2019 Indie Meme Film Festival Schedule IMFF2019@Austin Schedule **Please note: schedule subject to change** All screenings are at AFS Cinema, 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin TX All Films have ENGLISH SUBTITLES SUNDAY April 14th 2019 Soft Opening A Family Affair & Meme-er Afternoon (Open to Indie Meme Members, IMFF Badge Holders & friends of participating youth) 3:00 - 4:00 pm YOUTH PROGRAM - 5 short films (US/ Austin/ English) Q&A with the young Filmmakers in attendance 4:00 - 6:00 pm GUBBARE (India I short I 10 mins I Hindi) A girl selling balloons meets a lonely old man at a park. This light-hearted story about childhood and old age reminds us about the importance of enjoying the little happy moments in life even after all its sorrows. FAMILY FILM CHUSKIT (India I Narrative I 90 mins I Ladaki) To chase her dream of going to school in her remote Himalayan village, a feisty paraplegic girl locks horns with her unyielding, tradition-bound grandfather. Skype QA with filmmaker Priya Ramasubban 6:00 - 7:00 pm MEMBER MIXER @ AFS Lobby FRIDAY April 26th 2019 Opening Night: Film Screening & Party 5:30 - 6:30 pm RED CARPET , AFS Cinema Lobby 6:30 - 8:30 pm OPENING NIGHT FILM THE LAST COLOR (India I Drama I 90 mins I Hindi) A 9 year old flower seller & tightrope walker (Chhoti) ,befriends a 70 year old widow (Noor) living a colorless life of abstinence. Chhoti promises hope to Noor as this poignant story of love, friendship, commitment and victory of the human spirit unfolds on the banks of River Ganges. The Last Color is a story of three people on the fringe of society with a deep bond with each other. QA with filmmaker Vikas Khanna in attendance 9:00 - 11:00 pm OPENING NIGHT PARTY (open to Badge holders only) Complimentary Dinner and Cash Bar @URBAN An American Grill, Westin Domain SATURDAY April 27th 2019 10:00 - 12:00 noon INDIAN CIRCUS (India/Short film/ 22min 15sec /Hindi) A circus facing extinction due to competition with new modern forms of entertainment tries its luck with a new act. INDUS BLUES (Pakistan/ Documentary/1hr 16min / Urdu) Pakistani folk artists talk about their struggle to keep a fading art form alive while reminding the world what they are about to lose. Filmmaker Jawad Sharif not only showcases the unique performances of these rarely seen musical instruments from perhaps their last remaining maestros but also takes the audience on a journey throughout the landscape of Pakistan from the northern Karakoram mountains to the southern coastline. Skype QA with filmmaker Jawad Sharif 12:45 - 2:45 pm YASMINA (US/Short film /6min 41sec /English & Farsi) A surprise encounter leads a daydreaming, young, line cook to discover that perhaps her heart’s desire may be found in the unlikeliest of places. HALF WIDOW (India/ Fiction/Drama/ 1hr 31 min/ Kashmiri & Urdu) Amid the backdrop of the Kashmiri conflict, a young woman must come to grips with the disappearance of her doting husband and embark on harrowing journey of self-discovery. QA with filmmaker Danish Renzu in attendance 3:45 - 5:45 pm LAYOVER (US/ Short Film/9min/English) While on a business trip to London, Meera has a layover at LAX and agrees to meet with Vik. During the few precious hours that they have together, they decide to recreate an early date, reminding them of what drew them together in the first place and what ultimately broke them apart. THE LAST LETTER (India/UK/Short Film /15 min 30 sec/Hindi) Mohan was living a secret all his life, rife with inner conflict, but he starts to see things differently, after revisiting the reality from which he escaped years ago. YOURS TRULY (India/Fiction/Romantic Drama/1hr 39 min/English & Hindi) US PREMIERE Amidst the daily din of the local trains in Calcutta, a lonely working woman in her late fifties finds herself falling in love with the voice of the railway announcer. Skype QA with filmmaker Sanjoy Nag 6:30 - 8:50 pm I DREAM/YaliniDream (US/ Music Video /1min 50sec/English) YaliniDream reveals the experiences of a Sri Lankan Tamil raised in outside lands. She conjures spirit through her unique blend of poetry, theater, song, and dance. CENTERPIECE HER. HIM. THE OTHER (Sri Lanka/Fiction/Drama/1hr56min/Sinhala & Tamil) Three Sri Lankan filmmakers renowned for their internationally acclaimed films based on the Sri Lankan civil war, join in to make one film to express their views on post-war reality. QA with filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage in attendance 9:20 - 11:10 pm JONAKI (India, France, Singapore 2018/FANTASY DRAMA/1HR35 MIN/Bengali with English Subtitles) While Jonaki, an 80-year-old woman, searches for love in a strange world of decaying memories, her lover, now old and grey, returns to a world she is leaving behind. Skype QA with filmmaker Aditya Vikram Sengupta SUNDAY April 28th 2019 10:30am - 12:30 pm TOKRI (India/ Animated short/14 min / no dialogue) After accidentally breaking her father’s cherished watch, a young girl sells homemade baskets to pay for the repair. This stop-motion animation captures the lives of two seemingly insignificant people, changed by one fateful encounter. NAMDEV BHAU (India/Narrative/ 84 min/Hindi & Marathi) A 65 year old chauffeur, flustered by the noise around him in the city of Mumbai, has completely stopped speaking! He decides to leave everything in search of the 'Silent Valley' which boasts of a naturally occurring phenomena of almost a zero decibel sound level. On this journey, he chances upon an exasperating 12 year old boy, who happens to be on his own solo expedition to the mystical "Red Castle". QA with filmmaker Daria Gai in attendance 1:30 - 3:50pm THE SOUND MAN - Mangesh Desai (India/ Documentary/ 112 min/ English) Featured amongst top 10 sound mixing engineers of the world by New York Times, Mangesh Desai was a genius and regarded so by the Indian film community. With unparalleled understanding of the craft & technique of sound, Desai's dynamic range of work goes from the artistic extremes of Satyajit Ray and Shyam Benegal’s art films to the blockbusters by the likes of