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  • 2018 Film Festival | Austin TX | Indie Meme

    The 2018 Indie Meme Film Festival is right around the corner! Get your tickets today! April 19-22nd. Quick links: Member Tickets Senior/Student Tickets Non-Member 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

  • WADE Film Screening | indiememe

    When a mowing man comes to cut down the grass in a field, he finds a girl is sleeping there - determined to protect the insects who call it home. U.S Premiere Back to Film Program Virtual Exclusive WATCH ONLINE: April 22-25th, 2022 Wade India I 11 mins I Thriller, Animated, Action I 2021 I No spoken dialogue BUY & WATCH ONLINE A climate change horror story. In a flooded, abandoned Kolkata, sea level rise has ravaged the city, which is still achingly recognisable with life teeming in the urban ruins. The Sundarbans forest, a massive mangrove ecosystem to the south, has been submerged too, forcing all sorts of creatures to move north and into Kolkata in the struggle to survive. Humans, many of them climate refugees, scavenge the city streets. One morning, a band of humans is attacked by wild tigers. As they flee, a blind child is left behind to face the crazed tiger. This film plays with the BEYOND THE END OF THE WORLD shorts program online. About the Artist A graduate from NID Ahmedabad, Upamanyu Bhattacharyya is an animator, filmmaker, comic artist, & illustrator. He co-directed the highly acclaimed short ,WADE, with Kalp Sanghvi. Asa founding partner of Ghost Animation, Kolkata, he has worked on a wide range of projects for clients including Google, Amazon, Doctors Without Borders, & Penguin. He also has substantial experience working with live action filmmakers, including acclaimed director Mani Ratnam ‘and Academy Award winning composer A.R. Rahman. He is a published comic artist, with stories appearing in anthologies by Harper Collins & Scholastic and has taught numerous courses as a visiting faculty at NID and other film schools. Currently, he is finishing work on his next solo animated short, TEN a dark comedy about he mass exodus from Bangladesh in 1971. He is developing his first animated feature, CITY OF THREADS set in Ahmedabad in the 1960’s. A graduate from NID Ahmedabad, Kalp Sangvi is an animation filmmaker and illustrator. He co-directed and wrote the highly acclaimed animated short WADE with Upamanyu Bhattacharyya. His main pursuit is telling indigenous stories with local flavor, building on the massive range of yet untold Indian stories. In 2015, he co-founded Ghost Animation, Kolkata. The studio has since been taking the medium of animation to the masses at home and beyond. He has worked on various projects for clients including Penguin, Amazon, Sony Entertainment India, & Animal Planet. He has also worked on title sequences for feature films, including acclaimed director Mani Ratnam’s film ‘OK Kanmani’and ‘102 Not Out’ by Umesh Shukla, featuring Amitabh Bachchan & Rishi Kapoor. His artworks have also been published by Penguin and Scholastic. He is currently developing his first animated series RAJBARI: THE ANCESTRAL HOUSE, a fantasy family drama set in Kolkata. Trailer

