Celebrating South Asian Creativity

New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Fest (NJISACF) , now in its third year, produced by the Asian American Film and Theater Project, will showcase independent films by or about South Asians. The annual fest promotes and recognizes the talents of the new, the established, the best and the brightest independent filmmakers from across the globe.

Filmmakers are invited to submit films of all genres, formats and length. Films should have been completed no earlier than 2007. Films selected for screening at the festival will be eligible for Jury awards for excellence in various categories.

Download the entry form.

Queue outside the auditorium

Screened in the morning were films and documentaries like Missed Call, Long After, Sari (W)rap,Crossing Lines , My Daughter the Terrorist and Dussehra, which completely captivated the audience. Dussehra, a hard-hitting film based on the taboo subject of incest, moved the audience. The young director of Dussehra, Jigyasa Sethi was present to answer audience questions, and was congratulated again and again by the viewers for the courage she displayed in making the film.

Jigyasa Sethi

Present too were Jamil Dehlavi, a Pakistani-French filmmaker from UK, along with lead actor Kevin Collins, with their award-winning explosive film Infinite Justice. Jamil Dehlavi and Kevin Collins both talked about how important it is to talk to enemies rather than to friends, so as to look for a solution to the problems that give rise to terrorism and violence.

Kevin Collins and Jamil Dehlavi

Pancham Unmixed, an extraordinary documentary on the legendary R. D. Burman was a complete sell-out. After the fabulous film was screened, everyone went ga-ga, clapping and wiping their tears simultaneously, remembering Pancham and his music with fondness. The screening followed a lively Q and A session.

Among the other favorites were Kaal by Bappaditya Bandyopadhyay, A Home in the Sky by Bipin Nandkarni, The Lost Rainbow, and two evocative films about a different Afghanistan - Enemies of Happiness and Khub Asti Afghanistan.

The last screening of the day was Mistaken from Scotland by Sarmed Mirza. The filmmaker was present with this wonderful film, all shot in 9 days. The first ever South Asian film made in Scotland, Mistaken and Sarmed Mirza

Throughout the two days, along with an exhilarated audience, the filmmakers also made it a point to watch each other

Brahmanand Singh in conversation with Sarmed mirza

Richie Mehta

Filmmaker Amyn Kaderali

Mr Sakti Sengupta, the festival director, introduced the festival as well as the guest filmmakers, and talked about the need for supporting such independent film festivals.

Mr Sakti Sengupta

As the Chief Guest, the versatile actor Prakash Raj stressed on the importance of the festival, congratulated and encouraged NJISACF to keep doing the great work, and promised to provide support from the Indian film industry for the coming years.

Prakash Raj, as he addresses the audience

This was followed by highlights from the NJISACF 2008 showcase with trailers from some films and introduction of the directors of the films to the gala opening guests.
Our sponsors, the Open Road Auto Group, EBC Radio and AVS were honored. Without their generous support the festival would not have been the way it was.

Open Road Auto Group being given the plaque by Prakash Raj

Kulraj Anand of EBC Radio with Prakash Raj

Out-of-the-world music played by

• 13 exclusive US premieres, 11 East Coast premieres, and 10 more for the first time in NJ, films from Cannes, Slamdance, renowned film institutes and regional films

• Intellectually stimulating discussions and a gathering of most talked-about and promising faces of South Asian cinema and eminent personalities

Kissing Cousins

Narrative Feature/ USA/2007/98min/ English
Director/Screenwriter: Amyn Kaderali
Cast: Samrat Chakrabarti, Rebecca Hazelwood, Gerry Bednob, Jaleel White
NJ Premiere
AAIFF08 Narrative Feature Audience Award

Breathes new life into the tired romantic comedy genre

Amir is a

• 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

Grahanam (The Eclipse)

Narrative Feature/India/2007/93min/ Telugu
Writer and Director: Mohan Krishna Indraganti
Based on a story by GV Chalam
Cast: Tanikella Bharani, Jayalalitha
NJ Premiere
Indira Gandhi National Award, Best Debut Director

A classic in black and white exploring the complexities in man-woman relationship

Based on the classic short story Doshagunam (The Disease) by the famous Telugu writer, Chalam, the shoestring budgeted Grahanam has won eleven major awards including the Indian National Award for Best Debut Director.
Beautifully scripted and crafted, Grahanam addresses and explores the consequences of blind belief and faith, and the complex way in which female sexuality is controlled in a patriarchal society.

Full of dramatic irony and poignancy…

• World, US and East Coast premieres, films straight from Cannes, Slamdance, renowned film institutes and regional films

• Intellectually stimulating discussions and a gathering of most talk-about and promising faces of South Asian cinema and eminent personalities

• All day film screenings, thought-provoking Q & A sessions with filmmakers and celebrities, gala opening night with cocktail and dinner

Amal

Canada/2007/Feature Film 101min/ English-Hindi
Writer and Director: Richie Mehta
Cast: Nasiruddin Shah, Roshan Seth, Seema Biswas, Rupinder Nagra, Koel Purie
East Coast Premiere

People

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