We look forward to seeing you at SSAFF 2015 and hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together!

Transcription

1 Tasveer NE 18th St Sammamish WA (206) September 15 th, 2015 Welcome to the 2015 Seattle South Asian Film Festival, presented by Tasveer. For the past ten years, Tasveer has worked to enhance the profile of thoughtful, provocative, and meaningful cinema from and about South Asia. Being the largest South Asian film festival in the country, with a greater depth and range of programming than ever before, we expect the 2015 Festival to be an unprecedented success. Our theme, Coming Home encompasses narratives and documentaries from around the world, chosen and presented here to inspire, provoke, and delight. The following Media Guide includes contact information, details on press access, background on Tasveer and the Festival, film listings, and information on panels and events. We hope you will find it very helpful, and will not hesitate to get in touch if we can do anything to facilitate your coverage and experience. We look forward to seeing you at SSAFF 2015 and hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together! Best regards, Rita Meher Executive Director / Co-Founder, Tasveer rita@tasveer.org

2 TASVEER 10 th SEATTLE SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL MEDIA KIT Table of Contents TASVEER BACKGROUND Page 3 SSAFF 2015 FACT SHEET Page 4 TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS at the 10 th ANNUAL SSAFF Page 6 EXPECTED FILMMAKERS AT SSAFF... Page 9 SSAFF 2015 TICKETING INFO Page 10 PRESS INFO Page 12 SSAFF 2015 SPONSORS Page 13 SSAFF 2015 TEAM Page 14 2

3 TASVEER BACKGROUND Mission: To curate thought-provoking artistic work of South Asians through films, forums, visual art, and performances that engage and empower the larger Greater Seattle community. The Story: Tasveer (meaning picture in Hindi/Urdu) was co-founded by Rita Meher and Farah Nousheen. Passionate about telling the stories of South Asians and dispelling stereotypes in the media post-9/11, the two happened to meet in Seattle in Later that year, they attended a San Francisco-based South Asian Festival together, which helped to cement their ideas and Tasveer emerged in a few short months. Tasveer quickly became the platform to connect real South Asian stories with the local Seattle community. Screening indie films, documentaries and shorts throughout the city, they started small but had a big vision for the organization. About Tasveer: Founded in March 2002, Tasveer has become a vital and vibrant artistic platform in Seattle for South Asians with roots in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and for the broader community. Tasveer is dedicated to providing a space and a stage for South Asian voices (often stifled by culture, community, fear or stigma) to share their truths aloud. Through thought-provoking artistic expression via films, forums, visual art, performances and -- most importantly -- meaningful dialogues between artists, activists and the community, Tasveer goes beyond Bollywood movies and bhangra music, as participants often step out of their comfort zones to bring to light difficult issues that demand attention and discussion. Programs: Tasveer now produces three key events throughout the year with the support of grant funders, individual donors, hundreds of volunteers, and thousands of audience members. The South Asian International Documentary (SAID) Festival and AAINA Spotlighting Women s Issues take place in the spring each year and the Seattle South Asian Film Festival is in the fall. Status: Tasveer is a fully federally recognized 501(c)3 organization and was incorporated as a nonprofit in March Tasveer: Seattle South Asian Film Festival: 3

4 SSAFF 2015 FACT SHEET SSAFF by Numbers 32 Features 27 Shorts 9 Countries represented 24+ Attending filmmakers Countries represented: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States Pre-festival SSAFF screenings: Bellevue Art Museum Thursday, 9/24/2015: 6:30PM to 10PM 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA Opening Night Gala: An evening showcasing Seattle premiere of For Here or to Go? Postfilm Q&A, meet the filmmaker and stars, food, wine, music, and much more Thursday, 10/15/2015 from 7PM to 12AM AMC Pacific Place 11, 600 Pine Street #400, Seattle, WA Weekend 1: SSAFF Film Screenings Friday, 10/16/2015 from 7PM to 11PM Saturday, 10/17/2015 from 12PM to 11PM Sunday, 10/18/2015 from 12PM to 6PM 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA Symposium: Human Rights and the Politics of Filmmaking in South Asia Co-sponsored by South Asia Center, UW Seattle, School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, UW Bothell, and Tasveer Monday, 10/19/2015 from 8:30AM to 6PM Thomson Hall, Room 317, UW Seattle, 1410 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle Tuesday, 10/20/2015 from 8:30 6PM North Creek Event Center, UW Bothell, Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA Workshop: The Art of Storytelling Presented by Tasveer in collaboration with Northwest Film Forum The Art of Storytelling, featuring a panel of visiting filmmakers moderated by Jayant Swamy & Smeeta Hirani Monday, 10/19/2015 from 6:30PM to 9PM Northwest Film Forum, th Ave, Seattle, WA Week 1: SSAFF film screenings Monday, 10/19/2015 from 9PM to 10:30PM Tuesday, 10/20/2015 from 6:30 10PM 4

