org
- we have made many SCHEDULE CHANGES. Please look at website before making any plans
- we have a Kids Playroom for your kids. Tips appreciated!
- all films are sub-titled in English
- CASH and Checks ONLY. Try to bring exact change!
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CLOSING NIGHT RECEPTION IN THE HONOR OF FILM DIRECTOR PRASHANTA NANDA
Sunday, October 4, 8pm at Broadway Performance Hall
We are proud to bring one of the most famous film personality from Orissa.
 Prashanta Nanda is one of the most popular Oriya Movie stars in the state of Orissa in India. He served Oriya Film Industry as an actor, director, screenplay writer, and lyricist and even as a playback singer.He was also former Minister of State of Orissa. In 1962, he wan National Film Awards as best actor for the film Nua Bou with his debut film.The name of Prasantha Nanda would always come while dealing with Oriya Film Industry. He has been working in Oriya films since 1960. Such a versatile genius is quite rare in Indian cinema history. Nanda alone carried Oriya films into the national honor list by winning National Awards for three times in 1960, 1966 and 1969 for his acting in Nua Bou, Matir Manisha and Adina Megha.
For Media interest: Please contact Debadutta Dash: dash@wasitrac.org
Come join us for the Post film Reception of wine (Chateau Ste. Michelle) and hors d'oeuvres with Prashanta Nanda and his crew, Producer Akshay Parija (Oman), Rishabha Nanda, Ashok Suvarna.
You will also meet other ISAFF filmmakers, sponsors, and volunteers. This year’s filmmakers are Mridu Chandra (New York), Senain Kheshgi (Los Angeles), Prashanta Nanda (India), Rishabha Nanda (India), Akshay Parija (Oman), Ashok Suvarna (Oman) including other City officials. A chance to mingle with our festival team and guests. This event is free and open to everyone. It is an opportunity for us to network and make friends.
Closing Night Festival Reception will take place at Sunday, October 4, 8pm at Broadway Performance Hall. Film screening of THE LIVING GHOST will be at 6pm.
Details>>
A SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL FILMMAKERS: ISAFF 2009
We have tremendous amount of filmmaking talent here in Seattle. Local filmmakers shine every year at ISAFF. Here's a little information about them and their movies.
 CRY SEATTLE REEL: My Vision and Dream for Children
CRY’s collection of short films includes local short film EduCaution - A Righteous Conversation (Prabirendra Chatterjee and Sourav Sen Gupta, India, 5 min) The right to education will be there but in what form?
In Person: Prabir, a longtime Tasveer supporter, will be present for post-film discussion.
When: Saturday, October 3, 1:00 PM (free program) Details>>
 ASHA GOES TO INDIA (Navin Kulshreshtha, USA/India, English, DV, 32 min)
An American woman fascinated with India all her life travels there for the first time and embarks on a spiritual journey. Her quest for enlightenment takes her thousands of miles through India, from north to south, from the mountains to the sea. She has many adventures and faces many challenges- and not only discovers a beautiful and ancient culture, but a deeper connection with herself as well.
In Person: Seattle newbie Navin Kulshreshtha will be available for post film discussion.
When: Saturday, October 3, 3:00 PM Details>>
 TEA TIME IN SIRUTAR (Leonard Davis, 2009, USA/Nepal, DV, 5min)
A story about a group of men and their morning daily tea ritual, shot on the outskirts of Kathmandu.
In Person: Seattle-based filmmaker and longtime Tasveer supporter Len Davis will be available for post film discussion.
When: Sunday, October 4, 12:30 PM Details>>
Co-sponsored by: Nepal Seattle Society and Bo M Karlsson Foundation (BMKF)
 CHOBBI: Photo Documentary of Bangladesh (Semonti Hossain, 2009, Bangladesh, English/ Bangla, DV, 10 min)
An American-born Bangaldeshi attempts to discover her identity within the context of the bustling city. Equipped with a camera and lens, she perceives humanity in it's humblest form.
In Person: Semonti Hossain will be available for post film discussion. We are proud that Semonti Hossain is one of the original members of the Tasveer Youth Initiative and has attended Tasveer screenings since she was 15.
When: Sunday, October 4, 3:00 PM. Details>>
Co-sponsored by: Asha Seattle and Kannada Sangha
 BRAVE CHILDREN OF BETTADAPURA (Kodlu Ramakrishna, India, 2009, Kannada, 35mm, 110min)
When an industrialist with the help of a local politician and illiterate villagers tries to start a mining industry at a well known village mountain, children of that village protect the mountain adopting a non- violent Gandhian Protest/ movement with the help of their teacher. The movie is shot at beautiful mountains of Ramanagaram (Sholay famous) and Devarayana Durga near Bangalore, Karnataka.
