The Bidesia in Bambai, like most migrants in this ‘global city’, inhabits the precarious edges of Mumbai. Bidesia in Bambai 86 mins/2013/Bhojpuri & Hindi with English subtitles/INDIA (coming soon to the US for select screenings) SYNOPSIS Bidesia is Bhojpuri for ‘the one who leaves home’. One in four migrants in Mumbai is Bhojpuria, a people from the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Bambai is their name for Mumbai/Bombay. The bidesia in Bambai, like most migrants in this ‘global city’, inhabits the precarious edges of Mumbai. Along with his meager belongings though, the migrant brings with him a vibrant musical culture. Bhojpuri pop music is produced, circulated and performed in the crumbling sites that are home to the bidesia in the big city. Migration is the predominant theme in the music, and the mobile phone is a recurring motif in the songs. Frequently sexually charged, at times religious, often lyrical and occasionally political, the migrant is both the subject of, and the audience for this music. The musical landscape he inhabits mobilizes notions of masculinity; gives form to his identity; makes tangible his desire for a place in the city; and evokes his longing for home. Bidesia in Bambai charts the travails of two ambitious singers – Ramanuj Pathak, a one-time taxi-driver chasing his first record deal; and Kalpana Patowary, one of the stars of the Bhojpuri music industry. The lives of these singers are punctuated by the changing landscape of the city, where, much like their lives, structures are built and torn down regularly. This feature-length film attempts to make the migrant visible by celebrating the musical sphere that he inhabits, in a city that renders him illegal and unwanted. Directed and Produced by Surabhi Sharma http://surabhisharma.wordpress.com Tickets TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE TRAILER

The 2018 Indie Meme Film Festival is right around the corner! Get your tickets today! April 19-22nd. Quick links: Member Tickets Non-Member Tickets Student/Senior Badges/Tickets What does the All Inclusive Festival Badge include? All film Screenings over the 4 days Family & Friends Night on April 19th Opening & Closing night parties Red Carpet event Exclusive, invite-only "Meet the Maker" Mixer I bought the badge/band/ticket. What next? Badges and bands will be available for pick up at the IMFF Registration desk at the theater starting at 5:00 pm on April 19, 2018 If you purchase tickets to individual screenings, we will have your name on the list of attendees BADGES AND BANDS SO LD OUT!! T ickets for individual films still available (except for TURUP). PLEASE CHECK FINAL SCHEDULE FOR ALL INDIVIDUAL SCREENINGS HERE Problems loading the Ticket widget? Click here SCHEDULE FILMS ATTEND YOUTH SPONSORS ABOUT PRESS Presented by IndieMeme.org Follow event on Facebook

A Dalit family comprising of a man, his wife, and their son live in a backwater island in Kerala. During a heavy rainy season, their house submerges in the flood water. The family loses their home, their property, and eventually their work. They set for Himachal Pradesh to be employed as guards for an apple orchard. Back to Festival Program U.S Premiere Veyilmarangal (Trees Under the Sun) India I 108 mins I Drama I 2019 I Malayam w/ English subtitles A Dalit family comprising of a man, his wife, and their son live in a backwater island in Kerala. During a heavy rainy season, their small house submerges in the flood water. The family loses their home, their property, and eventually their work. They set for Himachal Pradesh to be employed as guards for an apple orchard. There, they reside in a modest house in the lone apple orchard in the middle of the Himalayan Mountains. The place, language, and culture are all totally unfamiliar and they struggle to make a living amid the changing landscape and the caste discrimination that infuses daily life. The film was captured over a year and a half shoot, as the team strove to incorporate the moods and phases of nature over spring, winter, and summer in this harsh and majestic landscape. GET YOUR FESTIVAL BADGE VIRTUAL SCREENING : FRI. APRIL 23 - 7:00 PM CT $7 TICKETS About the Artist Bijukumar Damodaran, commonly known as Dr. Biju, is a three time Indian national-award winning filmmaker considered one of the most important contemporary voices in Indian cinema. His films address political and cultural issues, speaking openly on social justice, gender equality, imperialism, environmental problems, and caste discrimination. Dr. Biju was born in a small village in Kerala, India in 1971. He graduated in Homeopathic Medicine and joined the Government Medical service in 2004. Fascinated by cinema after seeing world classics at Kerala Int'l Film Festival, he became a self-taught filmmaker and made his first feature in 2005. His debut film, SAIRA, was the opening film in the Cinema of the World section at the Cannes Film Festival & screened at more than 30 film festivals, bagging many awards. His 10+ subsequent films enjoyed similar success and resonance. His work has screened and received honors at festivals including Cannes, Montreal, Shanghai, Telluride, Cairo, Almaty, Jeonju, Tallinn, Goa, Dhaka, Oporto, and more. He served as a jury member for India's National Film Awards, India's Oscar Selection Jury, and many other boards. He is now working as the District Medical Officer in Kerala and continues to make films. Trailer Thank you to our community partner for this screening, The South Asia Institute at UT- Austin, the Austin Film Society, and the Austin Film Commission !! Credits Crew Writer/Director: BIJUKUMAR DAMODARAN (Dr. Biju) Producer(s): BABYMATHEW SOMATHEERAM SOMA CREATIONS D.O.P: M.J.RADHAKRISHNAN Editor: DAVIS MANUEL Sound Mixing: PRAMOD THOMAS Original Music: BIJIBAL Art Director: JYOTHISH SHANKAR Sound Design: JAYADEVAN CHAKKADATH SANU PURUSHOTHAMAN Cast: INDRANS as 'Father' SARITHA KUKKU as 'Mother' MASTER GOVARDHAN as 'Son" KRISHNAN BALAKRISHNAN as "Friend in Himachal' ASHOK KUMAR as 'Friend in Kerala' PRAKASH BARE as 'District Collector' MELWYN WILLIAMS as 'Land Lord In Himachal NARIYAPURAM VENU as 'Police Men' Additional Crew: Costume Designer: ARAVIND .K.R Make-up: PATTANAM SHAH Location Sync Sound: JAYADEVAN CHAKKADATH SMIJITH KUMAR.P.B

​ Tell It Like A Woman is a globe-spanning anthology film, comprised of seven short stories directed by women from across the world. Shot in Italy, India, Japan, and the U.S. - each segment is an inspirational and empowering story by and about women.  Back to Festival Program 1/1 Sat April 15th @ 7:30PM AFS Cinemas TELL IT LIKE A WOMAN Italy I US I India I Japan I 112 mins I Drama I 2022 English, Italian w/ English subtitles BUY TICKETS *LIVE, In-Person Q&A with Director Leena Yadav 2022 Academy Award Nominee for 'Best Original Song' Tell It Like A Woman is a globe-spanning anthology film, comprised of seven short stories directed by women from across the world. Shot in Italy, India, Japan, and the U.S, each segment is an inspirational and empowering story by and about women. About the Artist Leena Yadav an Indian film director, screenwriter and editor. She is known for her first international feature, PARCHED (2015), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, as well as the hit NETFLIX docu-series HOUSE OF SECRETS: THE BURARI DEATHS (2021). Catherine Hardwicke is an American film director, production designer, and screenwriter known for THIRTEEN, LORDS OF DOGTOWN, TWILIGHT, and MISS YOU ALREADY. Taraji P Henson is a Golden Globe & Screen Actors Guild award winning actress known for her roles in HIDDEN FIGURES, EMPIRE, HUSTLE& FLOW and TEH CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Mipo O is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and commercial director known for her feature films including BEING GOOD and THE LIGHT SHINES ONLY THERE. She has been recognized with the Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award . Lucía Puenzo is an Argentinian author and film director. She studied at the University of Buenos Aires followed by the National Film Institute. She is known for her acclaimed features, XXY, THE GERMAN DOCTOR, and DIVE. Maria Sole Tognazzi is an Italian director of television and film known for her feature projects including PAST PERFECT, A FIVE STAR LIFE, and ME, MYSELF, & HER - the first Italian feature-length lesbian romantic comedy. Silvia Carobbio is known as an Director and Line Producer. Lucia Bulgheroni is an Italian animation director. After working in commercials, regularly blending live action and stop motion techniques, Lucia completed an MA in Directing Animation at the National Film & Television School in London. Thank you to our community partners for this screening! Credits Crew D irector(s): Catherine Hardwicke Taraj i P. Henson Lucía Puenzo Leena Yadav Maria Sole Tognazzi Mipo O Silvia Carobbio Lucia Bulgheroni Writer(s): Catherine Hardwicke Lucía Puenzo T atiana Menenuk Mipo O Giulia Louise Steigerwalt Leena Yadav Shantanu Sagara Krupa Ge Chiara Tilesi Lucia Bulgheroni Silvia Carobbio Cast: Cara Delevingne Marcia Gay Harden Eva Longoria Jennifer Hudson Margherita Buy Anne Watanabe Pauletta Washington Marcia Gay Harden Jasmin Luv Leonor Varela Jacqueline Fernandez Exec. Producers: Carol Polakoff Jennifer Ryan Producers: Lucas Akoskin Monika Bacardi Andrea Iervolino Chiara Tilesi Film Editing: Josie Azzam Anne-Sophie Bion Prod Design: Pele Kudren

Volunteer for IMFF 2025, April 9-13, for our tenth festival! Volunteer for IMFF 2025 Become a part of our 10th annual film festival, meet the pioneers of independent South Asian cinema, and learn more about the Indie Meme community by volunteering for our 2025 festival! Sign up for an available time slot through the link below. For every four hours spent volunteering, you receive two tickets to any film playing at the festival (except during your volunteer slot). Contact justin@indiememe.org for more information on volunteering. EVENT VOLUNTEERS PHOTO & VIDEO VOLUNTEERS

This retrospective film series, streaming Fri. Nov 5th - Sun. Nov 7th, 2021 marks the return to Texas of several influential and groundbreaking works from Afghanistan - some featured at prior Indie Meme Film Festivals, some joining our library for the first time. Returning films include :The Orphanage (2019), Hava, Maryam, Ayesha (2019), Jirga (2018), and Utopia (2015), as well as a new program of the illuminating photojournalism documentary, Frame by Frame.  Afghanistan: The Decade on F ilm A Retrospective Film Series This retrospective film series, streaming Fri. Nov 5th - Sun. Nov 7th, 2021 highlights a remarkable variety of influential and groundbreaking works shot in Afghanistan during the past decade - four ambitious narratives & one illuminating documentary. Virtual On-Demand Admission to all (5) films is included in the $10 ticket package. Films stream Friday Nov 5th at 7PM CST to Sunday Nov 7th, 11:59PM CST on FILMOCRACY. After the films, join us Sun. Nov 7th, 5pm - 6:30pm CST for a panel discussion with filmmaker/head of Afghan Film Sahraa Karimi (Hava, Maryam, Ayesha) , director Hassan Nazer (Utopia) , director Benjamin Gilmour (Jirga) , and Ashley Faye , Development Director at Refugee Services of Texas. Moderated by Kamran Asdar Ali, Professor , Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin. $10 - General Admission - admission includes ALL (5) feature films FREE ADMISSION for IM Members * to access your member discount, enter your member email as a PROMO CODE before checkout STREAM THE FILMS All films in this program were shot in Afghanistan during the past decade, though the time periods and settings explored range from the orphanages and cinema houses of the 1980's Soviet Era to the streets of Kabul in the 2010's and abroad to the UK and Russia as characters cross borders on school trips or medical journeys. With this program, we hope to offer some level of support to the creative community in Afghanistan as they rebuild and respond. Feature Films The Orphanage Dir. Shahrbanoo Sadat I Afghanistan, Denmark l 90 mins I 2019 I Dari, Russian, Hindi w/ English subtitles In the late 1980s, 15-year-old street kid Qodrat dreams of Bollywood but is arrested for illegally reselling cinema tickets. Put in an orphanage on the outskirts of Kabul, he goes to school, takes a class trip, makes friends, and falls in love for the first time. Selected Festivals & Awards: Cannes Film Festival - Director's Fortnight - Official Selection Asia Pacific Screen Awards- Best Youth Feature (Nominee) Reykjavik Film Festival - Golden Puffin for Best Film Munich International Film Festival- Official Selectio n Sarajevo International Film Festival - Official Selection Read More Hava, Maryam, Ayesha Dir. Sahraa Karimi I Afghanistan I 83 mins I 2019 I Dari w/ English subtitles From filmmaker Sahraa Karimi, comes the resonant story of three women from different generations and social backgrounds; each living in Kabul and facing a pivotal challenge. Karimi also served as the first female president of the Afghan Film Organization, prior to being forced to flee Afghanistan during the 2021 fall of Kabul. Selected Festivals & Awards: Venice Film Festival - Official Selection Cairo Film Festival - Official Selection Dhaka International Film Festival - Best Actress Busan Int'l Film Festival - Official Selection International Film Festival of India - Official Selection Read More Utopia Dir. Hassan Nazer I Afghanistan, UK, Iran, India I 85 mins I 2015 I English, Dari, Hindi w/ English subtitles Janan, a woman from Afghanistan, travels to the UK for her artificial insemination. Cultural, religious, and moral complications explode when William, a medical sciences student working in the clinic, switches the donor's semen for his own Selected Festivals & Award 88th Academy Awards - Afghanistan's Official Entry for 'Best Foreign Language Film' Asian World Film Festival - 'Best Actress' Award for Martine Malalai Zikria Delhi International Film Festival - 'Best Actress' Jaipur International Film Festival - 'Best Director' Award for Hassan Nazer London Asian Film Festival - 'Best Production' Read More Jirga Dir. Benjamin Gilmour I Australia, Afghanistan I 78 mins I 2018 I English, Pashtu w/ English subtitles Former Australian soldier, Mike Wheeler, returns to Afghanistan, seeking redemption from the family of a civilian man he killed during the war. Selected Festivals & Awards: Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards - 'Best Indie Film' Australian Screen Editors - 'Best Editing' Nominee Toronto Int'l Film Festival (TIFF) - Official Selection CinefestOz - 'Best Film' Palm Springs Film Festival - Official Selection Read More Frame by Frame Dir. Alexandria Bombach, Mo Scarpelli I Afghanistan I 85 mins I 2015 I Dari, English w/ English subtitles After decades of war and an oppressive Taliban regime in which photography was a crime, four Afghan photojournalists face the realities of building a free press – reframing Afghanistan for the world and for themselves. Selected Festivals & Awards: SXSW International Film Festival - Official Selection HotDocs - Official Selection BFI London - Official Selection Seattle Film Festival - Women in Cinema - Lena Sharpe Award Winner of Best Documentary Award at: Sidewalk Film Festival, Brooklyn International Film Festival, Camden, Cayman Islands Int'l FF, Cleveland, New Hampshire, Sante Fe, Weyauwega & more. Read More PANELISTS STREAM LIVE PANEL 5PM CST - NOV 7 Sahraa Karimi is an acclaimed and influential filmmaker who comes from the second generation of Afghan refugees in Iran. With a PHD in Cinema and Directing, she has made 30+ narrative and documentary shorts over the years, which have been awarded in numerous international festivals. After 10 prolific years of filmmaking, she returned to Kabul, and completed two successful documentaries, broadcast through ARTE France and BBC. HAVA, MARYAM, AYESHA, her first feature, premiered at Venice and screened widely, including at Busan, Cairo, Kolkata, and the Asian World Film Festival. As a female filmmaker from Afghanistan, she strives to be a storyteller for her country women who seek to change their lives in a traditional society. Hassan Nazer is a British-Iranian film director, film editor, producer and a judge in international film festivals. He was the head of jury for SAARC Film Festival 2019, held in Sri Lanka. Nazer studied at art university in Tehran. After moving to UK, he attended the University of Aberdeen where he studied Cinema. His third film,UTOPIA was selected as the Afghan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards and at Golden Globes. UTOPIA and it's lead actress Leila Hatami (who also played a leading roles in Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar winning ‘A Separtation’.) both earned great critical acclaim on the festival circuit & beyond. Benjamin Gilmour is an acclaimed writer and filmmaker, director of the feature films JIRGA, PARAMEDICO, and SON OF A LION. His feature film JIRGA, set and shot in Afghanistan, was Australia’s entry to the 91st Academy Awards - Best Foreign Language Film. Benjamin is also the author of several books, including ‘Warrior Poets’ (Pier 9) and ‘Paramedico – Around the World by Ambulance’ (HarperCollins). His latest book, ‘The Gap’, about his work as a paramedic, is published by Penguin Random House. He lives in Northern NSW, Australia. Ashley Faye serves as Development Director for Refugee Services of Texas, ensuring development efforts are active, ongoing and innovative. Ashley served as Development Director at a global health NGO in Phoenix, Arizona and has worked with refugees, trafficking survivors, system-involved youth and adults and indigenous communities in a variety of programmatic and development roles for 15 years. Ashley holds a Master of Arts degree in Social Justice and Human Rights with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management and two Bachelor of Science degrees in Justice Studies and American Indian Studies. The conversation will be moderated by : Professor Kamran Asdar Ali Kamran Asdar Ali is professor of anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Asian Studies in the Department of Anthropology at UT Austin. He served as the the Director of the South Asia Institute at UT Austin (2011-2017) and is his interests in his work covers topics of Gender, sexuality, health, political economy, post-colonialism, labor history, and popular culture in the Middle East & South Asia. Community Partners

Bouma is the story of a middle-aged couple in the 1960s, living their mundane lives in Kolkata. Bouma India | 14 MIN. 27 SEC.|Hindi Virtual IMFF 2020 Screening Details: Saturday, May 2 2020 | Screening : 9.45pm - 11.00pm SYNOPSIS An adpatation of Roald Dahl's short story "William and Mary", Bouma is the story of a middle-aged couple in the 1960s, living their mundane lives in Kolkata. The husband drinks and smokes and does everything expected of a man, but wants his wife to be extremely pious and subservient. He is a nagging husband who does not allow her to indulge in any of the things that she wants to do. When he is diagnosed with cancer, a scientist friend begs him to donate his organs for research which he flatly declines. The wife agrees to do so after his death. When she goes to see his organs in the lab and realizes on seeing his eyes in a jar connected to his brain that they can still register everything around them, she asks to take it home as it’s her husband’s. What does she do with her husband’s still-conscious head, culminates to a climax which is both funny and dark. DIRECTOR'S BIO Debatma Mandal Debatma Mandal is known for Bouma (2019) and Derma( 2019). STILLS SLIDE DECK 1/2

A charming documentary about the Filmmaker, Tanuja Chandra's aunts, in the spring of their lives (86yo and 93yo) - and their magical existence in their home. Aunty Sudha, Aunty Radha India|Documentary |2019 |58 min| Hindi; English subtitles Virtual IMFF 2020 Screening: Friday, May 1 2020 | Screening : 7.00pm - 9.00pm Texas Premiere Zoom Q&A with filmmaker Tanuja Chandra With Special Thanks to Our Community Partner: A charming documentary about the Filmmaker, Tanuja Chandra's aunts, in the spring of their lives (86yo and 93yo). SYNOPSIS Three hours outside of the capital of India, is a village called Lahra. This film follows two widowed sisters, aged 86 and 93, who have retired to this village, whose days are spent with their adopted family of domestic help. Pulling along with their walkers (because of bad knees that turned inoperative a decade ago) the sisters do as they please, pay heed to no one and don’t bother with unsolicited advice. They don’t let their ailments unsettle them much and remain largely unfearful of death. With a rare acceptance of old-age and all that it brings, they spend their time gossiping, watching T.V., soaking in the sun and bonding with the help in a hearty sharing of community life. With the filmmaker being their niece who visits their home for the first time, the film resolutely assumes the tone of this oddball group of people – a facile easy-going manner, that gazes lightly at the passing of days. And yet, from this light-heartedness, emerge lessons. Of courage and perseverance, of camaraderie and care-giving, of destiny and faith, and the most significant one: when we engage in conversations of death, we improve the quality of life. DIRECTOR’S NOTE (Interview Excerpts) As a film director with a fairly long career, I started out as a television journalist, writing and editing stories about people, stories that were light or serious, melodramatic or slice-of-life. I loved doing this; it was relevant to my aim of making movies since real life often surprises us more than our own imagination and is the foundation of all fiction. I had always wanted to document the charmed existence of my aunts. My siblings and I had received so much affection as well as humour from these sisters of my father, I felt guilty at never going to their home despite being graciously invited every year. So, when I finally decided to pay them a visit, I wasn’t sure what to expect. And I have to say – the taste of crisp and lovely springtime with them filled my heart with warmth. I felt I had touched an actual and sweet grace that’s possibly going to stay with me till my own sunset years. If viewers feel this grace too, then I would have brought a modicum of dignity to aging people in the world and for that I feel fortunate as a director. This documentary has added an important layer to my oeuvre, almost marking an aesthetic shift; it’s all the more evident to me now that even though life is filled with drama and sorrow, its depiction need not necessarily be such. A film can portray human truth with the ease of a light touch. A voice in a soft pitch can be every bit as powerful as one that shouts. Indeed, I’m thankful that my aunts let me film them, they’ve enabled me to become a better filmmaker. DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Tanuja Chandra After receiving a B.A. degree in English Literature in Mumbai, Tanuja Chandra completed further studies towards a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film Direction and Writing in the U.S.A. She returned to India and directed the television shows and co-wrote the scripts of Mahesh Bhatt’s films, Zakhm and Tamanna, both of which won National awards, and Yash Chopra’s Dil Toh Pagal Hai. She began independent film direction in 1998 with Dushman and directed Sangharsh, Sur, Zindaggi Rocks, and the English language, Hope and A Little Sugar in 2008, amongst others. Several of her films received awards and her English film received recognition in international film festivals. In 2017, her most recent film, Qarib Qarib Singlle released, a romcom starring Irrfan Khan and Parvathy, and a collection of short stories by her, called Bijnis Woman was published by Penguin Random House. Two short films by her streamed on Zee5 and Eros Now. She’s working on the script of her next feature, along with developing content for longer format projects. In the past, she has written articles for newspapers and magazines regularly, and is working on her next book. STILLS SLIDE DECK 1/9

Mangesh Desai was a giant in the world of Sound Recording & Mixing who recorded and mixed most of all Bollywood films of his time. Apart from Bollywood, producers and directors from all over India approached him for mixing. The Sound Man - Mangesh Desai 4/28/2019 | 1:30 - 3:50 pm India 2018 | Documentary | 112 mins | English ATTEND SYNOPSIS Mangesh Desai was a giant in the world of Sound Recording & Mixing who recorded and mixed most of all Bollywood films of his time. Apart from Bollywood, producers and directors from all over India approached him for mixing. His understanding of the craft and technique was unparalleled. New York Times rated him among top 10 sound mixing engineers of the world. Producers queued up at his door waiting for his mixing dates. Vidhu Vinod Chopra tells how Mangeshji mixed his first two films free of cost and helped him stand on his feet as a director and producer. Gulshan Rai, the producer of Director Yash Chopra’s Deewar and Kabhi Kabhi lost faith in the films but Mangeshji’s tips on reshooting and re-editing made those cult classics a commercial success. His dynamic range of work goes from the artistic extremes of Satyajit Ray and Shyam Benegal’s art films to Manmohan Desai’s commercial films. He could blend himself according to the needs of the subject, the film and the director. Before being a gifted technician Mangesh Desai was a freedom fighter, a nationalist and a patriot. As a freedom fighter he fought the British with smuggled revolvers and self-made bombs. As a nationalist, he went further by trusting his life with Indian doctors because ‘What is wrong with our doctors? They are just as good.’ He died due to complications beyond human control. He was a legend by all its definitions. TRAILER DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Subash Sahoo is a National Award-winning sounder designer who has worked in such films as Tumhari Sulu (2017), Neerja (2016), NH10 (2015), among notable others. An electronics engineer and a graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India, he has worked in the Mumbai film industry over the last 24 years. The Sound Man Mangesh Desai is his first film as a director. STILLS Film Still 5 600 DPI Film Still 4 600 DPI Film Still 3 600 DPI COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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. Jirga Australia 2018 | Feature Drama | 78 min | English, Pashto with English Subtitles 4/28/2019 | 4:45 - 6:30 pm This feature will be preceded by short films - THE BUBBLE MAN and FADE ATTEND SYNOPSIS 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. TRAILER BENJAMIN GILMOUR DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Benjamin Gilmour is a filmmaker, author and paramedic, based in Northern NSW. His key film credits include the feature Son of a Lion (2008) and documentary Paramedico (2012). It was Gilmour’s paramedic work that led him to the film industry, originally working as an on-set nurse. Gilmour lends his experience, as a front-line paramedic, to his work with NGO Trek Medics International, to assist in developing emergency medical systems for low to middle income communities in Africa and Central Asia. As a published author, Gilmour’s titles include Warrior Poets: Guns, Movie-making and the Wild West of Pakistan (Pier9), Paramedico – Around the World by Ambulance (Harper Collins) and most recently the children’s book The Travel Bug (Penguin Random House). DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT I’ve been eager to return to Afghanistan, to work with locals on another project, ever since my first feature film, Son Of A Lion. In my experience working and travelling through the northwest frontier of Pakistan and Afghanistan, I found the Pashtun people to be extremely hospitable, warm and funny. And, after decades of war, they have the most incredible and moving stories to tell. With Jirga I wanted to counter the Islamic terrorist stereotypes and modern military propaganda we face in the West, demonstrating the true human cost of conflict. Civilians trying to survive in their ravaged lands are not the only ones who believe that war is unjust. Many damaged and disillusioned soldiers have also come to share that view. The motives for Mike’s return were inspired by the lingering sense of responsibility experienced by army veterans, from conflicts in Vietnam, Iraq and Timor-Leste. In my research I came across the stories of a number of Australian SAS veterans who had returned to Afghanistan, as civilians, to help rebuild villages damaged in conflict. Jirga is also intended to give the audience a new perspective on the lives of ordinary Afghan Muslims. It’s a great shame most westerner’s understanding of Afghanistan is only as a war zone. Of course, there’s active warfare in some provinces, but the country also boasts stunning natural landscapes and a rich culture of music and poetry. These aspects are so often overlooked yet so close to the hearts of Afghans. I hope Jirga is seen as a film that doesn't attempt to neatly divide the good from the bad, but instead offers an insight into the character and motives of those we view as the enemy and the struggles of Afghans and the mercy found in their faith and traditions. CREDITS PRODUCER JOHN MAYNARD John is well known as a producer with an eye for talent, producing the debut feature films of a number of directors, including Jane Campion, Vincent Ward, Rowan Woods, Robert Connolly, Richard Roxburgh and Kasimir Burgess. In 2007 John received the AFI Award for Best Film for Romulus, My Father (co-produced with Robert Connolly) and in 1989 for The Navigator. John has had three films In Competition in Cannes (an unrivalled Australian record). With partner Bridget Ikin, he co-produced Jane Campion’s “An Angel At My Table”, winner of the ‘Silver Lion’ in Venice in 1990. “The Boys”, John’s first collaboration with producer Robert Connolly, debuted in Competition at Berlin in 1998. For many years, he was in partnership with Robert Connolly, in Arenafilm. He has been an active independent distributor in Australia and New Zealand for almost 40 years with his company Footprint Films having a reputation for creating innovative and cost effective marketing campaigns. In 2003 John was awarded an Honorary Master’s Degree at the Australian Film Television and Radio School for his “commitment, as a creative producer, to ground breaking independent cinema; for nurturing new Australian talent and reflecting diverse themes of social and cultural relevance”. In 2005 the Australian Directors Guild awarded their highest honor to John, The Cecil Holmes Memorial Award for his support of directors and the ADG. In 2011 John established Felix Media with Bridget Ikin produce original screen-based works by artists. CAST SAM SMITH Former Australian Army soldier Mike Wheeler Sam Smith is an Australian actor who works in film, television and theatre. His most recent roles include the HBO drama series The Leftovers and Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale. His past performances include lead roles in Ben Briand's Hammer Bay, winner of both the MTV Optus 180 Project and the Creative Annual Best Long Form Project; and Some Static Started, which was nominated for an Australian Directors Guild award. SHER ALAM MISKEEN USTAD Afghan taxi driver Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad was the former chief Palace Guard of former Afghan President Mohammed Daoud, who was assassinated in 1978 by the communist opposition. Before the coup he was part of a small theatre group in Kabul. When the Russian army invaded the following year, Sher Alam joined the Mujahideen resistance and became renown for having decimated several Russian tanks with a single RPG launcher from a mountaintop. He was the only survivor when Russian helicopters responded and killed more than 30 of his friends. The first film he ever saw was ‘Rambo 3’ which lionized the Afghan mujahedin, many of whom would later become the Taliban. When the Taliban took power in the early nineties Sher Alam fled to Pakistan with his family. He now works in a sweet shop, playing his rabab (traditional lute) at local weddings in the frontier city of Kohat. Sher Alam played the father of the lead character in Gilmour’s Son of a Lion (2008). AMIR SHAH TALASH English-speaking Taleb Amir Shah Talash is an Afghan actor and producer based in Jalalabad. He is known for the action and thriller films he self-funds by working nights, unloading bags of cement. Talash has become a house-hold name in Afghanistan, particularly in Pashtun areas. He is trained in Taikwando, which he uses to fight off dozens of gangsters at a time, whenever he plays the hero. Talash works with Australian director George Gittoes at The Yellow House, his artist’s collective in Jalalabad. On Jirga, Amir Shah Talash played Sher Khan’s (the Taliban leader) right-hand man, and was also the local producer for the film. FILMOGRAPHY Jirga (2018) – Writer / Director Paramedico (2012) – Writer/ Director Festivals: Busan International Film Festival 2013 Sydney Film Festival 2013 AWARDS Winner - Foxtel Best Documentary Award, Sydney Film Festival 2013 Son of a Lion (2008) – Writer/ Director Festivals: Busan International Film Festival 2007 Berlinale Forum 2008 Edinburgh International Film Festival 2008 San Francisco International Film Festival 2008 Sydney Film Festival 2008 Winner - Independent Spirit Award Inside Film Awards 2008 Nominated - Best Film Inside Film Awards 2008 Jury Prize - Tehran Film Festival Iran 2010 PRESENTATION CREDITS SCREEN AUSTRALIA and FELIX MEDIA present KEY CREDITS/ BILLING BLOCK Writer & Director BENJAMIN GILMOUR Producer JOHN MAYNARD Producers in Afghanistan AMIR SHAH TALASH, GULL HUSSAIN BAIZADA, BENJAMIN GILMOUR, SAM SMITH Executive producers DAVID GROSS and BRIDGET IKIN Camera BENJAMIN GILMOUR Editor NIKKI STEVENS Sound Designer LIAM EGAN Composer AJ TRUE Cast SAM SMITH, SHER ALAM MISKEEN USTAD, AMIR SHAH TALASH, BAHEER SAFI, ARZO WEDA, INAM KHAN © 2018 Felix Media Pty Ltd and Screen Australia ISAN 0000-0004-8A10-0000-8-0000-0000-D AWARDS Winner - Independent Spirit Award Inside Film Awards 2008 Nominated - Best Film Inside Film Awards 2008 Jury Prize - Tehran Film Festival Iran 2010 PICTURE NIKKI STEVENS Editor Editor Nikki Stevens has a background in documentary and television, her recent credits include; Black Divaz (2018); Howard on Menzies: Building Modern Australia; Pauline Hanson: Please Explain!; and Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta. Jirga is Nikki's first feature drama. Shot in 4k MP4 25fps the rushes were exciting but a challenge to work with. There was a story to refine and a lot of technical work to check the picture and deal with rough sound. Initial investigations and tests at post-production house Definition Films demonstrated the effectiveness of stabilization, sharpening and grading to create an image suitable for a cinema screen. Archive footage was extensively used; SlateFX designed and executed the pick-up shots; and Jamie Hediger was the colorist. STILLS jirga-5 jirga-9 jirga-8 jirga-7 jirga-6 jirga-4 jirga-1 jirga-3 jirga-2

Coral Woman is the filmmaker's journey with Uma, a 53 year old certified scuba diver from a traditional Indian family, exploring the underwater world & the threat to coral reefs of Gulf of Mannar, India. Uma is trying to shed light on this alarming environmental concern. Kaala India | Short | 16 min | English, Hindi Virtual Screening: Saturday, August 14th 2020 | Screening : 7.00pm Precedes Aani Maani Screening Regsiter Now SYNOPSIS Bryan is a Nigerian teenager who is struggling to acclimatise to the new culture of India, arrives at a busy locality to meet his girlfriend. Amazed looks and nasty comments begins to discomfort Bryan. However, the very thought of seeing his new found love keeps him exhilarated. To his surprise, Rashmi playfully disagrees confirming to the date. Nevertheless, Bryan being the adamant self keeps inducing Rashmi. And in an attempt of doing so, he enters the parking lot to encounter something he wished he never did. DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Tarun Jain is an acclaimed filmmaker. His short film Amma Meri which was set on the backdrop of agrarian crisis had won many accolades at various prestigious festivals across the globe. It was screened in over 48 festivals including the Oscar Qualifying Tampere Film Festival, IFFI Goa, MIFF, IDSFFK, Dharamshala and many more. His latest film Kaala is based on the racist attacks on the Africans in Delhi. It had its world premiere at the Oscar Qualifying Cinequest Film and VR Festival in the USA this month and also played at Rapid Lion Film Festival in Johanesberg, South African. STILLS SLIDE DECK 1/4

Indie Meme presents Family Film Month. Don't miss this fun event! Excellent selection of films for the whole family. Family Film Month - September 2015 Extend your 'together-time' with the family beyond summer break! Come to the movies presented by Indie Meme in the month of September. Enriching experience for every age in the family. From animation of age-old Indian classic tales for the very young, to father and son bonding evolving through adulthood, you are sure to find elements that speak to you and your loved ones. Check the appropriate age recommendations for each film and head over to the theater with your kids, parents and grandparents for some offbeat bonding time! VENUE: Southwest Theaters - Lake Creek 13729 Research Blvd #1500, Austin, TX 78750 DATES: Sun, Sept 6th | Fri, Sept 11 | Sat, Sept 19th This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. Follow event on FaceBook DETAILED SCHEDULE AND TICKETS Online ticketing is now closed Pappu ki Pugdandi Sunday, September 6th 2015 | 2:30-4:30pm Southwest Theaters - Lake Creek, Austin TX (recommended ages 5+) The journey of a young boy going through a new school environment and trying to fit in! Magical, adventurous, silly and lovely! More details This will be followed by the screening of LIFE, a short film. More details Brahmin Bulls Friday, September 11th 2015 7:00-10:00pm Southwest Theaters Lake Creek, Austin TX with Filmmaker, Mahesh Pailoor in attendance (recommended ages 14+) INDIE MEME MEMBER MIXER WITH FILMMAKER PRE-SCREENING 5:30-6:30pm at Cover2 A heartfelt and humorous exploration of the ever-evolving relationship between a father and son, the women in their lives, and the powerful secrets they keep. More details Goopi Gawaiyaa Bagha Bajaiyaa Saturday, September 19th 2015 2:30-4:30pm Southwest Theaters Lake Creek, Austin TX (recommended ages 7+) Two blundering yet lovable musician protagonists meet ghosts, obtain boons, avert, wars, marry princesses and help the common people live happily ever after. More details COMMUNITY PARTNERS