  • Namdev Bhau | An Indie Meme Presentation

    A 65-year-old chauffeur, who is tired of the noises in the obstreperous Mumbai City life and has completely stopped speaking, decides to leave everything in search for 'Silent Valley'. Namdev Bhau DFW Screening - March 28th 2019 7:15 - 9:00 pm Angelika Film Center - Plano 7205 Bishop Rd., Plano, Texas 75024 India 2018 | Fiction | 84 mins. | Hindi/Marathi with English Subtitles TICKETS SYNOPSIS A chauffeur, NAMDEV BHAU (65), is so flustered by constant noise around him, that he has completely stopped speaking. To get away from all the noise he decides to undertake a journey to the “Silent Valley”. Namdev travels by train to a mountain town only to find that it’s noisier than the city. At the closest bus stop, he encounters a young hyper boy, Aaliq. Aaliq tries to explain that he needs to reach ‘Red Castle’ and they must travel together as he is on a secret mission. When they finally reach Silent Valley. The ‘valley’ is filled with disorderly students on a field trip. Namdev is disappointed and tears the newspaper article. Aaliq proposes they go to Red Castle. Namdev reluctantly agrees. Next morning, Namdev goes to the local café for breakfast while Aaliq sleeps. He overhears a television news-report about a couple who was killed by their relatives for eloping. It also mentions that their 12-year-old son is missing. Namdev gets a hunch that they are speaking of Aaliq and rushes back. After a brief conversation, Namdev understands the boy’s naivety for believing that his parents will meet him at the Red Castle as per instructions. Namdev decides to take him to the Red Castle and see what ensues. They reach the Red Castle. Aaliq rushes ahead for delivering the scroll to the King in Red Robe. Aaliq kneels before a Buddhist Monk and gives him the scroll. After reading, the Monk glances at Namdev, who nods to affirm. The Monk escorts Aaliq inside. Namdev leaves from the castle and stops for tea. Fireworks go off nearby and a big procession passes him by. As people dance wildly around him, a smile appears on Namdev’s face. Amidst the noise and chaos, Namdev smiles unabashedly, and begins dancing. SHORT FILM - THE LOOP "The Loop" a short by Dallas local & first time filmmaker Maruthi Maestro will be presented pre-screening followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker! A man wakes up in his room and finds some strange clues about a Time Loop. He ignores them at first but then finds himself caught in the loop. He understands the clues and leaves the same ones in an attempt to come out of the loop. What happens next? TRAILER DIRECTOR'S PROFILE DAR GAI Daria was first cast as lead actress in a play when she was 10 years old, since then she has acted and directed multiple theatre productions in Kiev, working with the best producers and critically acclaimed directors in Ukraine. After obtaining a Bachelors and Master’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in Film & Theatre from Kiev, Daria moved to India to teach screenwriting at ‘Whistling Woods International’ (India’s premier private film school). While exploring India, she came across many underlying societal idiosyncrasies which were fascinating when looked at from an objective point of view. Her first narrative feature called ‘Teen Aur Aadha’ was co-produced and presented by noted Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, follows the story of one house which 50 years ago was a school, 20 years later turns into a brothel and in present day it plays home to a 75-year-old couple. Interestingly the entire film was filmed in three long shots. It has been selected in over 35 International Festivals winning 12 awards in the process. Dar’s second film “Namdev Bhau” is premiering at the Busan International Film Festival, and will have its UK Premier at BFI’s London Film Festival. DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT The infrastructure of Mumbai has been built to hold about 5 million inhabitants. As of 2018, there are about 23 million inhabitants. As one can imagine, the human and non-human creatures of this city live in absolute chaos. Sound decibel levels in Mumbai are much higher than the UN “safety margin”, with the average sound level being about 64 times higher than that of London or New York. The importance of silence is grossly disregarded in city life. We’ve become immune to the ceaseless honking, eternal drilling/thumping from construction sites, endless rattling of trains and the obstreperous cries of vendors. Sometimes it gets so noisy that it’s difficult to hear one’s own thoughts. This is the predicament plaguing our protagonist. Namdev Bhau’s life journey toward self-discovery is shrouded by unimaginable and unforgiving probabilities of circumstance. Through a more physical escapade, he sets off trying to find an elusive ‘Silent Valley’ which promises myths of a ‘zero noise’ experience. On the way he chances upon a cheerful 12-year-old boy who is unknowingly escaping a gruesome violence committed onto his parents. This becomes an important underlying theme of the film. His parents had been brutally murdered by their relatives for having married outside their caste. Inter-caste marriage related murders are commonplace in India and have been on the rise in the last few years. The idea of which perfectly juxtaposes the digital and technological revolution of the country to the inane and barbaric rituals of ancient cultures. The narrative then prioritizing the “coming-of-age” for the orphaned 12-year-old boy as well as the disgruntled 65-year-old man, as both of them reach a pivotal stage in their journey towards self-discovery and will then be more capable of deconstructing the illusions which societal structures have manufactured. CREDITS PRINCIPAL CREW AND CAST MEMBERS Producer/s: Dheer Momaya Story and Script/Screenplay: Dar Gai Director of Photography: Aditya Varma Editor: Shounok Ghosh Music: Andrea Guerra Cast: Namdev Gurav, Aarya Dave, Zoya Hussain Sound Design: Rakshit Thantry Production Design: Dar Gai AWARDS Busan International Film Festival (World Premier) BFI's London International Film Festival (UK Premier) STILLS P1180281 P1040167 TICKETS Trouble purchasing tickets? Click the link below. BUY TICKETS - link NB-Tickets MEDIA PARTNERS

