Legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain in person to present the documentary, AN INDIAN ACCENT and participate in a conversation with Zane Dalal, Associate Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra of India

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) announced today additional programming and events for its 15th annual festival.

The Festival is pleased to highlight a special evening with legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, joined by the Symphony Orchestra of India’s Associate Music Director Zane Dalal on Thursday, April 6th. The event will begin with a screening of the documentary AN INDIAN ACCENT, directed by Sumantra Ghosal, which chronicles Hussain and Dalal’s collaboration on Hussain’s original concerto piece Peshkar. The two will then participate in an extended discussion about the film and their impressive body of work. The event takes place as Hussain prepares to launch a spring tour of the U.S. on April 9th.

IFFLA will host the North American premiere of TRAPPED, helmed by celebrated filmmaker and IFFLA alum Vikramaditya Motwane (UDAAN, LOOTERA). The film stars Rajkummar Rao (recently seen in Berlinale award winner NEWTON) in a captivating performance as a man who becomes locked inside an apartment in an empty Mumbai high-rise without food, water or electricity and must desperately figure out a way to survive.

Returning to the Festival this year is the popular FILMMAKER ROUNDTABLE hosted by Sundance senior programmer John Nein. Nein will lead ten of the festival’s attending feature directors in a lively discussion about the state of the Indian film industry.

“IFFLA is proud to add these exciting new events to our already stellar 2017 lineup,” said Mike Dougherty, Director of Programming. “The prestige that Vikram Motwane, Zakir Hussain, Zane Dalal and John Nein represent will no doubt contribute to an unforgettable 15th anniversary for our festival.”

The Opening Night Gala will spotlight LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA, a dramatic but irreverent and vibrant film about women and faith. Director Alankrita Shrivastava is confirmed to attend. The Closing Night Gala is the Los Angeles premiere of HOTEL SALVATION, the debut feature of Shubhashish Bhutiani. Star Adil Hussain (LIFE OF PI, UMRIKA, PARCHED) is confirmed to attend IFFLA’s Closing Night gala representing the film. Spice Affair will host the Opening and Closing Night Gala receptions in Beverly Hills.

AN EVENING WITH ZAKIR HUSSAIN AND ZANE DALAL

IFFLA is honored to welcome legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain to the festival, joined by Zane Dalal, the Associate Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI). The two distinguished gentlemen will present a screening of the documentary AN INDIAN ACCENT, directed by Sumantra Ghosal, which chronicles their collaboration within the SOI on Hussain’s composition Peshkar, a brilliant orchestra concerto lead by Hussain on his signature instrument, the tabla.

Following the film, a discussion with Zakir Hussain and Zane Dalal will recount their work on Peshkar, their time with the SOI and their long and storied careers.  This will be an intimate and unforgettable evening, and a rare chance to see true musical genius speak in person about the art of their craft. This is an event not to be missed! Open to Festival passholders with individual tickets on sale March 17.

TRAPPED

India/2017/101mins/DCP/Hindi

North American Premiere

Director: Vikramaditya Motwane

Logline:  Shaurya must use his wits to survive when he is locked inside an apartment in an empty high rise without food, water or electricity.

Shaurya is in urgent need of a new apartment. He’s just made an impulsive marriage proposal, the clock is ticking and the tiny flat he shares with half a dozen layabouts is not suitable for his hopeful bride-to-be. When he’s offered an affordable place in an otherwise abandoned Mumbai high-rise, he jumps at the chance, never mind the spotty access to running water and electricity. But on his first morning, he manages to lock himself inside due to a faulty door and misplaced keys. With the power out, the faucets running dry and no one around to hear Saurya’s screams for help, what at first seems like a minor setback quickly escalates into a desperate fight for survival.

IFFLA alum Vikramaditya Motwane’s third feature film is both a virtuosic thriller and a dazzling showcase for star Rajkummar Rao’s ferociously committed performance. Armed with a consistently clever screenplay by Amit Joshi and Hardik Mehta, Motwane uses his limited space to create a set that’s both a nightmarish prison for Shaurya and the potential key to his escape – if only he can figure out a plan in time. Essentially a one-man survival show with humor and heart to spare, the film could not work without Rao’s willingness to push himself to physical and behavioral extremes. The results are captivating.

FILMMAKER ROUNDTABLE

Building on last year’s successful and well-attended event, we will be taking the opportunity of having so many directors of independent Indian cinema in Los Angeles at the same time to host a discussion about the current state of the industry. Moderated again by John Nein, Senior Programmer at the Sundance Film Festival, these directors will discuss current trends they see in independent Indian cinema, the unique opportunities and difficulties they have producing projects in India, their vision and hopes for the future for the filmmaking community, and much more. Join us for a one-of-its-kind public conversation with some of the leading filmmakers of India today! Open to Festival passholders with individual tickets on sale March 17.

Moderated by: John Nein, Senior Programmer, Sundance Film Festival

John Nein is a senior programmer at the Sundance Film Festival, where he has worked since 2001, dealing extensively with narrative films, the international program and the festival’s panels and conversations. He curates the Institute’s film preservation initiative, the Sundance Collection at UCLA. Outside of Sundance, he is the curator of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles’ Lost & Found at the Movies cinema culture series.

ATTENDING FILMMAKERS

IFFLA is pleased to welcome many impressive filmmakers attending the festival this year. Confirmed to attend the 15th annual Festival include:

  •  Alankrita Shrivastava, director of LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA
  • Adoor Gopalakrishnan, director of ONCE AGAIN
  • Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya, directors of THE CINEMA TRAVELLERS
  • Bobby Sarma Baruah, director of THE GOLDEN WING
  • Suman Mukhpodhyay, director of INCOMPLETE
  • Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla, directors of AN INSIGNIFICANT MAN
  • Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, director of SEXY DURGA
  • Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy, director of A BILLION COLOUR STORY; Satish Kaushik, producer of A BILLION COLOUR STORY
  • Adil Hussain, lead actor of HOTEL SALVATION

The festival is widely recognized as the premiere showcase of groundbreaking Indian cinema globally. The 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) will take place April 5-9, 2017 at Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center in Los Angeles, California. This will be IFFLA’s first year in the state-of-the-art, world-class cinema in the heart of Los Angeles’ vibrant and developing downtown district. Zee Cinema is returning for a third year as IFFLA’s presenting sponsor.