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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. Jonaki India, France, Singapore 2018/ | FANTASY DRAMA | 1 HR 35 MIN. | Bengali with English Subtitles 4/27/2019 | 9:20-11:10 pm ATTEND SYNOPSIS 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. TRAILER DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Aditya Vikram Sengupta Aditya Vikram Sengupta was born in 1983 in Calcutta, India. At a very young age his interests meandered towards performing arts. He started training in western classical music and was an active dramatist throughout his childhood. Later, he trained himself in animation and film. His student shorts have screened at various international festivals including Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival, Animafest Zagreb and Sao Paulo International Film Festival. His paintings have been showcased in galleries across India and one of his posters is exhibited at the Religious Art Museum, Tehran. He realised that filmmaking encompasses all his interests, allowing him to express himself in a wholesome manner. Aditya Vikram Sengupta’s debut film “ Labour of Love” created a tremendous buzz in the international film festival circuit. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2014, Giornate Degli Autori, where it won the FEDEORA for best Debut Film. “Labour Of Love” has since featured at over 70 international film festivals including Rotterdam, Busan, London, Tallinn, Munich, Marrakech, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi and IFFLA and has won 13 awards internationally. The film was also feted with 2 awards at the National Film Awards 2015 including the prestigious Golden Lotus for Best Debut Film. Aditya’s next second feature “Jonaki” was officially selected to have its World Premier in the Bright Future section of the prestigious International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2018, where it began its festival journey. Aditya is also currently developing his next project “Memories And My Mother”. The project is the first ever Bengali language feature to be a part of Cannes Cinefondations’ L’Atelier at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. It was also a part of the NFDC’s co production market at the Film Bazaar in 2015. MAMM has also received funding from France’s distinguished CNC (Cinema du Monde). DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT “Jonaki” is firefly in Bengali. Fireflies are magical. They flicker, and between each flicker of light they have moved on. My grandmother used to tell me that fireflies are part of a Japanese folktale in which the souls of the dead turn into fireflies and wander into the forest. "Jonaki" is inspired from the life of my grandmother, who I was incredibly fond of and shared an indelible bond with. She grew up in a now nearly extinct class of affluent, aristocratic and anglicised family, the kinds that would attend ball dances and had high-teas. However, her life was marked with pain and suffering. Her father passed away when she was just six. Her mother was authoritarian. Despite being in love with a Christian boy, she was forcefully married at the age of 16, and understandably, my grandfather and she never got along. Chronicles of her life became the subject of my bedtime stories. Before she passed away, she lay in coma for 4 days with her eyes slightly open while she kept murmuring in her trance. I wondered what was she thinking? A few months after her death, I began to have terrible nightmares - sometimes waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of explosions and gunshots like the way she had described them to me from her memories of the war. ‘Jonaki’ is an amalgamation of what i imagined was going on in my grandmothers head when she was in coma and the echoes of my nightmare. Is it a recollection of memories and thoughts from the unfulfilled life of an 80-year-old woman. It is a tale of the pain of denied love. It is my attempt to come to terms with my grandmother’s passing. Spaces are just not visual, they are an atmosphere. I wanted the viewers to smell the dampness in the decaying walls of a room that was once the seat of celebration but now an abandoned space filled with roots and creepers. “Jonaki” is an attempt to recreate this experience through cinematic language. It tries to bring the above elements together in a spontaneous, organic and honest mis en scene. CREDITS Cast LOLITA CHATTERJEE, JIM SARBH, RATNABALI BHATTACHARJEE, SUMANTO CHATTOPADHYAY, BURJOR PATEL, INTDRAJIT SINHA, ARUNIMA SINHA, SATYA PRIYO CHAKRABORTY, SUNDERSHIKA TAMANG DIRECTED AND WRITTEN BY ADITYA VIKRAM SENGUPTA PRODUCED BY SAMIR SARKAR DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY ADITYA VIKRAM SENGUPTA & MAHENDRA SHETTY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER VIKRAM MOHINTA COPRODUCER CATHERINE DUSSART PRODUCTION DESIGNER JONAKI BHATTACHARYA EDITOR ADITYA VIKRAM SENGUPTA MUSIC ALEXANDER ZEKKE COLORIST DEBOJYOTI GHOSH & SIDHARTH MEER SOUND HINDOLE CHAKRABORTY AWARDS “Jonaki” was officially selected to have its World Premier in the Bright Future section of the prestigious International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2018. STILLS jonaki7 jonaki6 jonaki5 jonaki3 jonaki4 jonaki2