  • HAWA (2022) Film Screening | indiememe

    A fishing trawler is beset by mysterious, possibly supernatural occurences after they take onboard a young woman lost at sea. Back to Festival Progra m 1/4 Sat. April 15th @ 4:00PM AFS Cinemas Virtual: April 28- May 1 HAWA Bangladesh I 130 mins I Drama, Mystery, Fantasy I 2022 Bengali, Bangla w/ English subtitles BUY TICKETS WATCH ONLINE Winner of 'Best Director' and "Best Actress' at the DC South Asian Film Festival. Bangladesh's Official Oscar Entry for 'Best International Feature' On a small fishing trawler in the Bay of Bengal, a group of sailors is surpised by a highly unusual catch - a young woman adrift at sea. The small, all male crew view this new arrival with a mix of suspicion and attraction. As strange events begin to pile up, the true nature of this visitor is called into question. This mysterious and genre-defying tale draws from fairytale and myth to create a new high point in modern Bangladeshi cinema. About the Artist Mejbaur Rahman Sumon started his career in 2010 as a Television Director after finishing his study in Fine Arts from Dhaka University. His debut film HAWA, released nationally and globally in 2022, screening at festivals from Kolkata to Osaka. The film became Bangladesh’s official entry into the 'Best International Feature Film' category of the 95th Academy Awards and was shortlisted for the Golden Globes. Since it's release, HAWA has been among the most acclaimed and in-demand titles of Bangladeshi cinema both within Bangladesh and around the globe - cementing Sumon as a rising contemporary voice in the industry. Trailer Credits Crew Writer/ Director: Mejbar Rahman Sumon Producer(s): Anjan Chowdhury Pintu Shimul Chandra Biswas A joy Kumar Kundu Writer(s): Jaheen Faruque Amin Sukorno Shahed Dhiman Mejbaur Rahman Sumon Film Editor: Sazal Alok DOP: Kamrul Hasan Khosru 2nd Unit DOP: Tanveer Ahmed Shovon Chief AD: Mostaque Ahmed Titu Composer: Rasheed Sharif Shoaib Cast: Chanchal Chowdhury Nazifa Tushi Shohel Mondol Nasir Uddin Khan Sariful Razz Sumon Anowar Bablu Bose Rizvi Rizu Mahmud Alam Sound Design: Anirban Ganguly Prod Design: Mejbaur Rahman Sumon Costumes: Aniqa Zaheen

  • Become a Sponsor | Indie Meme

    Take action to reach our audience for your organization while accomplishing your social responsibility by making a difference in local & global communities. SPONSOR INDIE MEME Reach our audience, support local arts and culture, & foster global community connections through socially conscious independent cinema from South Asia. "My debut feature, Kacchey Limbu, arrived at Austin thanks to Indie Meme's Year End Program. It was the first showing of the film in America, and I couldn't have asked for a better screening, audience, or reception for the film. This experience was embellished further by Indie Meme's special connection with their audience. The festival doesn't just share the film, but also the context of its making. It was a most fulfilling experience as a filmmaker to present my film at the special venue that is the Austin Film Society Theatre. Shubham Yogi Filmmaker, Kacchey Limbu What We Do And Why Indie Meme brings meaningful, thought-provoking independent films from South Asia to our audience here in Texas. After each screening of these award-winning films that often have limited distribution in the US, we host lively discussions about thematic elements both in-person and online to build our community. We are unique in what we do and how we do it. We believe in independent filmmakers and the stories only they can tell. We exist to amplify their voices, ensuring their work is provided a space and context where it can resonate far and wide. When possible, we team up with relevant community organizations and support them through fundraisers & awareness campaigns. Your Investment And The Exposure For Your Brand Become an Indie Meme Sponsor, support meaningful, socially relevant, award-winning independent cinema and help foster conversations that build global community connections. Your investment will highlight and expose your brand to a desirable demographic. Our loyal fan following of the Indie Meme community grows with every screening, actively engaging with our partners and sponsors. In addition to putting your brand in front of our U.S audience via our film screenings, we garner a lot of interest fr om South Asia - India / Pakistan / Bangladesh / Nepal / Bhutan / Afghanistan / Sri Lanka – with site traffic covering a distinctive cross-section of society in India & abroad. Indie Meme is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation may be tax-deductible, depending on your individual tax circumstances. Please consult your tax advisor. Prospectus - Corporate Prospectus - Small Businesses Become a Corporate Sponsor Become a Small Business Sponsor OUR 2026 SPONSORS For more information or to customize your sponsorship: Please reach out to sponsorship@indiememe.org ! Become a Corporate Sponsor Marquee Sponsor 15,000 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Presenting Sponsor 10,000 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Producing Sponsor 7,500 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Directing Sponsor 5,000 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Scripting Sponsor 3,000 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Become a Small Business Sponsor Gold Small Business Sponsor $ 2,000 2,000$ Valid for one year Buy Now Silver Small Business Sponsor $ 1,000 1,000$ Valid for one year Buy Now Bronze Small Business Sponsor $ 500 500$ Valid for one year Buy Now Join Our Dedicated Sponsors OUR 2026 SPONSORS Become a Corporate Sponsor Contact for Purchase Become a Corporate Sponsor Marquee Sponsor 15,000 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Up to 8 Platinum Badges for IMFF 8 complimentary tickets for single screenings Discounted All-Access Festival Badges 20% off in-person screening & event tickets Socials/mixers to build our Meme-er community Additional discounted tickets/badges to bring friends and family Opportunity to address the audience before or after the film Advertisement during screening (all movies, all year round) Logo display (newsletter, website, social media) Media Interview Presenting Sponsor 10,000 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Up to 6 Platinum Badges for IMFF 6 complimentary tickets for single screenings Discounted All-Access Festival Badges 20% off in-person screening & event tickets Socials/mixers to build our Meme-er community Additional discounted tickets/badges to bring friends and family Opportunity to address the audience before or after the film Advertisement during screening (all movies, all year round) Logo display (newsletter, website, social media) Media Interview Producing Sponsor 7,500 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Up to 4 Platinum Badges for IMFF 4 complimentary tickets for single screenings Discounted All-Access Festival Badges 20% off in-person screening & event tickets Socials/mixers to build our Meme-er community Additional discounted tickets/badges to bring friends and family Opportunity to address the audience before or after the film Advertisement during screening (all movies, all year round) Logo display (newsletter, website, social media) Media Interview Directing Sponsor 5,000 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Up to 2 Platinum Badges for IMFF 2 complimentary tickets for single screenings Discounted All-Access Festival Badges 20% off in-person screening & event tickets Socials/mixers to build our Meme-er community Additional discounted tickets/badges to bring friends and family Opportunity to address the audience before or after the film Advertisement during screening (all movies, all year round) Logo display (newsletter, website, social media) Media Interview Scripting Sponsor 3,000 $ Valid for one year Contact for Purchase Up to 2 Platinum Badges for IMFF 2 complimentary tickets for single screenings Discounted All-Access Festival Badges 20% off in-person screening & event tickets Socials/mixers to build our Meme-er community Additional discounted tickets/badges to bring friends and family Opportunity to address the audience before or after the film Advertisement during screening (all movies, all year round) Logo display (newsletter, website, social media) Media Interview Become a Small Business Sponsor Gold Small Business Sponsor $ 2,000 2,000$ Valid for one year Buy Now Logo/brand name in every pre-show slide show Large Logo/brand name displayed in theater Inclusion of promotion material in the festival goodie bag Platinum Badge for Film Festival Invitation to exclusive festival preview party Pre-festival shoutout on social media Logo display in Indie Meme newsletters Logo display on Indie Meme Sponsor website with hyperlink Logo display on Indie Meme website footer 2 tickets for post-festival films (year-round) 20% discount on 2 festival badges, 4 movie tickets/film Silver Small Business Sponsor $ 1,000 1,000$ Valid for one year Buy Now Logo/brand name in every pre-show slide show Medium Logo/brand name displayed in theater Inclusion of promotion material in the festival goodie bag Regular Badge for Film Festival Invitation to exclusive festival preview party Pre-festival shoutout on social media Logo display in Indie Meme newsletters Logo display on Indie Meme Sponsor website with hyperlink Logo display on Indie Meme Website footer 2 tickets for post-festival films (year-round) 20% discount on 2 festival badges, 4 movie tickets/film Bronze Small Business Sponsor $ 500 500$ Valid for one year Buy Now Logo/brand name in every pre-show slide show Small Logo/brand name displayed in theater Inclusion of promotion material in the festival goodie bag Weekend Badge for Film Festival Invitation to exclusive festival preview party Pre-festival shoutout on social media Logo display in Indie Meme newsletters Logo display on Indie Meme Sponsor website with hyperlink Logo display on Indie 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  • BAMBIRAK Film Screening | indiememe

