Welcome to LIFF 2022

This year we are back to the big screen! You can watch the festival in cinemas in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds or on your own sofa, at home, via our digital site www.LoveLIFFatHome.com.

Thanks to Title Sponsor Blue Orchid Hotels, and BFI, Bagri Foundation, Arts Council England for great support this year. A big personal thanks to all our audiences who stayed with the festival over the last two years and helped it retain its status as UK and Europe’s top South Asian film platform. This year’s festival is dedicated to you with love.

Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE, Executive & Programming Director of LIFF

Introducing our title Sponsor, Blue Orchid Hotels

Blue Orchid Hotels is delighted to offer the arts and film community, and supporters of LIFF a range of special experiences to enjoy whilst in London. From beauty treatments, to rooftop dining to business venue hire, there are a range of offers to choose from. Sign up for exclusive offers here.

To redeem them, simply select as many offers as you would like, complete the form with your contact details and a member of the team will be in touch with information on how to redeem your selected offers.

LIFF 2022

The festival runs from Thursday 23 June to Sunday 3 July across London. It is divided across a number of strands and many screenings will be followed by a Q&A. Tickets can be purchased online and at the box office of our partner cinemas. You can book tickets at BFI, Barbican, Bertha DocHouse and Roof East. We will let you know as the other box offices open up.

Here is what we’ve got planned for you…

OPENING GALA: THURSDAY 23 JUNE

Dobaaraa (World Premiere)

A surreal, time jumping, plot twister, by India’s internationally best known director Anurag Kashyap, starring Taapsee Pannu.

more information…

CLOSING GALA: SUNDAY 3 JULY

Superfan: The Nav Bhatia Story

The feel good, inspirational story of Toronto Raptor’s greatest fan who not only inspired his favourite team, but large numbers of audience to rally behind them.

more information…

GREAT BRITISH ASIANS GALA: FRIDAY 24 JUNE

Little English

Pravesh Kumar’s debut feature is a laugh-out-loud story of a dysfunctional Punjabi family in the pressure cooker life of a terraced suburban home in West London.

more information…

YOUNG REBEL

Younger people often challenge and change the world with fresh ideas and open hearts. We present a clutch of new films that depict young South Asians, some are joyous while others present youth facing and overcoming real-life challenges in South Asia today.

Americanish

Emuthi Puthi (The Very Fishy Trip)

Ghare Pherar Gaan (Homecoming Song)

Season of Innocence

Girls for Future

EXTRA-ORDINARY LIVES

LIFF showcases independent films, which celebrate depictions of ordinary lives through fiction and documentaries. This year we screen a selection of films that show glimpses of real life in the sub-continent and Asian diaspora, which are sometimes challenging, sometimes feel good, even comic, but always compelling.

Dug Dug

Chhello Show (Last Film Show)

Once Upon a Time in Calcutta

No Lands Man

Urf (A.K.A.)

PAKA: The River of Blood

Taangh (Longing)

Aparajito (The Undefeated)

No Ground Beneath The Feet

GREAT BRITISH ASIANS

In this time of changing images of ‘Britishness’, it’s important and indeed vital to consider the South Asian contribution to modern Britain. This is clearly seen in films and arts of the last 4 decades. LIFF here presents a showcase of some iconic films and musicians, capturing our unique journey, as well as celebrating bright new emerging talent. Catch talks in cinemas and online with some of our greatest talents.

Asian Vibes London & Asian Vibes Bombay (Double Bill)

Mirror Mirror – The Early Films of Yugesh Walia

Four Lions

WOMEN MAKE MOVIES

One area that the festival prides itself in is platforming a wide range of women filmmakers. These directors’ works often challenge the status quo, offering fresh stories and many also contribute to a diversity of authentic portrayals of women’s experience on cinema screens.

Anita & Me (20th Anniversary screening)

We Make Film

Mississippi Masala

Ladies Only

SAVE THE PLANET

It’s never been a more important time to get in touch with the natural world and ancient Indian principles of harmony with nature. LIFF showcases here dramas and documentaries that reflect pressing ecological concerns as a main theme, or as a dramatic background to our protagonist’s stories.

Moving Upstream: Ganga

Chasing Sustainability: Tales From South Asia

Hati Bondhu: Friends of Elephants

The Road to Kuthriyar

SPECIAL GUESTS IN CONVERSATION

Aparna Sen

Konkona Sen Sharma

Nandita Das

Taapsee Pannu

GOLDEN AGE OF CINEMA

Gandhi

SATYAJIT RAY SHORT FILM COMPETITION

The festival’s annual Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition is a rare chance to see the works of talented and emerging filmmakers who are exploring themes of South Asian experience, that also reflect the humanist ideals of the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. The winner will be announced on 3rd July.

Available online during the festival and in cinemas.

Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition Part 1

Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition Part 2

NEW BRIT-ASIAN SHORTS

Support your local filmmaker! A showcase of exciting and diverse emerging British Asian filmmaking talent is presented, as part of LIFF’s highlight of British Asian focus. From award-winning dramas to insightful docs, we see a rarely presented slice of life of Asian Britain today. Expect a discussion with young filmmakers on stage and in the Barbican Cinema Cafe’ afterwards.

New Brit-Asian Shorts Part 1

New Brit-Asian Shorts Part 2

TOO DESI TOO QUEER

BOMgAY – The Pionering shorts of Riyad Vinci Wadia

Too Desi Too Queer

Too Desi Too Queer and Vishnu’s Got My Back