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Amid the backdrop of the Kashmiri conflict, a young woman must come to grips with the disappearance of her doting husband and embarks on harrowing journey of self-discovery. Half Widow 4/27/2019 | 12:45 - 2:45 pm This feature will be preceded by a short film - YASMINA ATTEND SYNOPSIS Amid the backdrop of the Kashmiri conflict, a young woman must come to grips with the disappearance of her doting husband and embarks on harrowing journey of self-discovery. A young Kashmiri woman, Neela is enjoying her new marriage. Her doting husband Khalid has welcomed her little brother Zakir into their home. But outside their walls, the Kargil War of 1999 rages, and suddenly Khalid is kidnapped by paramilitary forces in the middle of the night. So begins Neela's journey as a half-widow, held in limbo without her husband and unable to start a new life. The search for Khalid consumes her. Times passes, as does the war, and yet still Neela learns nothing. Her sorrow becomes a shackle and apathy for life settles in. Neela's sense of self is all but lost, consumed with the fact she is without her husband, a man she loved. But after Zakir is arrested defending her from police, a new light of hope flickers as she recognizes the importance of family sacrifice, igniting inside her a new quest for meaning and fulfillment. TRAILER DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Danish Renzu - A native of Kashmir and alumnus of UCLA, film director Danish Renzu hopes to inspire a new generation of Kashmiri filmmakers to practice their art as a force for unity in the conflicted region. He has directed several short films including award winning "In Search of America, Inshallah" (2014). His first film “Half Widow” (2017) showcases the plight of a Kashmiri half widow and received rave reviews worldwide premiering at Seattle International Film Festival. “The Illegal” (2018) stars Academy winning “Life of Pi” star Suraj Sharma in the lead explores a journey of an immigrant in Los Angeles and his journey towards the American dream. His next film “Pashmina”, set for release next year and telling the tales of several Kashmiri lives upended by decades of strife. The film comprises of a stellar cast and crew. He is also working on a musical Songs of Paradise set in Kashmir reviving music and art in Kashmir. He opened his own home production in Kashmir with a goal of reviving cinema back in the valley encouraging youth and local talent to pursue their dreams, also bring the lost culture, music and traditions of Kashmir to a worldwide audience. CREDITS Crew: Director/Producer/Writer: DANISH RENZU Producer/Writer: GAYA BHOLA Co-Producer(s): VIJAY BHOLA, RHONDA LEAL, FARZANA ALI, FAROOQ RENZU SHAH, & HEIDI BASCH HAROD Creative Producer(s): SUNAYANA KACHROO Executive Producer(s): NAHIDA NAZIR, VIJAY BHOLA, CORINE ARZOOMANIAN, RICHARD FRIEDMAN, J. VICTOR, SARWAN WASON, UMA WASON & SHAFAT QAZI Line Production Company: Renzu Films Cinematographer: ANTONIO CISNEROS Music: ALOKANANDA DASGUPTA Sound Design: AVINASH SONAWANE Playback singer(s): SONU NIGAM, DALIP LANGOO, NOOR MOHAMMAD & MAHMEET SYED Editor: NITIN BAID Dialogues, Poetry & Lyrics: SUNAYANA KACHROO Colorist: ROBERT CURREIRI Music on: Zee Music Company Production Companies: Renzu Films Gaya Art Films, LLC Rock On Motion Pictures Zee Music Company Instagram handle: @Halfwidow Facebook: www.facebook.com/halfwidow Cast: NEELOFAR HAMID (Neela) SHAHNAWAZ BHAT (Zakir) MIR SARWAR (Khalid) HASEENA SOFI (Khaala) YASMEENA WANI (Zynab) AYAAN SIKANDER (Faizan) YOUSUF SHAHNAZ (Bakarwaal) RHONDA LEAL (Eva) AWARDS Audience Choice Best Feature Film at SAIFF Best Director, Dada Sahab Phalke Film Festival 2018 Best Director, NJIFF Best Film, NJIFF In Competition at Asia Pacific Star Awards, Australia Best Actress, Best Cinematographer, Best Film Nomination, Boston India & International Film Festival Best Director Rising Star, DCSAFF, Washington DC Best Cinematographer Antonio Cisneros, Boston India & International Film Festival Best Feature Film, Vancouver South Asian International Film Festival Best Actress, Caleidoscope International Film Festival Rhode Island Movie STILLS HALF WIDOW_still_Neela pic HALF WIDOW_still_8 HALF WIDOW_still_4 HALF WIDOW_still_6 