    When 8-year-old Kati stows away in her father's delivery van, Faruk must juggle his responsibilities as a single dad while holding down his first job in a new country. Back to Film Program IN THEATERS: Rehana April 16th, 2022 AFS Cinema WATCH ONLINE: April 22-25th, 2022 Eventive Bambirak India I 17 mins I Romance, Drama I 2022 I Hindi w/ English subtitles BUY & WATCH ONLINE When 8-year-old Kati stows away in her father's delivery van, Faruk must juggle his responsibilities as a single dad while holding down his first job in a new country. As their relationship deepens, a brush with covert racism tests the bond between a father and daughter. + Sundance 2021, Winner Best International Fiction . This film plays with REHANA , in theaters and with the FAMILY SHORTS program online. WATCH IN THEATERS NOTE: This film is coming to theaters and our virtual cinema. About the Artist Born in Afghanistan and raised in Germany, Zamarin Wahdat attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts Graduate film program as a Dean’s Fellow. Her work as a cinematographer has screened at Sundance, Berlinale, SXSW & Tribeca and she contributed camerawork to the Academy Award-winning short documentary LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN WARZONE (IF YOU'RE A GIRL). Her first short as director, BAMBIRAK, received the Sundance Short Film Jury Award for International Fiction and was supported by the HFPA. She is the recipient of the Nestor Almendros Award for outstanding cinematography and was selected for the American Society of Cinematographer’s Vision Mentorship Program in 2020/21. Zamarin just finished shooting the documentary feature, I AM SARAH (dir. Charlie Feldman), about Syrian swimmer and activist Sarah Mardini. She is a member of the IFCF (International Collective of Female Cinematographers) and Free the Work. Trailer