Manmohan Desai, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Gulshan Rai, Yash Chopra with films including Deewar, Kabhi Kabhi, Sholay - the list goes on! A true tribute to a true hero. QA with filmmaker Subhash Sahoo in attendance 4:45 - 6:30 pm BUBBLE MAN (US/Short Documentary/ 9min 3sec/ English) FADE (Iran/Short film/3min/No dialogue) Seen through the eyes of a young boy, Fade is a walk down memory lane of life before the war. JIRGA (Afghanistan/Australia /Fiction/Drama//1hr18 min / English & Pashto) US PREMIERE Jirga is a traditional Pashtun tribal authority of community elders. The decision of the Jirga is binding on all members of the tribe. An Australian ex-soldier returns to Afghanistan to find the family of a civilian he accidentally killed during the war. Seeking forgiveness, he puts his life in the hands of the village justice system – the Jirga. Skype QA with filmmaker Benjamin Gilmour 7:15 - 9:30pm CLOSING NIGHT FILM KAMYAAB India/Fiction/Comedy-Drama/1hr 53min/Hindi) On being made to go through his own IMDB page, Sudheer, a washed up side actor from the heydays of Bollywood, realizes that he ‘retired’ on the verge of a rare milestone - he had featured in 499 Hindi films! Now at 63, against the wishes of his daughter, he decides to come out of retirement to complete the round figure of 500 and get that one substantial role for which he will be remembered forever. . QA with filmmaker Hardik Mehta in attendance 9:30 - 11:30pm CLOSING NIGHT PARTY (open to Badge holders only) IMFF2019 AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

The film is the story of struggle for justice of Cecilia Hasda, a tribal woman from West Bengal-India. Cecilia Austin : Wednesday, September 27th 2017 7:00-8:30pm 2016/ India, Norway/ English, Hindi, Bengali/ 84 Min Interested in screening this in your hometown? Write to us SYNOPSIS The film is the story of struggle for justice of Cecilia Hasda, a tribal woman from West Bengal-India, whose daughter is trafficked and found dead in New Delhi. In a country where thousands of tribal children get trafficked every year to cities and many never found, Cecilia decides to fight for justice for her daughter with the help of her employers Pankaj and Sunaina. As the trio battle corruption at all levels, they find themselves navigating a complex network of cops, traffickers, judges, lawyers, villagers and family members. When Cecilia’s husband is kidnapped and her two sons are forced to leave the village, Cecilia begins to lose all hope. Disappointed with the whole judicial system, Cecilia seriously begins to consider out of court settlement. With the pressure from traffickers mounting, Cecilia eventually ends up taking the money from traffickers and withdraws the case from the court. She goes back to her village hoping to start a new life. But instead, she takes to alcohol and 6 months later succumbs to liver failure. COMMUNITY PARTNERS Tickets Wednesday, September 27th 2017 7:00 - 8:30pm AFS Cinema 6406 N IH-35, Austin, TX TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE The film screening will be followed by a Q&A and a member mixer. CURRENT Indie Meme Members get a $2 DISCOUNT per ticket. Check your email for a member discount code. (non-members PLEASE purchase the regular price tickets) Austin Documentary Fan Members (ADF) & Austin Film Society Members (AFS) get 10% off with the discount codes available to them through their organizations. Students get a 10% discount TRAILER DIRECTOR'S PROFILE A one time financial consultant Pankaj left his lucrative job to pursue his passion for films when he was 24 . He worked as a television producer for 6 years before founding his own production company in 2009. His work has been supported by organisations like IDFA Bertha Fund, Norwegian Film Institute (SORFOND), Sundance Documentary Fund, BritDoc and Indian Films Division. Pankaj joined one of India's biggest media groups – NDTV in 2002 and was part of the core team that launched India's first lifestyle channel, NDTV Good Times. He later worked as a senior producer with India’s leading news channels and produced shows from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iceland and Burma. As a television producer, the content produced by him has won various media awards. The subjects have ranged from Global Warming’s impact on Arctic Ice to the Sri Lankan conflict. Pankaj’s mid-length documentary, “Still Standing” on his quadriple gic father won the best debut film of a director from the Indian government and got the award of excellence from the Indian Documentary Producer’s Association. His first feature length film, “Cecilia” premiered at IDFA 2015. He is also the Producer/EP of independent Bollywood film, “Shuttlecock Boys”, which released in the Indian screens in 2012 and featured in almost all the top Indian critics’ year -end lists. Pankaj has also worked as a consultant on Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan ’s popular show on social issues, Satyameva Jayate besides directing several social and corporate films for clients like United Nations, TED and Government of India. DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT As far as I can remember I have always seen domestic helps in my house. When me and my sister were growing up, both my parents were working. So in order to take care of the house and their kids, they used to hire full time nannies. There were placement agencies that had come up in every neighbourhood. For anyone needing a domestic help at their house, all one needed to do was pay a small commission and they would be provided with a person according to their needs. It was one such agency that my parents relied on as well. A lot of these agencies only provided young girls and boys. No one knew from where and how they procured them, and no one really cared to ask. As long as they were getting “house-keepers” , it didn’t really matter. I clearly remember one occasion, when we ended up hiring a young girl in our house as well. It was a very common sight and in fact still is, to see young kids taking