Page 30 - The Indian EYE 040122
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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline APRIL 01, 2022 | The Indian Eye 30
Indie meme Film Festival returns to austin this april
Event brings 35+ acclaimed international films from South Asian artists.
PARIMAL ROHIIT
Austin, TX
022 marks the 7th Edition for
Indie Meme, Austin’s Premiere
2South Asian Film Festival, which
is known for bringing sharp, critically
lauded works from South Asia. The
hybrid IMFF2022 showcases films
representing over 9 countries includ-
ing India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhu-
tan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Iran,
and Afghanistan and 15 languages
and dialects including Hindi, Malay-
alam, Gujarati, Farsi (Persian), Finn-
ish, Tamil, English, Bengali, Marathi,
Urdu, Dari, Burmese, Pahari, Nepali,
Oriya, and Dzhongka.
For their long-awaited in-person
return, Indie Meme has curated a re-
markable line-up of world premieres,
Oscar entries, and multi-award win-
ning titles, nearly 80% of which are
screening in Texas theaters for the
first time. With U.S and Southwest
Premieres of highly anticipated fes-
tival favorites from across the globe,
the 7th Indie Meme Film Festival is
an unmissable event for fans of world
cinema. “The 2022 line-up is excep-
tional and we are overjoyed to return Gujarat, India is an engaging, heart layas. The heartwarming feature com- LGBTQ+ narratives. Highlights here
to the theater after two years! At the expanding story of a child discovering bines the winning trope of a fish out include SXSW ‘22 selections Moshari
same time, we’re committed to pro- his own creative capacities. It follows a of water teacher with a gentle, but in- and Local Middle Schooler, two
viding online options to accommodate 9-year-old boy who falls for the magic sistent, radical message of sustainable high-energy genre shorts making an
audience preference, accessibility, and of cinema after striking a deal to learn living and seeking fulfillment in com- encore appearance with Indie Meme
safety. With both options available, from a welcoming projectionist. He munity, rather than in conventional which co-director of programming Kai
there is no excuse to miss!” adds Tripti moves heaven and earth in pursuit of markers of success. Andrews describes as “multi-layered,
Bhatnagar, Festival Co-Founder and his 35mm dreams, unaware that winds IMFF2022 also brings the U.S supernatural cultural critiques that
Programming Chair. are shifting for his beloved art form Premiere of Cannes Debut and Asia are also so, so fun to watch”. Moshari
Keeping in line with their mis- and he may lose the movie palace that Pacific Screen Awards Grand Jury features a vampiric threat in near-fu-
sion of highlighting socially relevant changed everything. Prize Winner, Rehana. The film, a taut ture Bangladesh while Local Middle
cinema, the festival this year draws at- Indie Meme is also providing an feminist drama, follows an assistant Schooler see a child’s magic eyelashes
tention to topics of childhood oppor- appealing opportunity to see under- professor who witnesses an incident becoming a government commodity in
tunity, access to arts, science & film dog Oscar nominee, Lunana: A Yak between a professor and female stu- the fight against aliens.
education, women’s empowerment, in the Classroom on the big screen. dent. Her pursuit of justice leads her The Festival’s Founders, Tripti
cultural traditions and shifts, human Lunana unexpectedly broke into the into a maelstrom of controversy, as the Bhatnagar and Alka Bhanot, as well as
rights, disability, caste and racial ten- competitive ‘Best International Film’ medical college would rather close the the organizers and volunteers, aim to
sions, climate change, class, immigra- category at this year’s Oscars, becom- case quietly than pursue action. Lead generate conversation and increase the
tion, mental health, abusive & loving ing Bhutan’s first nominee. Director performer, Azmeri Haque Badhon, is footprint of independent, South Asian
relationships, LGBTQ + experiences Pawo Choyning Dorji and crew shot marvelous in the principled, confron- Cinema in Texas and beyond. We will
and more. A third of the festival titles the film on location in the world’s tational role of Rehana and earned the make festival screeners available to lo-
are directed by women, while 18% of most remote village school, using so- ‘New Talent Award’ at the Hong Kong cal critics and reporters upon request.
the line-up features LGBTQ+ char- lar-powered equipment and collabo- Asian Film Festival as well as ‘Best The Indie Meme Film Festival
acters and stories. ration with the local villagers in-front Actress’ at the Asia Pacific Screen promises a varied and rewarding selec-
Festival highlights include the of and behind the camera to sustain Awards. The film became Bangla- tion of acclaimed international films,
Last Film Show, a grand tribute to the production. The story follows a desh’s official 2021 Oscar Submission. with titles that appeal to casual movie-
the love of movie-making from Angry reluctant young teacher, Ugyen, who’s The festival’s short program also goers, committed festival regulars, stu-
Indian Goddesses & Samsara direc- on the cusp of moving to Australia to delivers an incredible range in genre dents, art house enthusiasts, families,
tor Pan Nalin, which took 2nd Place pursue music when he finds himself and tone, with animated satire, futur- diasporic communities, and film lovers
in the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival’s assigned to Lunana, a town which istic horror, gentle ecological fables, of all ages and dispositions. IMFF is
Audience Award Competition. This boasts few to no modern utilities and stark explorations of social issues, and proud to add to the diverse cultural and
partly autobiographical drama, set in requires an 8 day trek into the Hima- an abundance of coming of age and cinematic landscape of Austin, TX.
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