  • EIKHOIGI YUM (OUR HOME) Film Screening | indiememe

    In an isolated fishing community, a young man seeks to defy his marginalization by making the journey to school by boat. However, his family's challenges mount when they face displacement. Back to Festival Program Sun. April 16th @ 12:45PM AFS Cinemas Virtual: April 28- May 1 International Premiere 1/1 EIKHOIGI YUM (OUR HOME) India I 87 mins I Drama, Coming of Age I 2022 Manipuri w/ English subtitles BUY TICKETS WATCH ONLINE *LIVE, IN-Person Q&A with Director Romi Meitei Official Selection of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival FIPRESCI Award for 'Best International Film' at IFFK Belonging to an isolated fishing community at Loktak lake, a young boy, Chaoren, seeks to defy his family's marginalization by excelling in school. When the canoe he uses every day must be sold due to his father’s illness, his spirit is not dampened. He beats the long distance to school by swimming. However, when the Government issues an eviction notice against Chaoren’s family, his strongly held dreams may be dashed by displacement. About the Artist Romi Meitei is prolific filmmaker who has produced several box-office hits. Besides notching up commercial successes, his films have been screened in world-renowned film festivals including IFFI, MIFF, IFFK, and others. He is recipient of the prestigious FIPRESCI and NETPAC awards, and well as the 'Best Director' Prize at the Sailadhar Film Awards in Assam. His projects have also received several Manipur State Film Awards, including ' Best Feature Film', 'Art Director', 'Child Artiste', and 'Best Editor' fo r EIKHOIGI YUM at the MSFA 22 award ceremony. He is the Chairman of Mami Thawan Foundation, which aims to render services for the welfare of Manipur. Trailer Thank you to our community partner for this screening! Credits Crew Writer/Director: Romi Meitei Screenplay: Romi Meitei Producer(s): Chingsubam Sheetal Romi Meitei Cinematography: Kangabam Bikram Singh Johni Meitei Music: Sori Senjam Sound : Debajit Gayan Nayan Bhutan Colorist: Prashant Sharma Art Director: Konjengbam Demba Film Editor: Johni Me itei

  • The Booth | An Indie Meme Presentation

    A female frisking booth inside a crowded shopping mall stands as a silent ally to a forbidden romance. The Booth India | 14 MIN. 58 SEC. |Hindi Virtual IMFF 2020 Screening Details: Saturday, May 9 2020 | Screening : 7.00pm - 8.15pm SYNOPSIS A female frisking booth inside a crowded shopping mall stands as a silent ally to a forbidden romance. DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT Rohin Raveendran Nair Rohin Raveendran Nair is an independent filmmaker and cinematographer based out of Mumbai, India. He holds a BA (Honours) in Journalism from University of Delhi. In 2016 he finished his specialization in cinematography from Film and Television Institute of India. The Booth is the third short film directed by Rohin after 'Little Hands' and 'Paijana' (Anklet). Little Hands travelled to many reputed film festivals in India and abroad including Curtas Vila Do Conde (Portugal), Dharamshala International Film Festival. 'Paijana' was the winner of the international one-minute film festival, Filminute, in 2016 (jury was headed by Hsiao-Hsien Hou). Rohin worked as the 2nd unit director, 2nd unit cinematographer on both seasons of India's first Netflix Originals, Sacred Games, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap. STILLS SLIDE DECK 1/2