care of the house hold chores in cities like Delhi. My ignorance levels persisted even when I joined the news industry. I started coming across horror stories of trafficking from India’s remote tribal parts. But my knowledge was still mostly limited to sex trafficking. It was only much later when I started making this film that I realized that most of these so called “domestic helps” came from India's neglected tribal parts where no development had happened even after decades of independence and democratic freedom. There was immense poverty and so it was very easy for traffickers to make the gullible parents sell their kids for a very small sum of money. This film is not just Cecilia's story. It is a story of every poor tribal who is being sold glitzy city dreams and being lured miles away from their land. It is also a story of every middle class family who has been indirectly contributing to trafficking by hiring these trafficked girls and children. If I could have been so ignorant, then I am sure there are plenty others like me. Films cannot bring about a change overnight. But I hope that with this film I can make more Indians aware and educated about the perils of labour trafficking. STILLS cecelia2 cecelia3 cecelia6 cecelia4 cecelia5 cecelia1 CREDITS Directed and Produced by Pankaj Johar Executive Producer Iikka Vehkalahti Co-Producers Arne Dahr Sunaina Kapoor Finn McAlinden Editing James Valiakulathil Camera Pankaj Johar Sound Design Susmit Bob Nath Niraj Gera Additional Photography Hemant Gaba Vidhi Sharma Hirakjyoti Das Nirmit Shahi Deepak Jain

On the night before leaving her small-town home, Sejal discovers her widowed mother has stopped taking the medication she relies on for her mental health. As Sejal tries to confront her, her mother remains lost in making aloo poori—a farewell meal steeped in family ritual. April 12, 2025 at 10:30:00 AM AFS Cinema Virtual May 2 - 4, 2025 Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Indie Meme Special 10th Year Retrospective Showcase Texas Premiere Aloo Poori USA | Short 2025 | 13 mins | English, Hindi TICKETS WATCH ONLINE Limited tickets available on site. Chicago South Asian Film Festival Red Rose International Film Festival Planet Female Global StoryFest (Best Student Film) Aloo Poori follows the story of a mother and daughter during their last day of living together in a small town in Western Pennsylvania. Sejal is on the cusp of leaving her home and mother behind, unsure if she’s scared to go, or scared to stay. Her mother Madhuri is avoiding a recent mental health diagnosis and her daughter's departure by throwing her heart into her cooking. The two have never had to function without each other, and on the eve of Sejal’s departure, they realize they might not know how to-- grappling with what forgiveness and farewell truly mean to them. Film Heritage Foundation used the best surviving elements for the restoration – the original camera negative and the 35 mm print preserved at the NFDC – NFAI. Unfortunately, the sound negative was not available. We digitized the sound from the 35 mm print preserved at Film Heritage Foundation. The film elements were repaired by the Film Heritage Foundation conservators and the scanning was done in Prasad Lab in Chennai We found that due to the deterioration of the print, there were vertical green lines on many parts of the film. While the scanning and digital clean-up was done at Prasad under the supervision of L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, the grading, sound restoration and mastering was done at the lab in Bologna. Both Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani, the cinematographer of the film, have been involved in the restoration of the film. Restoration Process Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation The screening will be preceded by a performance by Specific Thing. Specific Thing is the project of local musician Román. Sometimes he plays by himself and sometimes he plays with his snazzy band — he loves to do both! And the music? It draws from folk, punk, pop, latin, communism, animals, friends... He likes to keep it cartoony, quick, and catchy. The band released an album in 2025 called "Now Is Actually Not A Good Time". Find more at @specificthing on Instagram. Meet Specific Thing About the Artist Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Aditi Sridhar (she/her) is a narrative and documentary filmmaker dedicated to telling culturally specific stories that challenge perspectives and foster action-oriented conversation. Raised in small town Pennsylvania, her storytelling practice is deeply rooted in the intersection of community, identity, and place. She recently produced a feature-length documentary on Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson, exploring how his Pittsburgh roots shaped his iconic body of work. Aditi has worked at Warner Brothers Pictures and is an alum of the AMPAS Gold Rising Program, where she was selected as a Trophy Presenter at the 95th Academy Awards. Her directorial debut short film, PIVOT, was featured at festivals across the country, including the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Fargo Film Festival, and DC South Asian Film Festival. She is currently developing new projects that blend homegrown storytelling with global perspectives, with a focus on amplifying underrepresented voices in media. Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Trailer Credits Crew: Director: Aditi Sridhar Writer: Aditi Sridhar Producers: Aditi Sridhar Owen Gambill Film Editor: Featured Cast: Sangeeta Agrawal Anvita Gattani Advika Ravishankar Mike Puthumana Restoration Effort Led By: Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation Restoration Credit: Restored by Film Heritage Foundation in association with Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(Amul), the cinematographer Govind Nihalani and the director Shyam Benegal. Funding supported by Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(Amul) Thank you to our community partners for this screening!

