'The Winter of Love' by British Filmmaker Shakila Taranum Maan's is an intense, gripping drama set entirely in London. Filmed on location in Southall, The Winter of Love tells the story of a British Asian family forced to face family secrets and explores unfinished stories in their lives. Prompted by the death of his brother, Shammi (Shiv Grewal) returns home to Southall after a lengthy period away. Indifference, isolation, prostitution and murder all lead to major confrontations and Shammi is forced to reassess his life. The film, which opened at the Raindance East Festival to acclaimed success, is released on DVD by Equilibrium Internet Solutions on 1st March 2011.

About Shakila Taranum Maan

Award winning Filmmaker Shakila Taranum Maan has been at the forefront of creating radical and avant-garde British Asian theatre since the late 1970's. She set up her first theatre company Sahar Arts in 1978 where she wrote and directed a number of plays including Rani (1979) a Pakistani prostitute who makes it in suburbia and Spirits (1981) a doomed relationship between a young Brit Asian girl and a Rastafarian. She established Southall Asian & African Caribbean Arts Collective 1982, now known as Heritage Ceramics, and went on to study film at the London College of Printing.

Shakila's other productions as writer and director for theatre include Not Just An Asian Babe (1997), a play exploring prostitution, religion, bi-sexuality, community and business politics, all set in a seedy night club and an abattoir. All Gods Angels (1998) is an intense and feisty monologue of a British Asian prostitute and her personal relationship with God that ends in tragedy in a London bed-sit. Not Just An Asian Babe and All Gods Angels were co-written with Parminder Sekhon.

In 2000, Shakila was presented with the Pierre Cardin Best Art Film Award at the Asolo Film Festival, Italy for her arts documentary, Alone Together. Her other films include A Thousand Borrowed Eyes (1995) on Kathak dancer Nahid Siddiqui. In 2008, Shakila completed Zakhm? Dil (A Scarred Heart) for Save The Children Birmingham - Positive Press, a docu/drama on refugee young unaccompanied adults, telling their stories of the treacherous journey of survival. Most recent projects include The Southall Story, Parda/The Veil and The Sandhurst Project (New Arrivals - The Gurkhas).