  • The Orphanage (2019) | An Indie Meme Presentation

    In the late 1980s, a young man who daydreams of action-packed Bollywood heroics finds himself in an orphanage as the Soviets maintain control and the Mujahideen fight to take their land back. The Orphanage Afghanistan & Denmark |Fiction-Drama | 2019 |90 min| Dari, Russian, Hindi; English subtitles Virtual IMFF 2020 Screening: Sunday, May 3 2020 | Screening : 7.00pm - 9.15pm Texas Premiere Zoom Q&A with filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat With Special Thanks to Our Community Partner: In the late 1980s, a young man who daydreams of action-packed Bollywood heroics finds himself in an orphanage as the Soviets maintain control and the Mujahideen fight to take their land back. SYNOPSIS In the late 1980s, 15-year-old Qodrat lives in the streets of Kabul and sells cinema tickets on the black market. He is a big Bollywood fan and he daydreams himself into some of his favorite movie scenes. One day the Police brings him to the Soviet orphanage. But in Kabul the political situation is changing. Qodrat and all the children want to defend their home. DIRECTOR’S NOTE (Interview Excerpts) The film is based on your friend Anwar’s memories. What elements in his story encouraged you to adapt them as a screenplay? I found his story very honest, simple and rich at the same time. His story took me on a journey through the history of Afghanistan over the last forty years. From the innocent point of view of an orphan. He was a child stuck in a war that was not his war. It’s exactly how I feel today living in Afghanistan. Is your friend’s testimony an indirect way of questioning Afghanistan’s recent history? One can’t question the present if one doesn’t know the past. There are enough films about Afghanistan today and I swear the whole world knows there is a conflict there. What interests me is to dig into the past, to find out where all this mess actually started from. You use a lot of cinematic “grammar” from Bollywood in the film. How did you come up with the idea of creating your own Bollywood sequences? Well, Bollywood is a huge film industry in my part of the world and the friendship between Afghanistan and India has made it even stronger. Almost all Afghans can speak Urdu because they watch so many Indian movies. Perhaps the 1980’s were the golden time for that, because we had cinema theaters and there was peace at least in Kabul, the capital. In Afghanistan today, there are many “Z films” being produced one after another influenced by Bollywood movies. So the idea was not very far away from me. Also the fact that Anwar sold cinema tickets on the black market and was a big fan of Bollywood made this idea fit into the film. DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Shahrbanoo Sadat Shahrbanoo Sadat is an Afghan, female writer and director, based in Kabul. She studied at Atelier Varan Kabul. Her first feature film Wolf and Sheep was developed with the Cannes Cinéfondation Residence in 2010, Shahr - 20 years old at the time - the youngest ever selected. The film won the main award at Directors’ Fortnight 2016. Her second feature film The Orphanage is also after Wolf and Sheep the second part of a planned pentalogy, five films based on an unpublished autobiography. It was presented at Directors’ Fortnight in 2019. She is working on the third and fourth parts now. All the stories are inspired by Anwar’s piece. He tries to publish his diary and inside of her there is a wish growing to make a film not based and not inspired by Anwar's work. She plans to start ons omething new once she finishes this pentalogy. STILLS SLIDE DECK 1/9 CREDITS Cast Qodratollah Qadiri, Sediqa Rasuli, Masihullah Feraji, Hasibullah Rasooli, Ahmad Fayaz Osmani, Anwar Hashimi Crew Crew Director: Shahrbanoo Sadat Inspired by Anwar Hashimi’s unpublished diary Screenwriter: Shahrbanoo Sadat DOP: Virginie Surdej SBC Editor: Alexandra Strauss Sound Design: Sigrid DPA Jensen, Anne Gry Friis Kristensen Producer: Katja Adomeit Production: Adomeit Film ApS Coproduction: Adomeit Film UG, La Fabrica Nocturna Cinéma, Samsa Film, Wolf Pictures Coproducers: Marina Perales Marhuenda, Xavier Rocher, Jani Thiltges, Shahrbanoo Sadat Associate Producers: Tine Mikkelsen, Jon Hammer World Sales: Luxbox French Distributor: Rouge Distribution Danish Distributor: Scanbox Entertainment Danmark A/S

  • Sagar Manav | An Indie Meme Presentation

    A society that runs on rich dreams often looks over the hardships of the working class. Sagar Manav 13mins / Short Narrative /India SYNOPSIS A society that runs on rich dreams often looks over the hardships of the working class. There are a few people who choose not to climb this ladder and instead watch the battle for rich dreams unfold in front of them. Almost as if they are spectators, standing on blood shed, in the war between the mighty gladiators. To earn bread and butter, a working class man gives all his life to work. His dream of becoming rich fades away as he succumbs to the problems at home and work. He is churned till the age of 60 and he is then forced to leave the mess he understood as life. Chaman Bhai Charlie is a man full of life, the charmer in a crowd. He is also a lighthouse attendant at Samiyani, a small island located in the Gulf of Kutch. The island spreads across a length of 1 km and is situated 2 kilometers away from Okha Port. Every evening, for 15 days, he sees the lights shimmer at the Okha Port as he goes to sleep. After 15 days he heads home and another man comes in place of him at the island. But his struggle continues, in Lighthouse headquarters at Okha, and his home in Dwarka. Tickets TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE TRAILER DIRECTOR'S BIO Tanumoy Bose is a post-graduate film student from National Institute of Design, India. He is also directing ad films, music videos and documentaries and is currently based in Mumbai. His interest lies in exploring the loneliness of human existence. He is of the belief though, that an artist's job is not to succumb to the despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of human existence. Production credits: Director - Tanumoy Bose Guide - Arun Gupta Cinematographer - Athul SN, Jitesh Mhetre Editor - Tanumoy Bose and Madhuri ravishankar Story of - Chaman Bhai Charlie Additional Cinematography- Sandeep Raj Previous Screenings: Best Student Documentary – Jeevika Film Festival (2015) Best Short Documentary – International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (2015) Special Award for Sincerity and Poetic Image – Baikal International Film Festival, Russia (2015) Best Documentary – International Film Festival of Trissur (2016) Jury Commendation- Toto Awards, Bangalore (2016) Nominated – SIGNS Film Festival (2015) Nominated – All Lights International Film Festival (2015) Nominated – Vasakh Documentary Film Festival, Pakistan (2015) Nominated – Film South Asia, Nepal (2015) Nominated – Kolkata International Film Festival (2015) Nominated -- Mumbai International Film Festival, National Category (2016) Screening - Films Division, Mumbai

