LIFF 22 Brochure
Look back at this years festival
PROGRAMME
What’s on in London
CALENDAR
Plan your festival experience
ONLINE
LoveLIFFatHome
BIFF
Birmingham Indian Film Festival
MIFF
What’s on in Manchester
BFI PLAYER
A collection of archival films
FESTIVAL HOMEPAGE 20223
See you later in the year
We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported this year’s mini festival which took place at BFI Southbank and Barbican and at our sister festival in Birmingham.
The UK and Europe’s largest South Asian film festival will return for this years second in autumn and will include previews of international festival hit movies alongside the ever-popular shorts programmes.
We look forward to seeing you later this year and in the mean time, you can watch our “Special Guests In Conversation” interviews and much more from previous years on www.LoveLIFFatHome.com.
Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE, Executive & Programming Director of LIFF
LIFF 2023 MINI FESTIVAL
Welcome to LIFF 2023
The UK and Europe’s largest South Asian film festival takes place in two seasons this year, summer and autumn. The first season runs from Thursday 22 June – Thursday 29 June and includes previews of international festival hit movies alongside the ever-popular shorts programmes. Several screenings are followed by live filmmaker Q&As. Tickets at BFI Southbank and Barbican are available now to be purchased online. Please click through the Programme page film link details to book tickets.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE, Executive & Programming Director of LIFF
Trailer
What’s on at BFI SOUTHBANK
THU 22 JUNE
THE STORYTELLER
Join us to celebrate the opening of London Indian Film Festival 2023 with the usual exciting mix of a premiere and VIP special guests. The Storyteller is a witty and timeless fable celebrating the work of the master storyteller, Satyajit Ray.
THU 22 JUN | 18:00 | BFI SOUTHBANK
more information…
FRI 23 JUNE
TOO DESI TOO QUEER
London Indian Film Festival’s ever popular LGBTQIA+ short film programme is back.
FRI 23 JUN | 18:00 | BFI SOUTHBANK
more information…
SAT 24 JUNE
NEW BRIT-ASIAN SHORTS
Celebrate the best up-and-coming Asian British filmmakers and their short films.
SAT 24 JUN | 20:20 | BFI SOUTHBANK
more information…
SUN 25 JUNE
MAX, MIN & MEOWZAKI
What will happen with beloved cat Meowzaki when his owners decide to break up?
SUN 25 JUN | 15:00 | BFI SOUTHBANK
more information…
MON 26 JUNE
AMAR COLONY
The lives of six neighbours reveal the truths about human nature in this impressive debut.
MON 26 JUN | 18:10 | BFI SOUTHBANK
more information…
CALL ME DANCER
A young street dancer pushes himself to the limit in the hope of making his dream come true.
TUE 27 JUN | 20:30 | BFI SOUTHBANK
more information…
WED 28 JUNE
THE EFFECTS OF LYING
Delightfully chaotic comedic drama about a family trying to hold it together as their world begins to crumble.
WED 28 JUN | 18:00 | BFI SOUTHBANK
more information…
TO KILL A TIGER
A galvanising documentary about one father’s fight for his young daughter.
THU 29 JUN | 17:50 | BFI SOUTHBANK
more information…
What’s on at BARBICAN
SUN 25 JUNE
FIRE
Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi give superb performances as two unhappily married women living in Delhi who fall in love in Deepa Mehta’s powerful melodrama.
SUN 25 JUN | 15:50 | BARBICAN
more information…
WED 28 JUNE
EARTH
Set during the bloody and violent partition of India in 1947, Deepa Mehta’s second film in her “elemental trilogy” is an extraordinary tale of politics, love and revenge.
WED 28 JUN | 18:30 | BARBICAN
more information…
END
BOX OFFICE
HOMEPAGE 2022 POST FESTIVAL
Submit Your Film
Calling all film makers! We are now accepting submissions for LIFF 2023.
LIFF Wins Asian Media Awards ‘Best Live Event 2022’
The Blue Orchid Hotels London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) is the proud recipient of the prestigious Asian Media Awards ‘Best Live Event 2022’. The awards ceremony took place on Friday evening in Manchester on 28th October 2022, in front of over 400 of the UK’s top Asian media talent.