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Axone - a recipe for disaster. Axone explores humor, racism & culture as it follows a group of Northeasterners through a wedding, a feast & landlord-tenant clash in Delhi. Axone (Akhuni) Film-maker Nicholas Khargonkor in attendance Screening Details: Feb 26th 2020 | Doors : 6.30pm Screening : 7.30pm AFS Cinema, Austin Member Tickets: $12 Non-Member Tickets: $15 2019 | 97 MIN. |Hindi; English Subtitles TICKETS & MORE In Partnership With On a hot summer day in Delhi, the plans of two young girls to cook a special pork dish for their best friend’s wedding are foiled. Their neighbors are adamantly against it because the dish smells. As they try out various ways to cook, this bittersweet comedy wafts through the pungent smells of racism in the metropolis. SCHEDULE 6.30 - 7.15pm : Member Mixer 7.30 pm : Screening Starts (Film-maker Q&A after screening) SYNOPSIS Chanbi and Upasna want to prepare a special North Eastern Dish, Axone Pork, for their best friend Minam’s wedding. The ingredients are bought, the stove is alight, the gang has gathered; there is just one glitch! They all live in New Delhi now and not Northeast India. And for people here, the dish emits a strong aroma, which seems to eliminate not from a culinary kitchen but more like from a...lavatory! The gang fears the pungent odour of the dish will invite their neighbours’ and landlord’s wrath! Comedic chaos ensues and unexpected obstacles arise as they struggle to find a safe place where they can prepare the dish in peace. The film explores the travails of this young group of buddies, as they grapple with outright racism and the upheavals of their interpersonal relationships, throughout the course of an eventful day! DIRECTOR’S NOTE Racism exists everywhere in the world. Including, of course, in India. We may rant about racist attacks on Indians abroad, but right here, in our own homeland, we practice it at will. In the major cities of India, the two communities that are regularly on the receiving end of racist attacks (there are terrifying videos circulating on the internet) are the Africans (a tiny minority) and NortheastIndians with their distinct East Asian faces (a larger minority). Of course, it is another story that there is plenty of racism in the Northeast directed against non-Northeasterners with their South Asian looks (which ought to be the subject of a film, too). This is a very personal story. I have lived outside the Northeast now for over 20 years. For a longtime, I have wanted to make a film about the Northeastern experienceof living in the city: about a tiny community of (mostly) young people who, in the way that they look, eat, dress and speak - sets them apart from the rest. But I didn’t want to make a bleak film. Because the truth is also that we find a lot of acceptance and love in the city; and for many of us, the city is our home. So the result is this funny and bittersweet film that gives you a peek into the lives of an oft-maligned community living on the fringes of society, celebrating their difference. TRAILER DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Nicholas Kharkongor Nicholas Kharkongor has worked extensively in theatre and film for 20 years. His plays have been performed in India and abroad, including in London and New York. In film, he assisted one of India's foremost indie filmmakers, Rajat Kapoor. His debut feature, Mantra, starring Kalki Koechlin, RajatKapoor and Adil Hussain, won Best Film as the 2016 South Asian International Film Festival, presented by HBO, in New York. STILLS SLIDE DECK 1/4

A ten year old boy is caught between caring for his paralyzed sister and making her experience the world as he does Back to Festival Program Official Selection Mauj Be-harkat Si Pakistan I 18 mins I Drama I 2019 I Urdu w/ English subtitles A ten year old boy is caught between caring for his paralyzed sister and making her experience the world as he does. + S creens with SHORTS PROGRAM 2: YOUTH SPECIAL GET YOUR FESTIVAL BADGE VIRTUAL PREMIERE : SUN. APRIL 18 - 3:00PM CT About the Artist Sibtain Shabbir is a writer-director based in Karachi, Pakistan. He has extensive experience as an animator, graphic designer, & associate director on various projects. Mauj Be-Harkat Si was his thesis project as a media sciences graduate from SZABIST. Thank you to our community partner(s) for this screening: the Austin Film Society, the Austin Film Commission! and Loving Hearts for All! Credits Crew Writer/Director: SIBTAIN SHABBIR Producer(s): SHAZEB BUTT Cinematography: NABIL HASAN Editor: VIBHAV NIGAM Prod. Manager: HUSSAIN MEHDI Asst. Director(s): ARMAN TEJANI MUNEEB BAIG