  • Tale of Rising Rani | An Indie Meme Presentation

    A lovely coming-of-age story that centers courage and friendship even as it tackles underage marriages, the "khaap" panchayats and the court system in rural India. Tale of Rising Rani India | Fiction | Drama | 2019 | 122 MIN. |Hindi; English Subtitles Virtual IMFF 2020 Screening Details: Saturday, May 2 2020 | Screening : 7.00pm - 9.45pm North America Premiere Zoom Q&A with filmmaker Prakash Saini A lovely coming-of-age story that centers courage and friendship even as it tackles underage marriages, the "khaap" panchayats and the court system in rural India. SYNOPSIS ‘Tale Of Rising Rani’ targets the sensitive topics of underage marriage, the lack of education and simultaneously on the false justice systems or “councils” managing these rural areas even today. Currently focusing on the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, in a village called ‘Pampu’ and the local language used is ‘Brij’, where this “trend” of underage marriage is highly popular, the director ‘Prakash Saini’ has exquisitely expressed his views on the above topics from this tale. Our story depicts the life of a young village girl ‘Rani’, they type that is immovable when it comes to protecting her own, no matter the force approaching and the one who will not shy going against all odds for the right, truly one of her kind. As this beautiful story unfolds we see in detail the hardships faced by these young girls. The physical and mental torture they are put through, and the smile that they fake while going through such atrocities, and succumbing to them with the only intention of pleasing their families. One of the most dangerous phrases ever said, “this is how we have been doing things...” With Special Thanks to our Community Partner: DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Prakash Saini ‘Prakash Saini’ made his debut as a director with ‘Meri Padosan’ (My Neighbour) in 2009, a pure comedy film, where we see the lengths that a man will go to win a contest. With a tunnel vision towards winning, he is willing to breach all of his neighbours’ personal boundaries to win. Followed by another comedy film, fused with a little action in 2014, ‘Chal Bhaag’ (Let’s Run), a film where tragedy meets coincidence, where 3 not so innocent men are framed for a murder of a local politician. They try to escape, they succeed and are now on the run. ‘Prakash Saini’ came from a small village with no filmmaking background or experience. Fortunate enough to land a lot of work initially to his debut and working tediously, he made his way and was offered to direct the above mentioned films. Coming back with a topic that he felt needed dire attention, and the concerns of it ascending rapidly he chose to make his debut as a Writer & Director with ‘Tale Of Rising Rani’. STILLS SLIDE DECK 1/5