The 8th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival brings 30+ acclaimed South Asian films to audiences in Austin, TX and nationwide in April 2023. IMFF '23 April 12-16, 2023 SEE THE FILMS FILMS ATTEND SCHEDULE JURY SUBMIT AWARDS PLAN YOUR VISIT MEMBERSHIP ARCHIVES

The 2018 Indie Meme Film Festival brought 4 days of curated cinema from South Asia, film premiers, filmmakers & crew in attendance, red carpet, member mixers, discussions, networking and parties in April 2018. SCHEDULE FILMS ATTEND YOUTH SPONSORS ABOUT PRESS Presented by IndieMeme.org 3rd Indie Meme Film Festival #IMFF2018 April 19-22, Regal Arbor, Austin Hi there! Team Indie Meme is proud to bring you the THIRD Indie Meme Film Festival! After our resounding success over the last two years, we are at it again, bringing you the best of South Asian Cinema. Join us April 19-22nd 2018 in Austin Texas and enjoy 4 days of curated cinema from South Asia, film premiers, filmmakers & crew in attendance, red carpet, member mixers, discussions, networking and parties! Schedule | Attend | Our Team Voted "Best International Passport " by The Austin Chronicle Follow event on Facebook

From sisters surviving a post-apocalyptic Bangladesh to a middle schooler altering reality with her magic eyelashes, these bold, visionary shorts follow characters to the ends of their regular world and beyond, into the new ones their shaping.From sisters surviving a post-apocalyptic Bangladesh to a middle schooler altering reality with her magic eyelashes, these bold, visionary shorts follow characters to the ends of their regular world and beyond, into the new ones their shaping. $10 TICKETS ($8 for members) WATCH ONLINE April 22-25th, 2022 Back to Film Program Shorts Program C - LGBTQ+ Stories - Reaching For Love India, Pakistan I 94 mins I Coming of Age, Romance, Drama I English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi w/ Eng subtitles BUY & WATCH ONLINE NOTE: This is an online exclusive program. Stories of love, family, and connection from the LGBTQ+ community. This year's selections come from a range of filmmakers and primarily feature women and non-binary characters at their center. FEATURING: The Song We Sang (dir. Aarti Neharsh) On a festive Navratri night, two women may have the chance to fall for one another. A Coup (dir. Areeba Naveed) When a girl comes out to her biased psychologist in 1983, he invites her parents for an intervention. U for Usha ( dir. Rohan Kanawade) A single mother falls for a local schoolteacher in a way she never could have imagined. Sheer Qorma ( dir. Faraz Arif Ansari) A queer couple travel to family seeking acceptance. My Mother's Girlfriend ( dir. Arun Fulara) Renuka is in love with Sadiya, but her adult son doesn't know of her new partner. About the Artist(s) Aarti Neharsh is an award-winning filmmaker whose debut, THE SONG WE SANG, traveled the globe winning prestigious awards like 'Best Indian Narrative Short' at Kashish MIQFF, and the Audience Choice Awards at Indian Film Festival of LA and Dharamshala Int' Film Festival. After the success of her first short, she is now in the process of developing her first feature as a writer/director with Green Chutney Films . Faraz Arif Ansari is a Muslim, gay, non-binary Indian filmmaker known for writing and directing the multi-award winning LGBTQ+ shorts, SISAK and SHEER QORMA. Ansari also wrote the screenplay for Indo-Pakistan Peace Project Short Feature, SILVAT, directed by Tanuja Chandra. When not behind the camera, they conduct cinema and theatre sessions for underprivileged children and the trans community in Mumbai & Delhi. Areeba Naveed is an independent filmmaker currently working as a freelancer. She recently completed her degree at the National College of Arts, Pakistan, where she graduated as Valedictorian with a Distinction. Her short film, A Coup, played at Diorama India and the Seoul Int'l PRIDE Film Festival. After completing a diploma in Interior Design, Rohan Kanawade spent as much time as possible honing his storytelling craft, despite no formal training in filmmaking. In 2010 he left his full-time job and invested his time in writing & direction. Film after film, the quality of his storytelling improved, and in 2017 his short KHIDKEE was selected by Indian Panorama of IFFI, Goa. Impressed by his work, mythology writer Devdutt Pattanaik extended financial support to Rohan’s next short U FOR USHA. Rohan is currently developing his first feature film. Arun Fulara is a writer and filmmaker based out of Mumbai. He is known for his beloved LGBTQ shorts, SUNDAY ('20) and MY MOTHER’S GIRLFRIEND ('21) which travelled widely to festivals around the world including Frameline, Kashish Mumbai Int'l Queer FF, & GAZE Dublin. MY MOTHER’S GIRLFRIEND won the prestigious Kashish QDrishti Film Grant awarded by Lotus Visual Productions & the Kashish Arts Foundation. He’s previously assisted acclaimed filmmaker Devashish Makhija and is currently developing his own first feature, MY HOME IS IN THE HILLS. Trailer Thank you to our community partner for this screening!

How-to: Virtual Screenings INDIE MEME IS NOW ONLINE! Indie Meme is now hosting our expertly curated cinema on virtual event platform, Filmocracy . This new home allows screenings, Q&As, & events to be accessed from one convenient map. All you need is a TICKET OR BADGE and a FREE Account with FILMOCRACY. Grab a ticket --> Visit our Virtual Village --> 1. GET YOUR TICKET Purchase your desired ticket or Festival Pass on Eventbrite .(TIP: Be sure to use you member email for any applicable discounts!) 2. REGISTER ON FILMOCRACY Using the SAME EMAIL ADDRESS as you did to purchase your ticket, create a free account on Filmocracy.com , our new virtual home. Your ticket(s) will automatically connect! 3. FIND OUR EVENT On Filmocracy, find Indie Meme by clicking EVENTS in the top menu bar, OR by scrolling down to MY EVENTS on your welcome page. Click "Go to Fest Village" and you're in! This is your home base and you'll never have to go anywhere else. If you get lost, the address is: https://festival.filmocracy.com/indiememe/ 4. EXPLORE THE FESTIVAL VILLAGE In our virtual village, you can move between the Q&A LOBBY for Q&As and events, the THEATER, where LIVE screenings will take place., and the ON-DEMAND library, where films can be viewed on your own time. Just click on a building to enter! 5. ARRIVE EARLY & BE AS SOCIAL AS YOU LIKE In the Q&A Lobby, you'll find rooms in which you can chat via text, video, or audio. (like ZOOM, you can switch your camera/mic on or off anytime.) It's an optional but cozy way to get the theatrical experience we've been missing. 6. ENJOY THE FILM! When the screening time arrives, click the THEATER to watch. A pop-up window will appear and the film will load and play. Or, for VOD programs, click the ON-DEMAND LIBRARY and pause/play at your own pace. 7. JOIN THE Q&A If a live event follows the film, you can close the theater window and click the Q&A LOBBY. A few minutes post screening, the hosts will start a presentation. The moderator & filmmaker will discuss the film, and take audience questions via chat or video. See you there! Check out our full table!