In person: Principal actor/producer Harsha Ram, a Redmond resident, will discuss the movie in a post film discussion with you.(Link)
When: Sunday, October 4, 3:00 PM. Details>>
Co-sponsored by: Asha Seattle and Kannada Sangha
UNVEILING (Angela Esposito, US, 4min)
Featuring Kathak Dancer Archana Kumar, this film explores the crossing of boundaries between classical and contemporary dance, the art of dance and the medium of film making, and the connecting of the two art forms as a metaphor for all the different veils we embody.
Assistant Editor is the Festival Director Rita Meher.
When: Saturday, October 3, 3:00 PM
Details>>
MEET US, PARTICIPATE IN A QUIZ, AND TWEET US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
Have you checked out our new quizzes on our Facebook and Twitter pages yet? Come participate in our daily quiz and win tickets to the screening of a movie. Join us today. Follow us on twitter and join us on Facebook. Make new friends, and join a conversation on independent South Asian movies and movie-making. Here’s what we have heard from you:
“Of all of my Seattle memories, this event is right up there in #1 position!”
- Fauzia Rizvi Timberlake, a former Seattle resident and avid ISAFF supporter.
A movie enthusiast, Ani Barua emailed us about Semonti Hossein's photo:
“I love that picture of the immigration advertisement with the boy staring at the open. It reminds me of scenery back in Bangladesh. It is like this everywhere in Dhaka Chittagong and other places. You cannot blame the people it is a basic human right to live a better life. I really became emotional after seeing that photo. If you don't mind I will have that photo as my profile picture so my American friends knows what it is like there.”
When we shared this with filmmaker Semonti Hossain. Her response was: “Wow, what an incredible feeling I had from reading that! As the photographer, it's my highest hope that others can connect with my photos as he did. Thank you so much for sharing! Hope my documentary meets expectations!”
Semonti’s photo documentary will be shown on October 4th, 3pm.
Do you have comments, suggestions or memories about ISAFF this year? Email us at info@tasveer.org or write on our Facebook wall.
VOLUNTEER CORNER
PROJECT KASHMIR: REVIEW by Sandeep Mohan (ISAFF volunteer and a movie buff)
 The story of Kashmir told through the eyes of 2 Americans, one Hindu and the other Muslim, throws light on an interesting aspect of the people living in the present day Kashmir, the confusion and the identity- crisis that confuses them.
The filmmakers, Geeta and Senain, whose previous generations are partition survivors tour the communally tense regions to get a take on what the people living there are going through or have gone through. They get an early discourse from the mystery guide voiceover who tells them to be diplomatic and not a “Typical American”.
The documentary beautifully blends in the scenic heaven-on-earth Kashmir landscapes along with images of gun-toting security forces. Muzamil, a journalist from the Indian Express newspaper, helps the filmmakers answer the much asked question on how and why. Muzamil talks about how the Indian government is biased towards taking out the Kashmiri Pundits from the region and how the Indian army has instigated an unreasonable and meaningless streak of investigation and torture towards the Kashmiri Muslims.
Aarti, a Kashmiri pundit, was forced to move out of her native town, is also a Journalist and brings in the much needed Kashmiri Hindu point of view to the ongoing turmoil. The documentary has its moments where there are arguments between Geeta and Senain, and Aarti and Muzamil, which in a way represent what has been going on in Kashmir on a larger scale. Quotes like “Neighbors became Hindus and Muslims” and “Kashmiris don’t know what they want” made more sense to me.
The plight of the people who have been victims over the years, be it the sisters whose father went missing years ago; or the families where members were taken away and killed for no reason, is what clearly defines this powerful documentary.
Project Kashmir stands out because there have been no previous efforts to tell the story of this land through the eyes of two South Asian Americans who share their personal battle with the longstanding political struggle. The goal of this documentary is to create dialogue and I am looking forward to participating in the post-film discussion with the filmmaker Senain Kheshgi as well as with Seattle’s diverse audience.
Time: Saturday, October 3, 5:00 PM Details>>
In Person: Director Senain Kheshgi
SPONSORS
Annapurna Cafe is offering a 20% discount with ISAFF tickets during and after the festival. So save those tickets.
1833 Broadway,
Seattle, WA 98122-2415
Barca on 1510 11th Ave (between Pike and Pine, two blocks east of the
theater) is offering happy hour prices on all drinks to all ISAFF
attendees with a valid ticket stub. They are also putting together a
special set of South Asian themed drinks for the occasion, only available
to ISAFF attendees.
Seattle's Sixth Independent South Asian Film Festival
October 2-4th, 2009
Ticket: $7 general/ $6 student, senior
Festival Pass: $50
Student Pass: $35
Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Ave. Seattle 98122
Check out our entire schedule at www.tasveer.org
Email: info@tasveer.org
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