  • 2021 IMFF Film Program | indiememe

    The full line-up of films to be screened in April, 2021 at the Indie Meme Film Festival, including features, documentaries, & shorts. FEATURE PROGRAM The feature film program includes 10 films from 6 South Asian countries. All films are included with a Festival Badge and may also be accessed through individual tickets, which go on sale in April. To download a printable PDF of the schedule click here. NOTE: Due to distribution rights, films are only available to stream in the United States . Bulbul A young mother works as a tempo driver to support her family after her husband abroad stops communicating. On the job, she finds herself falling for a new man. Nepal I 116 mins I 2019 I Nepali w/ English subtitles Nirvana Inn India I 102 mins I 2019 I Assamese, Hindi w/ English subtitles This psychological horror film tells the story of a suicidal boat driver who purposefully capsizes his vessel, killing all aboard. However, when he later accepts a resort job, he finds his victims checking in . Shut Up Sona 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. Zindagi Tamasha 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. 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. Hava, Maryam, Ayesha Rituals of Resistance Tibet I 63 mins I 2019 I English & Tibetan w/ English subtitles A Tibetan-American filmmaker explores modes of resistance to Chinese occupation by speaking with activists across three generations exiled in disparate parts of the world. Trijya (Radius) India I 91 mins I 2019 I Marathi w/ English subtitles Artistically inclined villager Avdhut Kale struggles to find his place in the metropolis of Pune. His work and the pressure of societal expectations disconnect from himself as he seeks firm ground to call his own. Nasir 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. Seven and a Half Iran I 75 mins I 2019 I Persian w/ English subtitles The tales of 7 Iranian & Afghani girls, told in seven episodes. The stories deal with overlapping issues of marriage, violence, and the loss of control over one's own destiny. Veyilmarangal (Trees Under The Sun) India I 108 mins I 2019 I Malayam w/ English subtitles A Kerala family loses their home to catastrophic floods and must move to Himachal Pradesh, becoming guards of an apple orchard in the Himalayans. They contend with caste discrimination & the changing seasons. SHORTS BLOCKS Shorts Blocks are our curated pairings of shorts around common situations & themes. All shorts blocks are included with a Badge and may also be accessed through individual tickets, which go on sale in April. To explore our shorts in greater detail, scroll down to the SHORTS PROGRAM below, Shorts Showcase I: In Lockdown India I 48 mins I Hindi, Bengali w/ English subtitles Three shorts following characters as they seek shelter & navigate tensions during the COVID-19 lockdown. MANGSHO , SUTTABAAZI , TRIVEDI JI + Includes pre-recorded Q&As w/ the filmmakers Shorts Showcase IV: True to You Nepal I India I 51 mins I Nepalese, Punjabi w/ English subtitles Two shorts following young adults as they seek a safety in their personal, religious, & working lives. SAB RAB DE BANDE , PARI OF POKHARA + Includes pre-recorded Q&As w/ the filmmakers Showing with Features Anita India I 17 mins I 2020 I Gujarati w/ English subtitles While attending her sister's wedding in India, Anita has some news to share. Her family's response pushes her to question whether her life in America is any better than those in her hometown. India I 17 mins I 2019 I Hindi w/ English subtitles The Last Rights An Indian woman challenges her society's patriarchal traditions, and the family members who would enforce them, in order to give her beloved, recently deceased grandmother her last rites. Shorts Showcase I: In Lockdown Mangsho (The Meat) India I 19 mins I 2020 I Bengali w/ English subtitles A young migrant worker walks from Delhi to his old hometown due to the COVID-19 lockdown. He seeks shelter with an Islamophobic politician and must hide his status as a religious minority. Shorts Showcase II: Youth Special Mauj Be-Harkat Si Pakistan I 18 mins I 2019 I Urdu w/ English subtitles A young boy is torn between learning to help care for his disabled sister and forcing her to experience the world as he does. Shorts Showcase III: In Your Head Kalam Nepal I 18 mins I 2019 I Nepali w/ English subtitles At the outset of a civil war, villagers migrate from rural Nepal to urban India to survive. A young boy aims to remain behind to play in an upcoming football tournament with his friends. Shorts Showcase IV: True to You Sab Rab de Bande India I 28 mins I 2019 I Punjabi w/ English subtitles A short documentary profiling five queer members of the Sikh community with a variety of identities. The film investigates how the personal, religious, and familial aspects of their lives interact. Shorts Showcase II: Youth Special Pakistan I India I Bangladesh I 52 mins I Various w/ English subtitles Three shorts centered on young people's formative relationships: with friends, family, & society. MAUJ BE-HARKAT SI , TIFFIN , & FURNITURE + Includes pre-recorded Q&As w/ the filmmakers Dry Leaves Pakistan I 10 mins I 2019 I Urdu w/ English subtitles Zahida arrives at an elder home, believing her son will take her back after a week's stay. She meets Farhat, who is also full of hope. However, she soon realizes the future might be different from her expectations. $7 TICKETS Suttabaazi India I 14 mins I 2020 I Hindi w/ English subtitles 19-year-old Diya is a rising social media star and clandestine smoker. Her household is a pressure cooker about to blow. This is a story about the cracks within families and the bonds which bridge them. Tiffin India I 15 mins I 2019 I Hindi w/ English subtitles A young, Muslim girl thinks she has a strong friend group, but finds that at lunch they'll share food with anyone but her. When a prankster steals everyone else's food, can she turn it into an opportunity? Sunday India I 10 mins I 2019 I Hindi w/ English subtitles A middle aged man makes a pilgrimage to his favorite barber shop every Sunday, rain or shine. And it’s not just for a shave. As a closeted gay man, he nurses a crush on his charming hairdresser. Pari of Pokhara Nepal I 23 mins I 2019 I Nepalese w/ English subtitles A young Nepalese girl wants to escape poverty and become a Bollywood star. Her Indian friend Abhinash is willing to help her to take her to Mumbai but she is unaware of his true intentions. Shorts Showcase III: In Your Head Nepal I India I 64 mins I Nepali, Hindi w/ English subtitles Three shorts showcasing the experience of men and boys, dealing with love, longing, and lost dreams. Short Films: KALAM , SUNDAY, & LAALI + Includes pre-recorded Q&As w/ the filmmakers Nooreh India I 22 mins I 2019 I Dogri w/ English subtitles 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. Trivedi Ji India I 15 mins I 2020 I Hindi w/ English subtitles A young actress stranded in her apartment during the COVID-19 crisis has only her Aloe Vera plant, named Trivedi Ji, to keep her company as she experiences the loneliness of lockdown. Furniture Bangladesh I 24 mins I 2019 I Bangla w/ English subtitles After moving to a new town to find better education for their children, a family is taken aback by the strong pressure to purchase furniture for entertaining. Each family member responds in their own way. Laali India I 35 mins I 2020 I Hindi w/ English subtitles A lonely laundryman from the suburbs of Calcutta finds unexpected companionship in an unclaimed red dress, which triggers esoteric memories from the past. SHORTS PROGRAM Our 2021 Shorts Program includes 15 short films from across South Asia. All shorts are included with a Badge, though note that some shorts can be found playing with a paired feature while others screen in a themed shorts block. Click on the short film listings below to learn more. Shorts Showcase I

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