Aani Maani is set in the world of Bhutto,the Kebab Seller,fresh out of prison for a crime he didn't commit.It is the story of his daily struggle for his family's upkeep & how seemingly inconsequential change in the world outside,wreaks havoc in their life. Aani Maani India | Fiction | Drama | 2019 |94 min| Hindi; English subtitles Virtual Screening: Friday, August 14th 2020 | Screening : 7.00pm - 10.00pm Zoom Q&A with Film-maker Fahim Irshad Regsiter Now This film is preceded by a short, Kaala Aani Maani is set in the world of Bhutto, the Kebab Seller, fresh out of prison for a crime he didn't commit.It is the story of his daily struggle for his family's upkeep & how seemingly inconsequential change in the world outside, wreaks havoc in their life. Aani Maani is named for a game played by children in Uttar Pradesh, in which they turn in circles while reciting the rhyme Aani Maani - the film denotes the tailspin that enters Bhutto's life as portrayed in the film. Fahim Irshad has also worked on the hit Web Series Mirzapur. DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Fahim Irshad Fahim Irshad is Mumbai based screenwriter and director who has graduated from AJK MCRC Jamia. He has written several shows, including the hit Mirzapur, and couple of films . His feature debute is 'Aani maani'. His short film 'Mubadla' based on partition of India has also been appreciated in many film festivals .

International award-winning chef and TV personality Vikas Khanna not only owns a Michelin star restaurant in New York, but he’s also a known author, philanthropist, and now filmmaker. The Last Color India | Feature | 1 h 30 min | Drama | Hindi with English subtitles 4/26/2019 | 6:30-8:30 pm F ilmmaker & Celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna in Attendance ATTEND SYNOPSIS Nine-year-old fearless tightrope walker and flower seller, Chhoti, savors her dream to save Rs. 300 ($ 4), so she can attend school. The Last Color traces Chhoti and her best friend Chintu’s daily struggles for survival on the streets of the ancient city of Banaras, India. Chhoti befriends Noor, a white-clad widow who suffers a life of total abstinence and is disallowed from taking part in any festivities, especially Holi, the Indian festival of colors. Over time, Choti and Noor's friendship and uplifting spiritual bond breaks through the barriers of the caste system. Noor encourages the brave little girl to face life by "flying high" with courage, education, and dignity. She shares her fondest, but closely kept childhood memories of playing with colors. Chhoti promises Noor that, this Holi, she will finally splash Noor with her favorite pink color. But on Holi's eve, Noor passes away, and during a sweep, Chhoti is imprisoned by the corrupt police, led by the violent and bullying Raja. Will Chhoti be able to keep her promise? Twenty-four years later, Chhoti becomes an advocate and fights for the societal reforms that will bring about the rehabilitation of both street children and widows. The Last Color is a story of promises kept and promises broken, a friendship that knows no bounds, and the freedom and victory of the human spirit. TRAILER DIRECTOR'S PROFILE VIKAS KHANNA International award-winning chef and TV personality Vikas Khanna not only owns a Michelin star restaurant in New York, but he’s also a known author, philanthropist, and now filmmaker. In this life-affirming movie, he tells the story of Noor, who is dying to participate in Holi, a joyous festival of color denied to widows in India in a 400-year-old tradition. For centuries, Indian widows have been relegated to obscurity: socially dead, ostracized, and cast away by their families, banned from ceremonies because their presence is considered unlucky. They are relegated to praying, wearing white saris and—regardless of their age—spending the rest of their lives in ashrams. In The Last Color, a sassy, street-smart child befriends Noor, a widow from a local ashram. When Noor shares wistful memories of the days when she played Holi, flinging handfuls of pink powder, the young girl promises that next year they will play Holi together. STILLS IMG_E5701 IMG_E5379 IMG_6781 IMG_4731 IMG_E4787 IMG_4995 IMG_5393 IMG_5546 IMG_4854 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

