Paper Flowers
Director: Mahesh Pailoor Starring: Kapil Talwalkar, Olivia Liang, Karan Soni, Tom Everett Scott, Faran Tahir and Meera Simhan Run time: 101 mins | Recommended Certificate: 15 Language: English | Year: 2024 | Country: USA
Opening Gala
Based on a true story, Gujarati American Shalin Shah’s biggest worry is keeping his traditional values dad from finding out he’s in a long term romance with Chinese American girlfriend Fiona. As they face the prospect of attending different colleges, the two young lovers struggle to find a way to stay together. However, a much larger challenge turns this teenage romance into desperate turmoil, as Shalin is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness that shakes the family’s aspirations. As Shalin rethinks his future, he decides to make every day count. A guaranteed tearjerker that will leave you inspired.
Q&A with Mahesh Pailoor (director), Kapil Talwalkar (lead actor) and Meera Simhan (actor) (opening gala only)
Hosted by Broadcaster and Film Critic, Ashanti Omkar
Director
Mahesh Pailoor
Mahesh Pailoor is an award winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Raised in a seaside town in Maine to immigrant Indian parents, Mahesh’s films often grapple with divergent notions of South Asian identity. His work has been championed at festivals and institutions, including SXSW, Cannes Lions and the Smithsonian. Pailoor directed and co-wrote the acclaimed independent feature film “Brahmin Bulls” which The New York Times praised as a “warm debut”. He has also directed multiple episodes of marquee shows like NBC's "The Blacklist" and CBS's "S.W.A.T." showcasing his versatility across genres. Mahesh is an alumnus of the NBC Emerging Director Program, Disney’s TV Directing Program, Berlinale Talent Campus, and Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab and Project:Involve. He is a graduate of NYU Tisch and earned an MFA in directing from the American Film Institute. Pailoor's latest feature “Paper Flowers” is based on the viral Huffington Post article, “Thank You, Cancer” and captures an Indian American's poetic meditation on mortality after a terminal cancer diagnosis, further representing an evolving diaspora experience.
Film Screenings
European Premiere
London | Regent Street Cinema
June 26, 2024 6:30 pm
Q&A with special guest
London | Regent Street Cinema
July 4, 2024 8:00 pm
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