A legal notice arrives one day at Sona’s doorstep, accusing her of Blasphemy. Her offense? Singing an 800-year-old song with devotional lyrics, while being dressed “obscenely” Though she's advised to calm down and back off, Sona isn't compatible with that edict. Back to Festival Program Texas Premiere Shut Up Sona India I 85 mins I Documentary I 2020 I Hindi, English, & Oriya w/ English subtitles A legal notice arrives one day at Sona’s doorstep, accusing her of Blasphemy. Her offense? Singing an 800-year-old song with devotional lyrics, while being dressed “obscenely”. She's advised to back off, but Sona isn't compatible with that edict. A music icon and self styled trouble-maker, Sona finds inspiration in the mystics and poets of India from centuries past; those who questioned the social order and had their voices reinterpreted and their rebellion covered to suit the patriarchy. The film, like Sona, is laced with sarcasm, wit, and a bit of wildness. SHUT UP SONA resonates with every woman’s search for space in a culture ridden with millennia of misogyny. This is a film about music, art, social change, and the clashing of the ancient and modern. It’s about our right to exist, with a voice. GET YOUR FESTIVAL BADGE VIRTUAL PREMIERE : FRI. APRIL 16 - 7:30PM CT $7 TICKETS About the Artist Deepti Gupta is a Filmmaker and Cinematographer living in Mumbai, India.She graduated in cinematography from Film and TV Institute of India in 1998 where she discovered her love for art house cinema and documentary. She has shot over a dozen documentaries & features including LAXMI & ME (Nominee Silver Wolf IDFA 2007), HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT. LTD, RANU, & THE FAKIR OF VENICE . She has also shot commercials for major brands in India and abroad. Deepti is one of the founder members of IWCC, Indian Women Cinematographers Collective. SHUT UP SONA, her first feature documentary as director, premiered at MAMI, Mumbai in October 2019 and received a Film Critics Guild Jury Special Mention for gender sensitivity. Trailer Thank you to our Community Partner for this screening: the Austin Film Society, the Austin Film Commission and The Asian Creatives of Greater Austin! Credits Crew Writer/Director : DEEPTI GUPTA Producer(s): SONA MOHAPATRA RAM SAMPATH DEEPTI GUPTA Executive Producer: APOORVA BAKSHI Cinematographer: DEEPTI GUPTA Editor: ARJUN GOURISARIA Music: SONA MOHAPATRA RAM SAMPATH Sound: BOLOY KUMAR DOLOI NIRAJ GERA

When a mowing man comes to cut down the grass in a field, he finds a girl is sleeping there - determined to protect the insects who call it home. U.S Premiere $15 tickets ( $12 for members) Sun. Dec 11th, 2022 @ 4PM Venue: Austin Film Society 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 1/5 Children of the Sun (Gaadi) Sri Lanka/India I 103 mins I Drama I 2019 I Sinhalese w/ English subtitles BECOME A MEMBER Winner of the UNESCO Cultural Diversity Prize - Asia Pacific Screen Awards Set in 19th century Sri Lanka, this historical epic follows a noble woman, Tikiri, stripped of her place in society and forcibly married to an outcast. As she struggles to maintain her dignity, Tikiri finds her sense of identity challenged and expanded. Meanwhile, the dangers of British occupation and civil conflict loom large, threatening the futures of all. *Screening is followed by a LIVE virtual Q&A with acclaimed director, Prasanna Vithanage. *Q&A is followed by Member Appreciation Party, FREE to all current Members at all levels . Location of Mixer TBA. TICKETS About the Artist Prasanna Vithanage is a Sri Lankan filmmaker, considered one of the pioneers of the third generation of the Sri Lankan cinema. He has directed numerous feature films including Death on a Full Moon Day (1997), August Sun (2003), Flowers of the Sky (2008) & With You, Without You (2012) and won many prestigious national and international awards. In his early theatre work, he translated and produced plays by international writers and adapted works of world literature to film. He has battled against the censorship in Sri Lanka and worked as an educator of cinema conducting master classes in the subcontinent for young filmmakers and enthusiasts. Trailer

19-year-old Diya is a rising social media star, and clandestine smoker. Her household is a pressure cooker and the whistle is about to blow. Set during the COVID-19 lockdown, this is a story about the cracks within our families and the bonds which bridge them. The film marks the acting debut of Renee Sen, daughter Back to Festival Program U.S Premiere Suttabaazi India I 14 mins I Drama I 2020 I Hindi w/ English subtitles 19-year-old Diya is a rising social media star, and clandestine smoker. Her household is a pressure cooker and the whistle is about to blow. Set during the COVID-19 lockdown, this is a story about the cracks within our families and the bonds which bridge them. The film marks the acting debut of Renee Sen, daughter of celebrated actress, Sushmita Sen, who is known for her roles in Main Hoon Na, Filhaal..., and Aankhen. + Screens with SHORTS PROGRAM I: IN LOCKDOWN GET YOUR FESTIVAL BADGE VIRTUAL SCREENING : SAT. APRIL 17 - 12PM (Noon) CT About the Artist Kabeer Khurana is a 9-time international award-winning filmmaker and the co-founder of India's youngest publishing venture, Bombaykala Books. Apart from winning awards in Italy, USA and Ukraine, his films have received 40+ festival selections internationally, including the Global University Film Awards (known as the Student Oscars, in Hong Kong), and have been screened at festivals in Brazil, Prague, Singapore, Indonesia, Morocco, Croatia, etc. His film, DALI, won the Audience Choice Award at the Flatlands Dance Film Festival our of 650 selections. His recent short romance, HANGOUT (2020) was released on Disney+ Hotstar. He's also the founder of several youth-based social organizations, including Navrang (Ashoka University's film society) and The Mumbai Art Collective, for which he was featured on the cover story of India Today. Trailer Thank you to our community partner(s) for this screening: the Austin Film Society, and the Austin Film Commission! Credits Crew Writer/Director: KABEER KHURANA Creative Producer: ROHAN PARIKH Producer(s): GURMEET SINGH GULATI SIMRAN LAKHANPAL RAMNEEK SAWHNEY PANKAJ RUNGTA Story: KANISHK DEVGAN Concept: SAMEER HADKER Editing: PRIYANKA ARORA Sound Design: SARIT CHATTERJEE Cast: RENEE SEN as 'Diyar' KOMAL CHHABRIA as 'Mother' RAHUL VOHRA as 'Father' Additional Crew: Art Director: SAMEER HADKER Production Manager: VATSAL JAIN Costume Designer: SAKINA HAFIJI Colorist: VIVEK NAIR Make-up: SAKINA BAGASRAWALA

The full schedule for the in-person Indie Meme Film Festival, hosted at Austin Film Society from April 14-17th, 2022. IN-PERSON SCHEDULE Schedule for the IN-Person 7th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival, April 14th -17th, 2022 at Austin Film Society Cinema, 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752 THURSDAY April 14th, 2022 IM Member Mixer + Badge Pickup Venue : Vivo Tex-Me x 6406 N Interstate Hwy 35 Ste 2343, Austin, TX 78752 *Note: Vivo is next to AFS Cinema in THE LINC Indie Meme Members and badgeholders, join us for a mixer as we kick-off IMFF2022! Collect your badges and meet other meme-ers. 5:30 - 6:30PM CST Shorts Program 1 It's The End of the World, And I Feel Fine From sisters surviving a post-apocalyptic Bangladesh to a middle schooler altering reality with her magic eyelashes, these bold, visionary shorts follow characters to the ends of their regular world and beyond, into the new ones their shaping. Read more... FEATURING: An Early Spring (dir. Pramati Anand I 38 mins) A village girl befriends a solo female backpacker. Moshari (dir. Nuhash Humayan I 22 mins) In future Bangladesh, sisters face a vampiric threat. A Coup ( dir. Areeba Naveed I 7 mins) A girl comes out to her biased psychiatris t. Dal Bhat ( dir. Nemil Shah I 29 mins) A boy learns a secret about his identity. Baahar (Outside) ( dir. Prakshi Malik I 13 mins) A school admission causes family conflict. Local Middle Schooler ( dir. Sanjna Bharadwaj I 11 mins ) A middle schooler's magic eyelashes are coveted by her friends and the US government . 7:00 PM CST - 9:00 PM TICKETS FRIDAY April 15th, 2022 Red Carpet Event Venue: AFS 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752 5 - 6PM CST The AFS lobby will host media and attending filmmakers, cast and crew for an exciting fun event on the red carpet. Texas Premiere 6:15PM - 8:45PM CST Last Film Show India I 2021 I 110 mins I Gujarati I dir. Pan Nalin A 9-year-old boy in a remote village begins a lifelong love affair with cinema when he bribes his way into a rundown movie palace and spends the summer watching & learning from the projection booth. Read more... Winner of the Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award (2nd Place) *Filmmaker Pan Nalin in attendance TICKETS Opening Night Party Venue: Symphony Square, Waterloo Greenway 1111 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701 9:15PM - 11PM CST Dinner and cash bar. Let's celebrate IMFF2022's Opening Night as a community! Get your tickets for only $25. TICKETS SATURDAY April 16th, 2022 10:30AM - 12:45PM CST Barah x Barah (12 x 12) India I 2021 I 118 mins I Hindi I dir. Gaurav Madan Following a photographer of the dead in Varanasi, Barah x Barah is poignant look at the life in one of the oldest Indian cities as it undergoes seemingly imperceptible but steady changes. Read more... *Filmmaker Gaurav Madan & Producer Sunny Lahiri in Attendance Austin Premiere TICKETS 1:30PM - 4:00PM CST Rehana Bangladesh I 2021 I Bengali, Bangla I 107 mins I dir. Abdullah Mohammad Saad U.S Premiere TICKETS In this powerfully-acted thriller, an assistant professor at a medical college finds her life thrown into chaos when she witnesses an unexpected incident involving a professor and a female student. Read more... +Short Film , Bambirak (Germany, US I German, Dari I 14 mins I dir. Zamarin Wahdat) When 8-year-old Kati stows away in her father's delivery van, Faruk must juggle his responsibilities as a dad while holding down his first job in a new country *Lead Actor Azmeri Haque Badhon in attendance Bangladesh's Official Oscar Submission 'Grand Jury Prize' + 'Best Actress' at the Asian Pacific Screen Awards 4:45PM - 6:40PM CST Midwives Myanmar I 2021 I 91 mins I Burmese I dir. 