Cinema India Expo

Cinema India Expo 2011, the only Hollywood/Bollywood event of its kind, has announced that Texas Instruments (TI) DLP Cinema has come on board as the Title Sponsor for the event which is set for June 24th and 25th in Mumbai. For more than a decade, Cinema India Expo has been recognized as a premier gathering for theater owners and content holders.  The commitment of TI, the worldwide leader in digital cinema imaging technology, underscores the growing importance of the event in the global digital cinema arena. A longtime leader at Cinema India Expo, Texas Instruments continues its participation based upon the event’s growth in scope and increased focus on emerging markets, such as India.  Following an unprecedented year of growth and success in 2010, Texas Instruments DLP Cinema, recently announced that its OEM licensees – Barco, Christie, and NEC – installed more digital cinema projectors in every region of the world in the last 12 months than in the last 12 years.

Dave Duncan, Manager of DLP Cinema for Texas Instruments comments, “India is at the heart of one of the most dynamic, important content and digital cinema markets in the world, and we are fundamentally committed to the region. We are looking forward to working with the Cinema India Expo, Createasphere, and Diversified Communications teams. In addition to presenting the foremost digital cinema event in the region, Cinema India Expo is expanding its focus to include global content creators, 3D and evolving technologies. As part of this effort, the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) will present a globally recognized cinematographer during the two-day event, continuing their long-term, extensive collaboration with Createasphere and that announcement will is forthcoming.  Anil Chopra, Managing Director of Diversified Communications India Pvt. Ltd. states, “We are delighted to have the support of the ASC, as well as other leading organizations. We know from extensive personal experience that these experts are of great interest to our audience. The programming that we are developing will be a major center for the creative community as well as a touchstone for the digital cinema experience.”

Kristin Petrovich Kennedy, President of Createasphere, notes, “The new face of Cinema India is vibrant and creative, and helps our audience make wise decisions in the midst of an unprecedented digital transformation in India. We are looking forward to putting the most technically advanced information and products, creative cinematographers, and leading industry organizations from around the world in the mix at Cinema India. To have the support of such a major force as Texas Instruments as a Title Sponsor is indicative of the caliber of experience that Cinema India will deliver.” Two days of conference sessions, a full exhibit floor, and a number of evening events and galas are in process. For full information, visit http://www.diversifiedcommunications.in/page.cfm/link=43.

New York Indian Film Fest to join with film schools

The oldest festival for Indian cinema in the United States will partner with three prestigious film schools in New York and India to help directors to have their stories reach a wider platform. The partnerships aimed at helping foster a new generation of filmmakers are with award-winning filmmaker Subhash Ghai's Whistling Woods International (WWI)in Mumbai, The Department of Cinema Studies at Tisch, New York University, and the New York Film Academy. Organized by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), the 11th annual New York Indian Film Festival will run from May 4 to May 8 in Manhattan.

WWI, an institute for film, television, animation, and media arts, awards the top short films from its film students each year. These award-winning shorts will now travel to New York and screen at NYIFF each year allowing emerging filmmakers to reach audiences and industry professionals in the US. This year's line-up includes "Incerto", "Flip", "Punha", "Daily Soap", "Kalapaani", and "Uss Paar". "These graduates will be part of India's next generation of filmmakers and have commenced their filmmaking journey with these films. I am extremely happy to see the quality of their work," says Subhash Ghai, founder and chairman of Whistling Woods.

"I am thrilled about the association between the Mukta Arts group and the 11th annual New York Indian Film Festival," he said. For the last two years, NYIFF has teamed up with the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University with students of Professor Karl Bardosh creating one-minute cell phone films on themes at the film festival. This programme will continue for a third year and Richard Allen, Professor of Cinema Studies at Tisch School of the Arts, will once again host post-screening discussions with key filmmakers during the five-day festival.

"The Department of Cinema Studies at Tisch, NYU, again looks forward to collaborating with the NYIFF in its cutting edge programme of screenings and events which brings the best of the New Indian Cinema to New York City by staging a series of in-depth discussions with key directors and actors in the industry," Allen said. In addition, the New York Film Academy has offered a one-week scholarship valued at $1,575 for film study to an emerging filmmaker whose work will be screened at the film festival. "The New York Film Academy is proud to associate with the New York Indian Film Festival; we share a deep passion for film," said NYFA's Jack Newman.

Sachin, the movie buff

Sachin Tendulkar has been persuaded to become a serious movie buff. The legendary Indian cricketer has been provided an opportunity to see with his family, friends and in the comfort of his home, virtually all movies produced and distributed in India through the UFO Moviez network. He will have access to all titles from the day it's released. After leading Mumbai Indians to victory in the IPL VI against Royal Challengers at Bangalore on Tuesday, the World Cup hero flew to Mumbai by a private jet the same night and kept a commitment here on Wednesday to accept the Honorary Lifetime membership of Club X, a division of Valuable Group and parent company of UFO Moviez. UTV has also offered him a one-year free access to all films produced under its banner.

Membership to the Club X is by invitation. Now Tendulkar is part of the elite drawn from a cross section of the rich and famous. He signed the membership in the presence of Sanjay Gaikwad, MD and Founder, Valuable Group, and Ameya Hete, Executive Director. Valuable Group. Tendulkar will turn 38 on April 24, and for nearly 25 years he has now allowed the game of cricket to be far removed from his almost everyday routine. Right from the time as a skinny lad he rode pillion on his coach Ramakant Achrekar's scooter to play more than a match in a single day to get accustomed to batting and till now, he's played the game with abiding passion and following his immense success has become the darling of the nation.