With help from a neighbourhood and a past she has shunned, a young woman returns home to deal with her mother's dementia and the scars of her childhood. Back to Festival Program 1/3 Fri. April 14th @ 6:30PM AFS Cinemas *SOLD OUT Texas Premiere *** a limited number of RUSH TICKETS will be available day of screening at AFS Cinemas GOLDFISH UK I US I India I 103 mins I Drama I 2022 I English BUY TICKETS * LIVE, In-Person Q&A w/ Director Pushan Kripalani & Lead Actress Kalki Koechlin World Premiere at the Busan International Film Festival (2022) With help from a neighbourhood and a past she has shunned, a young woman (Kalki Koechlin) returns home to deal with her mother's dementia and the scars of her childhood. "a challenging film... it works brilliantly" - BollySpice "Kalki Koechlin and Dipti Naval are outstanding in their roles. " - Eastern Eye About the Artist Pushan Kripalani is a cinematographer and director. He graduated with a degree in English Literature and earned his Master's in Film and TV Production from the University of Bristol, with a specialization in Cinematography. He lives and works in Mumbai, India. His first feature film, THE THRESHOLD, was acclaimed in its festival run, garnering praise at MAMI and the NFDC Film Bazaar and winning 'Best Actor' and 'Best Actress' at the New York Indian Film Festival. As cinematographer, he has shot several features, as well as ads, documentaries, and shorts, working with Shyam Benegal, Ram Madhvani and Zafar Hai, amongst others, as well as for National Geographic, Discovery and the BBC. He has worked on 30+ productions for stage and radio, in capacities ranging from director to actor to designer, musician, and producer. GOLDFISH is his second feature film. Trailer Thank you to our community partner for this screening! Credits Crew Writer/Director: Pushan Kripalani Writing Credits: Pushan Kripalani Arghya Lahiri Producers: Amit Saxena Surabhi Bhatnagar Executive Producer: Pooja Chauhan DOP: Pushan Kripalani Film Editor: Pradip Patil Music: Tapas Relia Lyrics by: Kausar Munir Cast: Kalki Koechlin Deepti Naval Rajit Kapur Bharti Patel Ravin J. Ganatra Gordon Warnecke Shanaya Rafaat Production Design: Ruby Todd Costume Design: Kelly Toode Seema Iqbal Rani Sound Recordist: Andrea Calaprice Sound Design: Kaamod L. Kharade

The 9th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin in-person from April 17-21, 2024 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema IMFF 2024 Jury The 9th Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin in-person from April 17 - 21, 2024 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema. Each year, we assemble a prestigious group of filmmakers, industry experts, veteran film festival programmers and other film aficionados. These esteemed jurors dedicate their expertise to selecting the films deserving of recognition in various categories. The winners from each category are revealed during the Closing Night Party. These announcements are then accompanied by special citations presented by the jury. Narrative Jury Documentary Jury Shorts Jury Debut Jury Narrative Feature Jury Neeraja Rao Neeraja Rao is a distinguished filmmaker, producer, and podcaster with over 20 years of extensive industry experience. Having collaborated with leading Indian television and media entities such as Sony, Star, Channel V, Doordarshan, Zee, and CNBC, she has garnered recognition as the director of critically acclaimed TV shows and award-winning short films. During her five-year run on renowned travel docu-series “Surabhi," she captivated audiences with compelling narratives in over 300 stories and segments. Around her, it's always lights, camera, passport — her fervent dedication to filmmaking transcends geographical boundaries. Having served as the Director of Communications for the College Women's Association of Japan, she fostered a diverse community for Asian Film Study & Appreciation Groups in Singapore, building collaborations with well-known directors and actors across the Southeast Asian region. Being active in Singapore's theater, film, and filmmaking community, she continues to make significant contributions in her current role as Creative Director at Arclight Productions. She has spearheaded the direction of multiple award-winning films, including "Love Yours Truly," "Lifafe (The Envelope)," "Papa Mio," and "Unmasked." Her outstanding contributions have garnered acclaim at prestigious film festivals worldwide, including BIFF London, Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, and New York ISFF. Having relocated to Austin a year ago, she is now focused on establishing a presence for her films in her new world! Tania Romero Tania Romero is a Nicaraguan filmmaker, teacher, and scholar with a degree in Psychology with a Film Studies minor and a Master's in Media Studies. She has worked on several film projects and her credits include editing for the feature documentary YA BASTA (2007) which screened at South by Southwest Film Festival, script supervising for the Cannes Film Festival selected shorts SARATHI (2010), &CLAY (2012) and assistant directing for A PERFECT COCKTAIL (2013). She was also producer/director/editor for the short documentary HELMETS FROM HEATH(2013) which won Judge's Choice at the Faces of Austin competition. The film also won 3rd place at My Hero International Film Festival. Her film QUINCEANERA (2015) won a San