Birmingham
Film & TV Festival
South Asian cinema and events.
 The
highlight of the cinema calendar, the annual Birmingham Film and
TV Festival (BFTVF) will run from 14-23 November 2002. This year's
programme includes over 75 screenings and events at venues throughout
the city. Specialist Festival strand Movie Mahal (sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers)
will present 'Brumful of Asha': a Tribute to Asha Bhosle; as well
as showcasing a feast of classic and contemporary South Asian films
and events.
Movie
Mahal
 The
Festival's focus on South Asian cinema has established an international
reputation over the years, with guests including Dev Anand, Amitabh
Bachchan and Shekhar Kapur. This year is no exception: Movie Mahal,
in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers, will host a tribute
to special guest Asha Bhosle, 'the
Golden Voice of Bollywood'.
Asha
will participate in an 'In Conversation' event with writer and broadcaster
Nasreen Munni Kabir on Saturday 23 November. During her 50 year
career in the Indian film industry, Asha has recorded over 13,000
songs, won numerous Filmfare and MTV awards and is still topping
the charts - her latest album stayed at No. 1 for over a year in
India.
The
Tribute also includes a retrospective of Asha's work. Films include
Sahib Bibi Aur
Ghulam (Dir. Guru Dutt, India 1962); Teesri
Manzil (Dir. Vijay Anand, India 1966); Yaadon
ki Baaraat (dir. Nasir Hussain, India 1973); Umrao Jaan (Muzaffar
Ali, India 1981); Ijaazat (Dir. S S Gulzar, India 1987); and Taal
(Dir. Subhash Ghai, India 1999).
Contemporary
South Asian films
The
Festival will be screening a selection of films from outside the
mainstream industry.
 These
include Clever
and Lonely (dir: Ashwini Malik), which takes a frank look at
modern Indian relationships charting the course of a love affair
over a weekend; Flying
With One Wing (dir. Asoka Handagama), a controversial drama
which has been banned in Sri Lanka, about a transvestite car mechanic;
Bollywood Bound
(dir. Nisha Pahuja), a documentary about young Canadian hopefuls
trying to hit the big time in India.
 Also
being screened is Ravi
Shankar:Between Two Worlds (dir. Mark Kidel), a portrait of
sitar genius, Ravi Shankar, following his unique quest from Benares
to California and back again. To complement the presentation of
the Norman Beaton Award, sponsored by Carlton, to Hanif Kureishi
for his contribution to multi-cultural film and television drama,
there will be a rare chance to see the entire series of the Buddha
of Suburbia.
ImagineAsia
Festival
 Launched
in April, the British Film Institute's ImagineAsia
Festival has been a unique 8 month celebration of South Asian cinema.
In a real coup, BFTVF will host the British Film Institute's ImagineAsia
Festival Closing Night with a gala screening and moving image club
night organised by Shaanti (supported by Advantage West Midlands
Minority Business Forum). This high-profile national celebration
of South Asian cinema will close with 'An
Audience with Mira Nair' on Friday 22 November.
 As
part of ImagineAsia, on Wednesday 20 November, Divia Patel from
the V&A Museum will give an illuminating talk at the Bollywood
In Love Poster Exhibition. Divia will discuss the codes and
conventions of Bollywood romance films, which will be illustrated
by movie clips and original film posters from the 1950's to the
present day.
Other
Events
 Anita
and Me - the long awaited adaptation of Meera Syal's novel is
our Carlton Opening Gala film on Thursday 14 November. It follows
the clash of cultures as a friendship blossoms between Anita and
Meena, who has recently arrived in the Midlands with her Indian
parents.
Lord
Waheed Alli will talk about his career in the media with Channel
4's Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Tuesday 19 November (in association
with the RSA).
Schedule
Click
here to visit the Birmingham
Film & Television Festival website.
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