Not that he was disinterested in other activities including snatching time to see movies in a cinema hall; according to Marcus Couto, a BCCI panel umpire and close friend of Tendulkar for two and half decades, the budding batsman of the 1980s liked entertainment in the form of movies. “Probably Guide was the first movie I saw and that's with the entire family,” he said, adding that he doesn't remember the hits from Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman film. Over a period of time, Tendulkar developed more than ordinary interest to see films in English, Hindi and Marathi. Here are the excerpts from a media conference:

Indian cinema to recognize digital dream

“We have delayed the digital revolution by 15 years already. To delay it further would be more foolish,” said actor Kamal Haasan here on Monday. He launched a new technology, by Cineola Digital Cinemas, that is aimed at producing superior quality digital output with sharper quality in motion pictures.

Mr. Haasan predicted that the country's entertainment industry would grow from its present size of $ 14 -15 billion to $ 120 billion if the digital image processing was ushered in. He recalled how the tax demands on film stars had become conducive over the years. “There was a time when film stars paid 80 per cent of their income as tax. Things don't seem to have changed even when it has reduced. It is time for us to give back to further the cause of the entertainment industry,” he said, underscoring the need for the Indian cinema to realise the digital dream.

John Anthony, director, Cineola Digital Cinemas, said that though it is an expensive proposition, the company would work on faster encoding techniques using parallel processing technologies to ensure better digital output. “We intend to give absolute power to theatre owners over their content, by providing servers in theatre rooms that will facilitate quality pictures,” he said, adding the company is in talks with studio labs in this context.

This would help producers and theatre owners refine or at least produce the same quality and resolution of pictures handed down to them by cinematographers, said Nazir Ahad, CEO, Cineola Digital Cinemas. Chairman of the company, Anthony John, participated in the meeting.

Jackman in Bollywood films

HUGH Jackman is in talks to star in Bollywood movies, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Wolverine star revealed he was actively seeking roles in Hindi cinema while participating in a panel at the FICCI Frames annual convention in Mumbai. "I am looking forward to working in Bollywood films. I am meeting directors," Jackman said. Jackman danced to a popular Hindi film song with Indian star Shah Rukh Khan after the panel, which addressed the growing impact of Bollywood on global cinema and the Hollywood studio system.

"I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan and I loved his film 'My Name is Khan.' I want to do a sequel to this film and that will be called My Name is Jackman and I am not a tourist," Jackman joked in a reference to the My Name Is Khan tag line, "And I am not a terrorist." Addressing the Hollywood studio system, Jackman said, "I have mostly worked with Fox. Some creative people find the studio system intrusive and get very negative. But a studio which is putting in millions of dollars has the right to have a say. Studios are run by smart people. They make 18 to 20 films a year." Jackman said studio heads often advised him on what roles he should accept. When asked how Bollywood is perceived in Australia, he said, "Bollywood is cool."

Selvaggia reveals ‘Mumbai feels just like home’

For about 11 years, Selvaggia Velo has been visiting Mumbai to find movies to screen at what is the first international fest devoted to Indian cinema - River To River Florence Film Festival. “I quite feel at home here now,” says Selvaggia, who was in the city earlier this month to finalise films for the 2011 edition of the fest that takes place in December each year. The purpose is to show a 360 degree spectrum of India. “The films I pick have to be well directed, but they should also have the country’s essence in them,” explains Selvaggia, who has spent all these years meeting directors, watching Bollywood movies and keeping an eye out for low budget indie projects that could use a push.

“Big commercial movies need less help, but its not like we don’t screen them at all,” explains the enthusiast, who is keen on honouring Rabindranath Tagore this year. “We have had lots of retrospectives, including one on Satyajit Ray. Now I am sourcing films that have been made from Tagore’s stories and novels.” Having observed the industry as an outsider, Selvaggia has seen Indian cinema develop. “Three years ago, films about bomb attacks were censored. Then stories about love and families became rampant,” she says. But the most significant change she has seen has been is the difference between indie and commercial films. “Earlier, they were far apart, but now even big budget movies are interesting,” she says.

But keeping the festival going has not been an easy task. With the recession having hit Europe badly, Selvaggia has been struggling. “Italy is going though a bad time. Our Prime Minister has cut 80 per cent of the funds dedicated to culture,” asserts Selvaggia. The lack of world film releases in Italy, and an indigenous industry only adds to the difficulties. “My Name Is Khan (2010) released only for a week in Italy. So no one knows much about Indian cinema as opposed to Germany, who is mad about Bollywood. If Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan or Amitabh Bachchan walk the streets of Italy no one would turn around; Aishwarya Rai Bachchan… maybe,” says Selvaggia, who on her recent trip to the city was highly impressed with director-producer Vishal Bhardwaj. “For 11 years I never met him, but I bumped into him on this trip. He is so grounded and polite. I love his films.” The festival, which thrives under the patronage of the Indian embassy in Rome, will take place from December 2 to 8 this year. The selection will go on till September.

London Film festival

The annual London Asian Film Festival that opened last Friday at the British Film Institute will honour a range of films from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh that have made waves on the international film festival circuit.

Leading stars of Bollywood and Independent Cinema who are likely to attend the ten- day festival are Manisha Koirala, Sanjay Suri, Ajay Naidu, Heather Burns and Karsh Kale among others. The festival will screen a few cutting edge independent films like Ajay Naidu’s Ashes, Onir's I Am and Sanjay Gupta’s Pankh.

The highlights of this year’s festival include a ‘Costume Design’ master class at BAFTA with Academy Award winner and Indian cinema’s well-known costume designer Bhanu Athaiya, screening of Peepli Live and talk by its director Anusha Rizvi, Hollywood actor Heather Burns screening her film Ashes and a short film competition showcasing the remarkable work of aspiring filmmakers. The festival will stay till 27 March.