Francisco Film Award of Merit, was an official selection at the Official Latino Short Film Festival, and was screened at the Mexic Arte Museum. Her two micro films DROP IT and#HUGME were official selections for the Austin Comedy Short Film Festival, Film Fest 52, South Texas Corpus Christi Festival, and the Albuquerque Film Festival. Her short SILLA DE RUEDAS (2015) was an official selection at the Icaro International Film Festival in Guatemala and the Central American International Film Festival. Kamal Khan Kamal Khan is a Pakistani film producer, director, and editor who found his passion for film while studying at the University of Southern California. He decided to pursue film full-time, and has since produced and directed award-winning music videos and commercials. His debut feature film "Laal Kabootar" was met with critical acclaim and was selected as Pakistan's official entry for the 92nd Academy Awards. Kamal is also known for his work with Coke Studio, including directing the most-watched Coke Studio music video of all time, "Pasoori." Christian Raymond Christian Raymond’s adventures in media run the gamut, from writing screenplays in Hollywood for the likes of Walt Disney Pictures to producing character-driven educational films and co-creating films across the globe in partnership with under-resourced communities in Transylvania. As a director at Austin Studios for eight years, he developed the Austin Film Society’s multifaceted community program de novo, to include building the youth media initiative, MCM (Minds Create Media) Studios, a creative mentorship filmmaking program serving over two thousand students at fifteen Title 1 schools. Raymond has also taught in high school and colleges, including in RTF at UT-Austin. As editor-in-chief of the film journal Persistence of Vision for years, he’s wrote extensively on such topics as using alternative digital storytelling approaches for community impact, work coinciding with integrated creative development, such as with animated exploratory storytelling model, the Transmedia Tesseract. After joining ACC in 2011, Raymond worked in a leadership role to not only evolve and build new dynamic RTF programs for students, but also to support and help drive the creation of a new vision-oriented educational creative digital media center, work years later now coming to fruition. During a 2019 sabbatical, Raymond combined a deeper dive into immersive digital storytelling technologies to write/produce the interactive VR film/app, Meditation Trek, with research and design of a new interdisciplinary innovation labs program model for the digital media center. The “ACC Creative Co-Labs” is now being collaboratively developed further with division partners as part of the Master Plan and is already connecting students. Raymond’s creative/community initiatives have received support or been honored by the National Endowment for the Arts, CEC Artslink, the South by Southwest Interactive Festival and others. Taking inspiration from the motto “Giving is Living,” Raymond is on a daily basis grateful to learn, teach and work with students, faculty/staff, and the community. Documentary Jury Syed Akbar Hyder Professor Syed Akbar Hyder is the Director of South Asia Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. He teaches classes in comparative literature, aesthetics, and religious studies. His scholarly writings have been published by Oxford University Press, Yale, and Brill. Among the prestigious awards he has received is the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (2023) bestowed by the University of Texas at Austin on one professor every year. Mike Blizzard Mike Blizzard is President and co-founder of Blizco Productions and the producer of the award-winning NO NO: A DOCKUMENTARY, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and has been licensed by Showtime, Netflix, and ESPN. Mike is a former board member of the Austin Film Society and served two terms as Board President. Shorts Jury Vanessa Uhlig Vanessa has an MFA in Film and Media production from the University of Texas at Austin and also teaches at UT, where her class, Filmmaking to Decolonize, was named one of the top reasons to attend UT’s film program by The Hollywood Reporter. Prior to working in film, Vanessa worked in international development in Guatemala, New York, and Thailand, for organizations focused on preserving culture and providing economic opportunities for women. In 2019 she was part of a U.S. State Department delegation to Pakistan, where she presented her film work. An advocate for inclusive classrooms and industry practices, she spoke at SXSW in 2022 on diversifying the pipeline into the film industry. Her directing work in narrative and documentary has screened at Austin Film Festival, SXSW, and other festivals worldwide, and she has produced for PBS, PBS Digital, and the Discovery Channel. She is the Supervising Producer on a slate of films and shows currently in development with the Austin-based production company Go-Valley. Alex Salahi Cinematographer Alex Salahi favors a documentary style that achieves cinematic results. He prioritizes capturing the moment while skillfully adjusting crew and gear accordingly. Salahi’s cinematic images showcase contrast while his nuanced approach to lighting emphasizes realism in the story. These elements reveal themselves only when necessary to achieve the desired images for the film. His camera movements discreetly enhance the narrative without revealing the presence of the camera. Born in Iran, his career began in Austin in 2003. His dynamic body of work includes art house films such as Magic Lantern (2018), selected for the Venice International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival, directed by Iranian master Director Amir Naderi and produced by Ramin Bahrani. Notable selections also include On Our Way (Sophie Lane Curtis, 2021), chosen for the POFF - Tallinn (Estonia). His body of work spans various genres, from films like While We Sleep (2021) and Crescent City (2024). His expertise and hybrid body of work continue with sports promos and documentaries for NFL, ESPN, HBO and Disney, including memorable Super Bowl campaigns like "Rihanna" and "Usher." Beyond the silver screen, Alex's talents extend to commercials for tech giants like Google and Qualcomm, featuring esteemed talents like Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh. In his collaborations, he has worked with talented filmmakers like Catherine Hardwicke, serving as a cameraman(operator) for Prisoner's Daughter(2022), and collaborating on four projects with Andrej Sekula as a camera operator and DP. Beyond his work, Alex enjoys ethnic food, traveling , football, and of course photography. Lila Mali Lila Mali is an emergent animator and filmmaker. She is currently a junior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Arts and Entertainment Technologies. She has a passion for animation in storytelling and is an officer for UT’s animation club. She also works as a graphic designer for her school. Her first animation short, Bloom, won best animation film at the 2016 Youth Austin Film Festival. Her 2020 animation short, Pilot, was selected for the All American High School Film Festival. Her 2021 short, Hot Chocolate, was a finalist at the Texas State UIL. Lila is interested in developing concepts, directing, writing, using animation for the entertainment industry. When it comes to her work, she is always looking for new challenges to improve her skills and loves to experiment with different styles and try new mediums. Gabriel Ornelas Gabriel Ornelas is Executive Director of Cine Las Américas, a multicultural organization based in Austin, Texas, USA. Celebrating 26 years, Cine Las Américas, offers theatrical screenings of films made by and/or Latinos or indigenous peoples of the Americas. Films from Spain and Portugal are also included, enhancing a truly Pan-American cinematic experience. The organization schedules film screenings throughout the year and produces the annual Cine Las Américas International Film Festival (May 15-19, 2024, Austin, TX). Gabriel's experience focuses on managing cultural arts programs and events, venue coordination, and supporting the performing arts. His work has included managing a statewide film program with the Texas Film Commission, producing municipal events, and managing events with academic institutions. He resides in Austin, TX and grew up in the border city of El Paso, TX, USA. Debut Jury Jake Martinez Jake Martinez moved to Austin ten years ago from Fort Worth, Texas. He has been fascinated with movies since childhood, and in high school won awards for filmmaking. Since being in Austin, Jake has aided many organizations around the city including Indie Meme, Cine Las Americas, and the Austin Asian American Film Festival. Jake has worked in the Development and Studio departments at the Austin Film Society, and is currently a personal art assistant to local director Richard Linklater. Jake is in the final stages of completing his first feature-length film. Sweta Rajesh Sweta's passion and interest in independent cinema and its relevant social causes brought her to Indie Meme as a volunteer in 2016. She served as a programmer on the committee for 2 years and then became the Programming Director in 2020 when the festival had to go virtual during the pandemic. After a 5 year stint with Indie Meme, she became an entrepreneur and currently has a clothing boutique in Dallas. Sweta is very happy to be back as a Jury member this year.

2020 Indie Meme Film Festival - Lineup and Films Shorts Showcase Virtual Screening Details: Sunday, Nov 8 2020 | Screening : 7.00pm A rare art-form, unexpected connections, queer understanding and the struggle for adoption: Join us as we screen 4 eclectic shorts films, followed by an inspired community discussion. Get Tickets

Announcing the official Jury & Audience Choice award winners of the 2023 Indie Meme Film Festival. 2023 Jury & Audience Awards Indie Meme is proud to announce the winners of our 2023 Jury & Audience Choice Awards. Read more about our esteemed jury of artists, filmmakers, academics, and leaders here: Meet the Jury Jury Award: Narrative Feature Until tomorrow JURY STATEMENT: As a part of the jury, we watched a total of nine films in about a week to narrow down our selections slowly. We carefully considered the judging criteria and discussed each film as a team along the way, highlighting what we loved about a film and where we got lost. From nine, we selected six. From six, we narrowed it down to three. All of the nine narrative features were thought-provoking films that educated us about different situations, happenings, and cultu res of countries in South Asia. We want to congratulate all the participants' films. Each film is a journey worth taking . Until Tomorrow : While this film acknowledges the political crisis of a nation, the human drama is what pulls the heartstrings. There is cruelty in the world. However, there is also kindness and compassion. "Until Tomorrow" is a wild ride that has you rooting for the young mother to do the right thing. Jury Award: Documentary Feature while we watched JURY STATEMENT The jury has recognized 'While We Watched' as a film that effectively champions a powerful narrative about the cost of unchecked yellow journalism, jingoism and religious bigotry in the media. The inner workings of the dramatic news room offers valuable insights into the dangers of factual reporting in a world where disinformation is rampant. It was thought provoking, and delivered a message with the potential to stay with viewers long after watching. In the face of so much vitriol, the brave journalist Ravish Kumar held on to his job and integrity, when so many choose to leave- instead of fighting. Special Jury Award I N SEARCH OF BENGALI HARL EM Jury Award: Short Film WHEELS ON THE BUS JURY STATEMENT This film is a breathtaking celebration of the artistry and craftsmanship of filmmaking. From its stunning cinematography to outstanding performances, this film truly embodies the spirit of what it means to be a great short film. Director Surya Shahi masterfully guides us from ladder to ladder, leading us all the way to the top to the abode of snow and gods. This film is more than just a breathtaking visual experience. It's a poignant metaphor for the caste system in Nepal and how progress can be made when we strip away the barriers of discrimination attached to religion. This film reminds us that we can all move forward together when we melt these barriers into the wheels of progress. We would like to congratulate the entire cast and crew of “Wheels on the bus” for their outstanding work, and may they continue to inspire and captivate audiences with their artistry in the future. . Runne rs Up : LORI MURDER TONGUE Audience Award: Narrative Feature EIKHOIGI YUM (OUR HOME) In a very close audience award competition, the Manipuri language film, EIKHOIGI YUM, topped the list as the audience's favorite narrative feature with its tale of a young boy surmounting every obstacle to get an education. Picturesque and set amidst a government conflict and threat of displacement, the film captured audiences' hearts. It was closely followed by the poignant film GOLDFISH, a drama set in the UK about an aging mother and her estranged daughter. Runner- Up: GOLDFISH Audience Award: Documentary Feature IN SEARCH OF BENGALI HARLEM This film follows Ullah from New York streets to Bangladeshi villages as he uncovers the pasts of his father and mother. In doing so, he discovers a lost history - in which South Asian Muslims, African Americans, and Puerto Ricans forged an extraordinary multiracial community in the tenements of mid- 20th century Harlem. The audience laughed, learnt and cried with directors Alauddin Ullah and Vivek Bald as they painted an extraordinary portrait of the not-so-distant past. Audience Award: Short Film SWIPE This short animated feature is a confrontation of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, extrajudicial violence, and decreasing space for difference and expression. Created by Lahore based Puffball Studios, the short resonated with audience members.