'Snow' Hnin Ei Hlaing Southwest Premiere TICKETS Hla is the Buddhist owner of a makeshift medical clinic in Myanmar, while Nyo Nyo, her young apprentice, belongs to the persecuted Rohingya Muslim community. Amidst the civil unrest, the two women support and challenge one another as they work to provide steady healthcare. Read more... Sundance Film Festival '22 - Special Jury Award for Excellent in Verite Filmmaking 7:30PM - 10:00PM CST India I 2021 I 95 mins I Hindi I dir. Rajat Kapoor RK/RKAY A frustrated filmmaker can't get his latest feature to click. Things take a turn for the worse when the lead character runs out of the edit and into real life. Read more... + Short Film, The Miniaturist of Junagadh The ravages of Partition compel an artist to sell his ancestral home, but when the buyer learns of his valuable miniature collection he aims to take that as well, leading to a surprising revelation. *Filmmaker Rajat Kapoor in attendance Austin Premiere TICKETS SUNDAY, APRIL 17th, 2022 10AM - 12PM CST A Night of Knowing Nothing India I 2021 I 96 mins I Hindi, Bengali I dir. Payal Kapadia Texas Premiere TICKETS In this docu-drama hybrid, the love letters of a young film student, L, to her estranged lover are juxtaposed with the drastic changes to campus life and the political landscape in India, which result in student protests and uprising. Read more... O'eil D'or Award for 'Best Documentary' - Cannes Film Festival Shorts Program 2 Locals and Long-Distance 12:30PM - 2:15PM CST A selection of locally made and international shorts that touch on the distances between people - in time, space, and circumstances - and how they are bridged. Read more... FEATURING: Mono No Aware (dir. Koushik Sarkar I 20 mins) On a field trip, a girl reflects on life's changes . The Blind Date (dir. Mihir Dhiraj Upadhyay I 17 mins) A blind couple go on a significant beach date. Hot Chocolate ( dir. Lila Mali I 3 mins) A son reflects on a family tradition after moving out. Testimony of Ana ( dir. Sachin Dheeraj I 24 mins) A woman recounts the abuse of a modern witch hunt. Turning Point ( dir. Rakhesh Raveendran I 15 mins) An immigrant father drinks too much and faces a frightening consequence. TICKETS 2:45 - 4:45 PM CST Finland I 2020 I 82 mins I Finnish, Farsi I dir. Hamy Ramezan Any Day Now Texas Premiere TICKETS An Iranian family in Finland await the decision on their asylum application. While deportation looms, the everyday stuff of life - days at the lake, neighborhood gossip, quiet apartment dance parties - goes on. Read more... + Short Film, CHAI (USA I English, Persian I 8 mins I dir. Arshum Rouhanian) With the grand opening of their chai stand, Iranian siblings, Sanam and Reza are faced withcompetition from their neighbors' hot chocolate stand. 5:15PM - 7:00PM CST Pebbles India I 2021 I 75 mins I Tamil I dir. P.S Vinothraj A young boy follows his alcoholic father on a quest to find his mother, who has run away from his domestic abuse. The two cross the arid landscape by foot and bus, unsure of what they will do when they arrive. Read more... International Film Festival Rotterdam - Tiger Prize for 'Best Film' India's Official Oscar Submission * Filmmaker P.S Vinothraj in attendance Texas Premiere TICKETS 7:30PM - 9:30PM CST Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom Bhutan I 2019 I 109 mins I Dzhongka I dir. Pawo Choyning Dorji Texas Premiere TICKETS Ugyen, a reluctant young teacher, just wants to finish his final year of service and move to Australia to pursue music. But when he's assigned to the world's most remote village school, he must reconsider his path and ties to his homeland. Oscar Nominee '22 - 'Best International Feature' Read more... + Short Film GRASSHOPPERS SLEEP HERE (India I 2021 I Malayalam I 8 mins I dir. Balaram J) When a man comes to cut down the grass in a field, he finds a girl is sleeping there - determined to protect the insects who call it home. Closing Night & Awards Party Venue: Vivo 6406 N Interstate Hwy 35 Ste 2343, Austin, TX 78752 *Note: Vivo is next to AFS Cinema in THE LINC 9:45PM Join us in closing out the festival weekend with a celebration of our filmmakers and community. Keep In Touch Sign up for newsletter

The 10th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin in-person from April 9-13, 2025 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema Festival Schedule The 10th Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin in-person from April 9 - 13, 2025 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema. Join us for our closing party as the Jury announces the winners and gives the awards as well as the audience choice winners announced. See if your favorites win!! The virtual fest ival , streaming May 2 - 4 , 2025 will bring second screenings of many of our in-person favorites, as well as fresh virtual-exclusive feature and short programs. Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Wednesday April 9 AFS Lobby Member Mixer 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM Start out the film festival right with a member mixer! Celebrate the tenth year of Austin's premier South Asian film festival with us with light bites and happy hour specials! Members only ! AFS Cinema Manthan (The Churning) 6:30 PM undefined | Hindi | 134 mins "Manthan" is a compelling film about an idealistic veterinarian who sparks a milk cooperative movement in a village, challenging deep-rooted caste hierarchies and exploitation, facing fierce resistance, false accusations, and political strife, but ultimately igniting change and hope for a better future. Admission notes (i.e., free for members, badge holders only) Virtual Q&A with actor Naseeruddin Shah Thursday April 10 Food Vendor AFS Cinema 5:00 - 6:30 PM - 5:00 - 6:30 PM Soundra Chai AFS Cinema 6:30 PM Texas Shorts Program USA | Telugu, Marathi, English | 103 mins Six independent short films: Fragments of Us , Nirmalya , Lost. , Smoke Cheyaku Bro (Don't Smoke Bro), Cowboys and Hindus , and Lost in Concrete Woods . A carefully curated selection of thought-provoking shorts that explore (1) The fragile landscape of love and self-discovery, (2) The moral dilemmas faced by an immigrant family, (3) The struggle with loneliness as time slips away, (4) An unpredictable encounter, (5) A journey into the heart of Texas ranch life, and (6) An unfamiliar reality for a night. In-Person Q&A with Filmmakers Friday A pril 11 AFS Cinema 4:00 - 5:00 PM Food Vendors Soundra Chai & Kuchi Sabishi Mystery Downtown Location Opening Night Celebration 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM Attend our opening night red carpet with attending filmmakers, cast, and fellow members! Celebrate the tenth year of Austin's premier South Asian film festival with us with complimentary food & drinks! Platinum Badge holders only ! AFS Cinema 5:00 PM Kennedy undefined | Hindi | 144 mins Kennedy is an insomniac ex-cop, long though to be dead... still operating for the corrupt system, while looking for redemption. Live Q&A with writer-director Anurag Kashyap Saturday A pril 12 AFS Cinema 10:30 AM Shorts Program India | Tamil, Hindi, English | 105 mins Seven independent short films: Virundhu (The Feast) Aloo Poori , A Lazy Noon , Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know , Hema , Pyaar Andaaz (Love Undoes) , and Blue . A carefully curated selection of incredible shorts that feature (1) A fisherwoman’s bold act of defiance, (2) A farewell meal, (3) A confrontation to emotional abuse, (4) A fulfilled prophecy, (5) The complexities of immigrating, (6) A metaphysical enquiry into human existence, and (7) A trip out to sea. Recorded Q&A with Filmmakers AFS Cinema 12:45 PM The Glassworker undefined | English,Urdu | 98 mins The life of a young glassblower in training and his relationships over the years, as his land goes through war and strife. Preceded by the short films Da'Lit Kids and Ouroboros . Recorded Q&A with writer-director Usman Riaz AFS Cinema 1:00 - 6:00 PM Food Vendor Dhaba Cafe And, Towards Happy Alleys AFS Cinema 3:15 PM And, Towards Happy Alleys undefined | Persian,English | 75 mins Inspired by Iranian cinema and the poetry of Forough Farrokhzad, a young director from India journeys to Tehran to witness how resistance becomes a daily act of survival in Iranian society. Preceded by the short film The First Film . Admission notes (i.e., free for members, badge holders only) Live Q&A with director Sreemoyee Singh and lead actress Aida Mohammadkhani Pooja, Sir AFS Cinema 5:45 PM Pooja, Sir undefined | Nepali | 108 mins When two boys are kidnapped in a border town in Nepal, Detective Inspector Pooja is sent from Kathmandu to solve the case. Admission notes (i.e., free for members, badge holders only) Live Q&A with director Deepak Rauniyar and lead actress Asha Magrati BACK THEN - The Story of Live Music in Bombay AFS Cinema 8:30 PM BACK THEN - The Story of Live Music in Bombay undefined | English | 57 mins Metal, electronic, and rap are not associated with Mumbai because it’s hidden in Bollywood’s shadow, but found in every suburb. The misfits who conspire to pervert the course of pop culture are our protagonists in the nostalgia trip called Back Then. Preceded by a 10-minute music set by Specific Thing. Admission notes (i.e., free for members, badge holders only) Recorded Q&A with directors Anindita Dutta Roy and Abhishek Chandran Sunday A pril 13 Agent of Happiness AFS Cinema 10:30 AM VIEW ALL undefined | Dzongkha,Nepali,English | 94 mins Amber, a happiness agent, travels the Bhutanese Himalayas surveying people's happiness. On his remote mountain journey, he searches for fulfillment. Admission notes (i.e., free for members, badge holders only) Recorded Q&A with Director Arun Bhattarai AFS Cinema Little Jaffna AFS Cinema 12:45 PM VIEW ALL undefined | French,Tamil | 100 mins Michael is a young police officer assigned to infiltrate a Tamil separatist organization in order to bring down one of its top financiers, but as he delves into this community, he gradually begins to identify with those he is supposed to destroy. Admission notes (i.e., free for members, badge holders only) Recorded Q&A with writer-director Lawrence Valin AFS Cinema AFS Cinema 1:00 - 6:00 PM Guppys Food Vendor Puratawn (The Ancient) VIEW ALL AFS Cinema 3:00 PM undefined | Bengali | 100 mins The lives of three characters change when they unexpectedly have to confront and come to terms with their past. Recorded Q&A with writer-director Suman Ghosh Limited tickets available on site. Boong VIEW ALL AFS Cinema 5:30 PM undefined | Manipuri | 93 mins A schoolboy, Boong, navigates racial tensions and border challenges in Manipur, driven by resilience and determination to reunite his divided family. Preceded by the short film Chashma . Virtual Q&A with writer-director Lakshmipriya Devi Limited tickets available on site. Mystery Central Austin Location 8:15 PM - 10:00 PM Closing Night Party Help us close out the tenth Indie Meme Film Festival! Join us as the Jury announces the winners and gives the awards as well as the audience choice winners announced. See if your favorites win while enjoying complimentary food & drinks! Platinum Badge holders only! Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday