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

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

Indie Meme Industry is envisioned to foster connections & collaborations between South Asian film creatives, filmmakers, as well as Austin’s Film Industry Executives. Indie Meme Industry Bringing together the South Asian creative community Indie Meme Industry is envisioned to foster connections & collaborations between South Asian film creatives, filmmakers, as well as Austin’s Film Industry Executives. Past Events Indie Meme Industry Mixer Fri, Apr 24 Austin Studios Indie Meme’s Industry Mixer is envisioned to foster connections & collaborations between South Asian film creatives, IMFF 2026 visiting filmmakers as well as Austin’s Film Industry Executives. Details

This 1928 silent film is one of the treasures of world cinema. Made entirely on location in India by pioneering Indian producer-star Himansu Rai and German director Franz Osten, it depicts the adventurous and romantic backstory of the love between the Mughal Emperor and Empress who inspired the buil Shiraz AUSTIN Aug 4th (7:15 pm) and Aug 7th (6:00 pm) AFS Cinema 6406 I-35 Suite 3100, Austin, Tx INDIA | 1928 | Drama | Romance | Fiction |1 hr 37 mins | Silent Film AUSTIN SCREENING Wednesday, November 14th 2018 | 7:30 PM AFS Cinema, 6406 N IH-35 Suite 3100, Austin, Texas 78752 Get Tickets SYNOPSIS This 1928 silent film is one of the treasures of world cinema. Made entirely on location in India by pioneering Indian producer-star Himansu Rai and German director Franz Osten, it depicts the adventurous and romantic backstory of the love between the Mughal Emperor and Empress who inspired the building of the Taj Mahal. A historical romance set in the Mughal Empire. Co-presented with: Trailer

The 2018 Indie Meme Film Festival is right around the corner! Get your tickets today! April 19-22nd. SCHEDULE FILMS ATTEND YOUTH SPONSORS ABOUT PRESS Presented by IndieMeme.org Meme-er Night We invite you to an exclusive event (not open to the general public) Schedule: Thursday, April 19th 2018 6pm - 7pm - Member Mixer @ Theater 7pm - 8pm - Youth Initiative 8pm - 9:45pm - Screening of Hakla (Short) and Bhasmasur Open to: Indie Meme Members Festival Badge & Band holders Friends & Family of presenting Youth - buy tickets here If you are a 2018 member of Indie Meme, or have purchased a Festival Badge or Band, you DO NOT have to purchase a ticket for this event. Entry is included as part of the Festival. NO tickets will be sold to general public. Tickets are available for purchase to ONLY the friends and family of presenting youth. Tickets for Meem-er Night Follow event on Facebook

When a mysterious gatecrasher appears at their wedding, Madhav and Sufi are forced to face past secrets and reflect on what makes a family. Streaming April 28-May 1st, 2023 On Filmocracy Back to Festival Program 1/2 Queer Parivaar India I 27 mins I Drama I 2021 I Bengali, English w/ English subtitles WATCH ONLINE 'Iris Prize - Best British Short' - Film4 & Pinewood Studios Official Selection: BFI Flare, OUTFEST, Kashish, San Diego Int'l Film Festival, & Korea Queer Film Festival When a mysterious gatecrasher appears at their wedding, Madhav and Sufi are forced to face past secrets and reflect on what makes a family. About the Artist Shiva Raichandani is a multidisciplinary non-binary artist whose works harness the power of storytelling to create inclusive spaces for positive gender-expansive representation in media. Shiva is a screenwriter, director, and producer for film and TV. As an awardee of the inaugural Netflix Documentary Talent Fund , they directed a short film called PEACH PARADISE, which premiered on TikTok’s first-ever live film showcase. Shiva’s independent short QUEER PARIVAAR won the prestigious BAFTA-qualifying Iris Prize ‘Best British Short’ award, making it available for broadcast and streaming on Channel 4. More recently, Shiva’s documentary ALWAYS, ASIFA (commissioned by Together TV’s Diverse Film Fund 2022 ) premiered at the BFI’s London Film Festival. Shiva was a semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent ; competed on India’s and France’s Got Talent; participated in an exclusive Netflix short film ; delivered a TEDx and 'Google - I am Remarkable ’ talk; & performed at Cannes Lions. Shiva also freelances as a speaker and consultant on inclusive LGBTQIA+ practices for corporate and non-profit organisations, and is a D&I Content Consultant at New Inclusion . Shiva has degrees in Psychology, Counselling, and Media Communication. Born in Hong Kong, raised in Dubai and Indonesia, educated in India, and currently based in London, they are an ideal example of a global citizen with rich sensitivity to diverse cultures. Trailer Credits Crew Writer/Director: Shiva Raichandani Screenwriter(s): Amani Saeed & Shiva Raichandani Producer(s): Raisilience Darius Shu Neeraj Churi Associate Producer(s): Prima Alam British LGBT Awards Resham Raichandani Exec: Producer(s): Huma Qazi DOP: Darius Shu Prod Design: Kaajel Patel Make-Up: Amrita Mudan & Maha Alselami Styling: Laura Laas & Qamar Usman Featured Cast: Shiva Raichandani Taru Devani Asifa Lahore Raimu Itfum Aroob Sajjad Anick Soni Mahatma Khandi Asad Shaykh Film Editor(s): Alex Balcombe Darius Shu Colorist: Sarah Buxton Music: Rushil & Leo Kalyan Sound Design: Dan Pugsley & Eliran Sivan (Cassini Sound) Jane Lo Post-Production House: Goldcrest

Shot in rich hues on Super 16mm, this taut, 85-minute gem builds expertly, drawing a portrait of a community warmed by neighborly goodwill yet rife with unresolved division & boiling unrest. The elegant groundwork leads into an ending Variety dubbed "the kind of gut-punch that doesn’t disappear once the lights come up. Back to Afghanistan Program Online Showcase Frame by Frame Afghanistan I 85 mins I 2015 I Dari, English w/ English subtitles When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, taking a photo was a crime. After the regime fell from power in 2001, a fledgling free press emerged and a photography revolution was born. Now, as foreign troops and media withdraw, Afghanistan is left to stand on its own, and so are its journalists. Set in a modern Afghanistan bursting with color and character, FRAME BY FRAME follows four Afghan photojournalists as they navigate an emerging and dangerous media landscape – reframing Afghanistan for the world, and for themselves. Through cinema vérité, intimate interviews, powerful photojournalism, and never-before-seen archival footage shot in secret during the Taliban regime, the film connects audiences with four humans in the pursuit of the truth." + This program is included in our AFGHANISTAN RETROSPECTIVE ABOUT THE AFGHANISTAN RETROSPECTIVE VIRTUAL, ON-DEMAND SCREENING FRI. NOV 5 - 7, 2021 TICKETS About the Artist(s) Mo Scarpelli is an Italian-American director and cinematographer of mostly-non-fiction cinema. Her films linger on the rupture of identity by exterior circumstances, and the cold violence inflicted on the individual by changing landscapes. Mo's films have been exhibited at the Berlinale, IDFA, Visions du Réel, Film Society of Lincoln Center, SXSW, Olafur Eliasson's Studios in Berlin and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London, among other festivals and venues. Mo's first documentary FRAME BY FRAME , shot in Afghanistan, screened at SXSW Film Festival, Hot Docs, BFI London Film Festival, AFI DOCS and 120+ other festivals. The film garnered more than a dozen jury and audience awards and a Cinema Eye Honors nomination. It was acquired by TIME, Inc in 2016. Alexandria Bombach is an award-winning cinematographer, editor and director from New Mexico. After co-directing FRAME BY FRAME, Alexandria continued her work in Afghanistan directing the Pulitzer Center-supported NYT Op-Doc, AFGHANISTAN BY CHOICE. Her recent documentary, ON HER SHOULDERS, follows Nadia Murad, a 23-year-old Yazidi woman who survived genocide and slavery under ISIS. Nadia is thrust onto the world stage as the voice of her people - and must navigate bureaucracy, fame, and other's good intentions. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won Best Directing in the US Doc. Competitio n. Choosing to live nomadically since 2010, Alexandria is happiest when walking across the Outback with feral camels, swimming in a secret women’s swimming pool in Kabul, or spending hours riding in the bed of a truck with her camera in her lap. Trailer Credits Crew Writer/Director: ALEXANDRIA BOMBACH MO SCARPELLI Exec. Producer(s): LAILA ROSSI ALEXANDRA JOHNES NANCY SCHAFER LOUIS VENEZIA Producer(s): JEFF ORLOWSKI CHANDRA JESSEE DOUG BLUSH TREVOR HALL JEFF SEIBERT WAYNE CHANG STACEY PICULELL BAKTASH AHADI Cinematographer(s): ALEXANDRIA BOMBACH MO SCARPELLI Cast Featured Photo-Journalists: MASSOUD HOSSAINI WAKIL KOHSAR FARZANA WAHIDY NAJIBULLAH MUSAFER Crew Cont'd Editor: ALEXANDRIA BOMBACH Composer: PATRICK JONSSON Translator: ZIA MALIKY BAKTASH AHADI

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

Our jury & audience favorites are returning for a weekend of on-demand screenings, featuring some of the best South Asian films of the year. Members-only special event - join to stream 6 award winning films from June 25-27. IMFF Encore June 25-27, 2021 A SUMMERTIME CELEBRATION 2021 JURY & AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS are screening FREE for Indie Meme Members from Friday, June 25th - Sunday, June 27th. Create a free account using your member email to stream at: https://festival.filmocracy.com/indiememe/ Members are also invited to catch the award-winning FIRE IN THE MOUNTAINS. The film is in HINDI set in the beautiful mountainous region of UTTRAKHAND, India and follows a family running a small homestay. It's an astonishing debut from Ajitpal Singh. Not a current Indie Meme Member? Not a problem! Join anytime to enjoy this program, support South Asian artists, and receive further discounts year-round. RSVP to confirm your attendance JURY AWARD - BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Nasir Dir. Arun Karthick I India I 80 mins I 2020 I Tamil w/ English subtitles Nasir is a wryly funny, romantic family man going about the daily errands of his job as a salesman. As the day unfolds, his course will be altered by an act of communal bigotry. Awards/Festivals: BAFTA Breakthrough India - Arun Karthick (director) FIPRESCI - India Grand Prix - Best Indian Feature Film NYIFF - Best Narrative Feature Rotterdam - NETPAC Award - Best Asian Film Tarkovsky Film Festival - Zerkalo - Best Feature Film Official Selection: AFI Fest, New Directors/New Films, Mumbai Film Festival AUDIENCE AWARD - BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Zindagi Tamasha Dir. Sarmad Khoosat I Pakistan I 138 mins I 2019 I Urdu w/ English subtitles A devout Muslim man's life is turned into a public circus when an exposé from his private life becomes an internet sensation, calling into question his piety, respect, & sexuality. Awards/Festivals: Busan Int'l Film Festival - Kim Ji-Seok Award Official Oscar Submission - Pakistan - Best International Feature Asian World Film Festival - Snow Leopard Award - Best Film Asian World Film Festival - Best Actor (Arif Hassan) Official Selection: Busan International Film Festival, UK Asian Film Festival, Asian World Film Festival Jury AWARD - BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Shut Up Sona Dir. Deepti Gupta I India I 85 mins I 2019 I Hindi, English, Oriya w/ English subtitles A sharp, tongue-in-cheek documentary following a rebellious female singer as she fights for space in modern day India, a country deeply uncomfortable with her emancipation. Awards/Festivals National Film Award - Best Editing Impact Documentary - Award of Excellence MAMI- Film Critics Guild Award (Special Mention) for gender sensitivity Official Selection: IIFR Film Festival Rotterdam, DOC NYC, HotDocs, Sheffield Doc/Fest JURY AWARD - BEST SHORT FILM Laali Dir. Abhiroop Basu I India I 35 mins I 2020 I Hindi w/ English subtitles A lonely laundryman (Pankaj Tripathi) from the suburbs of Calcutta finds unexpected companionship in an unclaimed red dress, which triggers esoteric memories from the past. Official Selection: Dharamshala International Film Festival - World Premiere Kolkata International Film Festival New York Indian Film Festival AUDIENCE AWARD - BEST SHORT FILM Dir. Ashish Pandey I India I 22 mins I 2019 I Dogri w/ English subtitles Nooreh An eight year old Kashmiri girl, Nooreh, residing in a small village on the India-Pakistan border, believes that she has discovered a strange solution to end the relentless cross firing. Awards/ Festivals: Busan Int'l Film Festival- SONJE Award - Best Short Film Official Selection: Palm Springs International Shorts Fest International Film Festival of India Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) Belgrade Doc & Short Film Festival Int'l Documentary & Short Festival of Kerala MUBI - 2021 Streaming Selection Meet our incredible 2021 jurors and read more on our 2021 Jury and Awards page .

When an immigrant father on a work visa in the US has too much to drink at a neighborhood party, he learns how dire the consequences could be for his family. Back to Film Program IN THEATERS: Shorts Program 2 April 17th, 2022 Venue: AFS Cinema Turning Point India I 17 mins I Romance, Drama I 2022 I Hindi w/ English subtitles When an immigrant father on a work visa in the US has too much to drink at a neighborhood party, he learns how dire the consequences could be for his family. This Texas-local project was was filmed entirely using an iPhone with a largely self-taught crew. . This film plays with SHORTS PROGRAM 2 , in theaters. WATCH IN THEATERS NOTE: This film is coming only to theaters. About the Artist Rakhesh Raveendran is a business professional and self-taught local filmmaker who has also served as President of the Greater Austin Malayalee Association. His short film, TURNING POINT, was shot on iPhone with a largely debut crew and inspired by the experiences of immigrants on work visas.

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. $15 TICKETS (FREE for members) Thurs April 14th, 2022 @ 7:00PM Venue: Austin Film Society Back to Film Program NOTE: The majority of these shorts will alsoplay in our online festival April 22-25. Texas Premiere Shorts Program 1 - It's The End of the World, And I Feel Fine India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, USA I 120 mins I Coming of Age, T hriller, Comedy, Drama I Multiple Languages IN-PERSON TICKETS EXPLORE ONLINE SHORTS 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 FEATURING: An Early Spring (dir. Pramati Anand) A village girl befriends a solo female backpacker. Moshari (dir. Nuhash Humayan) In future Bangladesh, sisters face a vampiric threat. A Coup ( dir. Areeba Naveed) A girl comes out to her biased psychiatrist. Dal Bhat ( dir. Nemil Shah) *only in theaters A boy learns a secret about his identity. Baahar (Outside) ( dir. Prakshi Malik) A school admission causes family conflict. Local Middle Schooler ( dir. Sanjna Bharadwaj) A middle schooler's magic eyelashes are coveted by her friends and the US government. About the Artist(s) Pramati Anand pursued her Masters in Film & Video from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India. She has worked as a creative content strategist and writes a travel and photography blog called ‘Safarnama'. Her film, Jhat Aayi Basant (An Early Spring) was an official selection at the International Film Festival, Goa and is currently doing the festival rounds. Nemil Shah is an exciting, rising filmmaker from India. His short film, Dal Bhat, about a boy learning something unexpected about his identity, was awarded the Ritwik Ghatak 'Golden Award' in the Short Fiction category at the South Asian Short Film Festival and also screened at the ReelOut Queer Film Festival 2022. Nuhash Humayun is a Bangladesh-based writer/director with an undying love for blending genres with South-Asian identity. Nuhash is a 2022 Sundance Institute Alfred P. Sloan Fellow and an Asian Film Academy alumni. He's received support from Film Independent, Cannes Marche du Film, Locarno Open Doors & NFDC Film Bazaar. Prakshi Malik is a filmmaker and dancer creating cinema about women of color from a global perspective. She grew up in Delhi, India and is currently based in the Twin Cities, MN. She was recently awarded the 2020 Short Film Grant by Austin Film Society for her short film, Baahar. Prakshi holds an MFA in Film Production from UT- Austin. . 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. Sanjna Bharadwaj prides herself on being able to eat cereal with milk in a moving car. She enjoys finding humor in most things as well as telling stories about growing up in the Silicon Valley. Currently, you can find her hunched over her desk storyboarding for Pixar Animation Studios. She recently graduated from CalArts with a BFA in Character Animation. Trailer

Meet our 2022 sponsors, patrons and supporters. We are grateful to these organizations to help bring independent films from South Asia to our audience. Our Sponsors Thank you to our generous sponsors for their support of Indie Meme's Festivals & Programs. Our corporate, media, institutional, & local business sponsors sustain our work and further the presence of independent South Asian Cinema in Texas. We could not do it without you! Producing Sponsors Media Sponsors Directing Sponsors Small Organization / Business Sponsors Scripting Sponsors Thank you to our brilliant sponsors, past and present! We are grateful to our 2015 , 2016, 2017 , 2018, 2019 , 2020 , and 2021 sponsors. Become a Sponsor