In the face of stiff competition, The ‘Best Live Event 2022’ award win is a testament to the festival’s fearless and dynamic expansion across 4 UK cities in spite of on-going covid fears and other challenges. LIFF was also an early market leader in its dedication to attract audiences from online viewing, and back into cinemas, through innovative programming, showcasing the best of cinema from South Asia and its UK Asian diaspora. The festival has also won many admirers of all communities with its inclusive and diverse programme, championing women filmmakers, trailblazing an LGBTQIA+ film strand, and championing emerging talent from different communities.
“Although it’s great to get recognition from mainstream UK cultures, as Europe’s largest South Asian film event; it has been really touching to receive this important award from our own UK Asian community and to have so many British heavy weights in the room applauding us. The Asian Media Awards over the last 10 years has really risen to an important monecker of UK Asian media talent and contribution to wider British society. We thank them with all our heart for giving us this recognition.
We of course couldn’t have achieved so much without the tireless support and shared passion in indie filmmaking and arts by our partners Blue Orchid Hotels, Integrity International, British Film Institute, Bagri Foundation and Arts Council England. Our community and media partners and cinema venues across England and wonderful loyal audiences from many different communities, many of whom have been on our journey of the last 13 years.
The dynamic expansion of the festival in Manchester this year, in the form of Manchester Indian Film Festival, and then Leeds has been particularly exciting! This follows the success of launching Birmingham Indian Film Festival in 2015, taking the festival ever outwards across the UK”
Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE, Executive & Programming Director of LIFF
LoveLIFFatHome
Catch up with our exclusive “Special Guests In Conversation” interviews and much more on our Blue Orchid Hotels London Indian Film Festival digital player, www.LoveLIFFatHome.com.
That’s a wrap on LIFF 2022
We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported this year’s festival which took place in cinemas across London, online at www.LoveLIFFatHome.com, and at our sister festivals in Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
This year, we have had a march of high level Indian talent to the festival which has been difficult to ignore, helmed by our world premiere of enfant terrible director Anurag Kashyap’s Dobaaraa with Bollywood stars Taapsee Pannu and Pavail Gulati on the red carpet. The tour de force of female indie actor-director greats Aparna Sen, Nandita Das and Konkona Sen Sharma, plus British icon Meera Syal, strongly cemented the image of the festival as the sole destination for intellectually, stimulating but entertaining debate, with young women in particular stating that the Q&As and ‘In Conversations’ had deeply inspired them. All in all we have had a record year.
We look forward to seeing you next year and in case you missed out, you can still watch our “Special Guests In Conversation” interviews and much more on www.LoveLIFFatHome.com.
Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE, Executive & Programming Director of LIFF
2022 Award Winners
Each year we recognise and pay tribute to members of the Industry, with the presentation of these special Awards. Whether the recipient is a legend or an exciting new breakthrough artist, an innovative and inspirational storyteller or a breath-taking cinematographer, the presentation of the annual LIFF Awards are seen by the film industry as a recognition of their art by the British Asian film loving community.
Here are the winners for 2022:
LoveLIFFatHome
Catch up with our exclusive “Special Guests In Conversation” interviews and much more on our Blue Orchid Hotels London Indian Film Festival digital player, www.LoveLIFFatHome.com.
BFI Player
The Blue Orchid London Indian Film festival has its own dedicated Collection on the British Film Institute’s BFI Player. The BFI Player presents the best global cinema on-demand: from classic and contemporary films to the best of the BFI National Archive.
FESTIVAL HOMEPAGE 2022
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
Win a weekend for two at Blue Orchid Hotels
With family or a friend, win a FREE WEEKEND STAY for two inclusive of breakfast at Tower Suites by Blue Orchid Hotels, London.
Commanding sweeping views over the River Thames and the Tower of London, boasting independent living, a luxury spa and London’s latest roof top dining experience, Tower Suites is one of London’s most sought after luxury hotels.
Terms and Conditions apply. Subject to availability.
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.
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. You can see all the offers available by clicking 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.
Check out our trailer and see what we’ve got planned for you…
Trailer
OPENING GALA: THURSDAY 23 JUNE
Dobaara (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…
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.
Emuthi Puthi (The Very Fishy Trip)
Season of Innocence
American-ish
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 Calcutta
No Lands Man
Urf (A.K.A.)
PAKA: The River of Blood
Taangh (Longing)
Aparajito (Undefeated)
No Ground Beneath My Feet
GREAT BRITISH ASIANS
In this year of new realities and 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 epic films of the past, 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
SAVE THE PLANET
A powerful, thought- provoking new strand of dramas and docs, that in different ways, reference rapid ecological change and Mother Nature as their backdrop – climate change and rising sea levels are two key factors impacting South Asia right now.
Hati Bondhu: Friends of Elephants
The Road to Kuthriyar
Moving Upstream: Ganga
Chasing Sustainability: Tales From South Asia
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
NEW HOME PAGE UP TO HERE
YEAR ROUND PROGRAMME
HOMEPAGE CONTENT
2021! Good to see you at the cinema again
It’s a testament to a strong team that we have been able to pull off a dynamic festival this year, both online and back in cinemas against considerable challenges and we especially thank the cinemas that have helped us find innovative marketing strategies to attract audiences back. Our highlighting of British Asian filmmakers, I’m pleased to say, has created a real buzz with younger South Asian people keen to celebrate our contribution to British cinema and arts. Other new strands like Save The Planet, have also attracted new audiences exploring ecology in the Indian Subcontinental context.
Thanks to our sponsors the Bagri Foundation and the BFI we were able to bring our London and Birmingham festivals together again for our digital initiative #LoveLIFFatHome. After our June festival’s successful return to cinemas and online, it was great to be back in four cities across the UK in September to showcase some of the best of Indian and South Asian talent, both old and new.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to the whole team and all of our partners for making this happen and to you our audience, for standing by us and continuing to support our endeavours to make diverse independent cinema accessible. We look forward to seeing you next year and in case you missed out, you can still watch our “Special Guests In Conversation” interviews, Year Round Programme and much more on www.loveliffathome.com.
Warmest wishes,
Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE, Executive & Programming Director of LIFF
LoveLIFFatHome
Catch up with our year round programme of film, exclusive interviews and Q&As on the Blue Orchid Hotels London Indian Film Festival digital player, www.loveliffathome.com. Films are available in the UK only but our talks and certain events are accessible worldwide.
SPECIAL GUESTS IN CONVERSATION
Hanif Kureishi
Asif Kapadia
Shruti Haasan
Janhvi Kapoor
Karan Johar
Avtar Panesar
Pam Cullen
YEAR ROUND PROGRAMME
Ever evolving into new territories, the festival this year is proud to deliver its first year round programme of high quality great films on www.loveliffathome.com. These films are available anywhere in the UK at any time. Check out these fierce and inspiring indie titles!
Thani Thatuwen Piyabanna (Flying With One Wing)
Hank and Asha
Runway
One Crazy Thing
Court
BFI Player
BFI PLAYER
The Blue Orchid London Indian Film festival has its own dedicated Collection on the British Film Institute’s BFI Player. The BFI Player presents the best global cinema on-demand: from classic and contemporary films to the best of the BFI National Archive.
Too Desi Too Queer: A selection of LGBTQI+ shorts (FREE)
Great British Asians Collection (FREE)
Great British Asians Collection (RENT)
LIFF Collection on BFI Player
Please help us support India’s lowest paid film workers
In this difficult time, we are mindful of the impact of production shutting down in India and are working with the Producers Guild of India to support their Relief Fund initiative for daily wage workers. Please help us support these workers. Any donation, no matter how small will make a difference. Thank you.
END OF HOME PAGE
Join the LIFF team
We have some openings to join the LIFF team. Check out our careers page for more information.
Submit Your Film
Calling all film makers! We are now accepting submissions for LIFF 2022.
Satyajit Ray
Writer Andrew Robinson is considered one of the world’s greatest authorities on Satyajit Ray and has written extensively on Ray and his Apu Trilogy in books and in the international press.
Robinson gave an introductory talk at our September Pather Panchali screening, exploring Ray’s lesser-known close connection with French artists including filmmaker Jean Renoir and photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, as well as provide an insight into Ray’s background, films and the making of Pather Panchali. A recording of the talk is available to watch below.
Robinson has just released a new edition of his acclaimed biography marking Satyajit Ray’s birth centenary in 2021, Satyajit Ray: The Inner eye, and we are delighted to offer our friends at LIFF a special discount here.
Sponsors
