• 13 spectacular feature films, 6 stimulating and challenging docu-features, 14 stunning short films from US, Canada, UK, Pakistan, India, Tibet, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
• Exquisite films by distinguished filmmakers and promising newcomers that will take your breath away
• World and US premieres, films straight from Cannes and Slamdance, and renowned film institutes
• All day film screenings, thought-provoking Q & A sessions with filmmakers and celebrities, gala opening night with cocktail and dinner

Kanchivaram

India/2007/Feature Film 104min/ Tamil
Writer and Director: Priyadarshan
Cast: Prakash Raj, Shreya Reddy
US Premiere

An Artistic Masterpiece by the Bollywood Director PRIYADARSHAN

An Electrifying Performance by PRAKASH RAJ, who will be present all 3 days of the Festival

Kanchivaram was a deeply moving experience…excellent performances and enviable control in direction…My hats off to you – Shyam Benegal

If you think you can expect only rib-tickling comedies from Priyadarshan, his latest and most ambitious film Kanchivaram will prove you wrong. Clearly the film where the prolific director reaches his creative pinnacle, Kanchivaram is one of the rare film experiences you simply should not miss. Priyadarshan describes this one as his “dream project” and a “true achievement”: “I always do films for others but this is for me…to satisfy my emotions and feelings.”

With exquisite visuals and the usual Priyadarshan touch, Kanchivaram tells the story of a common man caught in the conflict between one’s adopted ideals and individual dreams.

Prakash Raj plays Venkatam, a master weaver who creates the first spark of a revolution, and his performance is a stunner.
To learn more about the film, visit www.kanchivaramthefilm.com

Women of Tibet – A Quiet Revolution

USA-Tibet/2007/Docu-Feature/ 60 min/ English
Director: Rosemary Rawcliffe
SILVER and BRONZE 2008 TELLY AWARDS Winner

Featuring His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

The director will be present during the festival.

An extraordinary film about the brave women of Tibet, and an inspiring document of one of the greatest movements of nonviolent resistance in modern history – when 15,000 unarmed Tibetan women took to the streets to oppose the violent occupation of their country by the China. The film, for the first time in history, interviews those handful women who have survived everything – these being the last generation of women left to share the story of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising and to impart their cultural legacy. Breathlessly beautiful and thought-provoking, along with rare photographs, footage and interviews of the spirited and tough women as well as an extended interview of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama the film is an incredible compilation of little known stories and accounts of courage and compassion. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Himalayas, Women of Tibet shows the strength and perseverance of a people dedicated to the principles of peace, non-violence, and compassion.

The film tells a story which has deep importance to the Tibetan nation, and I believe greater relevance to the wider world as well. – Tenzin Tethong, President, the Dalai Lama Foundation

Women of Tibet present an enlightened look at how women’s issues fit into the Tibetan struggle for freedom. – American Public Television

To learn more, visit http://womenoftibet.org/pages/index.php

Watch the trailer for the film here:

Pancham Unmixed – An Unending Journey

Director: Brahmanand Singh
East Coast Premiere

The only documentary ever made about the legendary music composer RD BURMAN

The director, Brahmanand Singh will be present to share his experience of making this unique film

Featuring: Asha Bhosle, Gulzar, Shammi Kapoor, Shakti Samant, Bhupinder, Manna Dey, Rishi Kapoor, Pyarelal, Ameen Sayani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Vishal Bharadwaj, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Usha Uthup, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Kavita Krishnamurthy, and many others - over 40 eminent personalities from the industry, who remember Pancham with fondness and humor and unequivocally vouch for his genius and largesse as a human being.

One of the most versatile composers the Hindi Film Music Industry had ever seen, RD Burman brought about a revolution in the popular music of its time almost single-handedly. This is a never-before incisive look into the composer’s reflective artistry and buoyant-but-also-lonely inner being. You will hear many untold and told stories by the most talented people from the film industry, not to mention his evergreen songs. A unique, up-close and moving remembrance of the legend by the people closest to him.

The tribute is a thorough look at R D Burman’s life and work - and what exactly made his music so trend setting and timeless … – HT Café

A poignant portion is when Vidhu Vinod Chopra speaks about the dark phase in Pancham’s career — apparently RDB had almost been written off by the music industry … – DNA

The film takes an incisive look not only at the body of work of the legendary composer, but also reveals various facets of R D Burman that you would never know. - Yahoo.com, In.Movies

To learn more, visit http://www.brahmanandsingh.com/RDB.htm

And while you remember the most adored music genius of our time, we leave you with these videos below, of some of his innumerable evergreen creations:

Watch out for the complete list of films selected will be posted soon on our website, www.njisacf.org

Online ticketing will be open soon on our website.

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NJISACF 08 Venue
Rutgers Busch Campus Center, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
Asian American Film and Theater Project, PO Box 136, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, 08852, USA
732.310.0236/ saktis@njisacf.org

NJISACF 08 Official Sponsors

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