5 Northwest Film Forum, th Ave, Seattle, WA Thursday, 10/22/2015 from 6:30PM to 10PM Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, Seattle Featuring Fawzia Mirza, 1-woman comedic play ME, MY MOM & SHARMILA, with her comedy short film The First Session Weekend 2: SSAFF Film Screenings Friday, 10/23/2015 from 7PM to 12PM Second Story Hideaway, Redmond, th AVE NE, Ste. 245 Saturday, 10/24/2015 from 2PM to 6PM IKEA Performing Art Center, 400 S 2 nd St, Renton, WA Saturday, 10/24/2015, from 7PM to 11:30PM Sunday, 10/25/205, from 12PM to 6PM followed by Closing Awards & Reception : 6PM Carco Theater, 1717 SE Maple Valley Hwy, Renton, WA Tasveer SSAFF 2015 Jury Award Select feature films will be eligible for the Second SSAFF jury award. Tasveer SSAFF 2015 Audience Awards Best Narrative Best Short Best Documentary 5

6 TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS at SSAFF 2015 For Here or to Go? (USA) Thursday, 7PM Opening Night Gala Show Film Set against the backdrop of the 2008 recession, For Here or To Go? is a comedy drama about the many personal battles faced by immigrants living in America. This film addresses the festival theme Coming Home in a very light hearted but yet meaningful way. Meet Filmmakers Rucha Humnabadkar and Rishi Bhilawadikar. Negotiations for visit by lead actor Ali Fazal (Furious 7, Three Idiots) and supporting actor Omi Vadaya (Three Idiots) are ongoing. With You Without You (Sri Lanka) Sunday, 4pm The film set, in post war Sri Lanka, brings us close to two characters who collide quite accidentally, and through them we experience the deep and seemingly unbridgeable chasm that conflict almost always creates. Will love help them cross the bridge? Meet Director Prasanna Vithanage Among the Believers (UK, Filmed in Pakistan) Sunday, 10/18/2015 A timely look into the causes that have led to the growth of radical Islam in Pakistan and around the world. The film provides access to the firebrand cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi who is an unapologetic ISIS supporter and Taliban ally. The film provides unprecedented insight into the mind of someone responsible for recruiting and training thousands of children to take part in jihad. Meet Filmmakers Hemal Trivedi and Mo Naqvi The Spectacular Jihad of Taz Rahim (USA) Sunday, 4pm Closing Night Film This film is set in post-9/11 NYC where the police recruit a small time South Asian drug dealer to work undercover as an informant as part of NYPD s shady create and capture program. The new role for Taz is a struggle between doing what he must and possibly betraying his relationships in the community. Meet Filmmaker Raghav Murali and Actor Rahsaan Islam (lead) 6

7 Under Construction (Bangladesh) Saturday, 9PM In claiming her body-mind-soul how does a woman s introspective journey gets entangled with the battle on the outside in a world of post-colonial reality where political violence, religious extremism, sweatshop labors, and impunity largely paint the terrain? A Thin Wall (USA, Filmed in Pakistan & India) Sunday, 2PM What role do documentary about memory, history and the possibility of reconciliation play in the story of the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan? Why is this story still relevant today? The film explores stories from partition from both sides of the border and dares to present the dream of free travel between the two countries and a reunion of long-separated family and friends. Meet Filmmaker Mara Ahmed Khwada (India) Saturday, This National Film Award winning Marathi Film is about shepherds who suffer from land acquisition by the forest department and how their dreams of a settlement get shattered, lending them to migrate permanently. Qissa Punjab (India) Saturday, 4PM This film revolves around the lives of six main protagonists in the North Indian state of Punjab. The film weaves the stories of these protagonists who are deep in the trap of substance abuse and desire to emigrate to the west widespread problems for the youth of the region. 7

8 Magizhavan (India) Saturday, 12PM This is the story of two gay lovers who must navigate their choices with their families, one of which is Hindu while the other is Muslim. Can their love overcome the barriers of society, class and religion? This is the first Tamil language film on the South Asian LGBT community. Let s Dance To The Rhythm (India) Friday, 9PM This National Film Award Winning Konkani language film celebrates Goan music through the eyes of the erstwhile legendary musicians of the 1960s and 1970s who failed to get the recognition they deserved. Meet Filmmakers Angelo Braganza and Bardroy Barretto 8

9 EXPECTED FILMMAKERS AT SSAFF 2015 Here is a listing of filmmakers and cast members expected to attend SSAFF Please contact Sara Huey (sara.huey@hueypr.com) for contact information for visiting filmmakers and for filmmakers who may not be attending but may be available for phone/skype interviews. VISITING FILMMAKERS FILM / PROGRAM PROGRAM DATE Rucha Humnabadkar(Director) For Here or to Go? Oct. 15 Rishi Bhilawadikar(Producer) For Here or to Go? Oct. 15 Afia Nathanial (Director) Dukhtar Oct. 15 Prasanna Withanage (Director) Retrospective Oct Oct. 19 Hemal Trivedi (Director) Among the Believers Oct. 17 Syed Mohammed Ali Naqvi (Director) Among the Believers Oct. 17 Sumit Judge (Director) Vishal Oct. 17 Bardroy Barretto (Director/Producer) Let's Dance to the Rhythm Oct. 17 Angelo BraganZa (Writer) Let's Dance to the Rhythm Oct. 17 Radheshyam Pipalwa (Producer) Let's Dance to the Rhythm Oct. 17 Michael Arakkal (Producer) Let's Dance to the Rhythm Oct. 17 Thenmozhi Soundararajan (Director) #Dalitwomenfight Oct Oct. 19 Sanjay Kak (Director) Red Ant Dream Oct. 19 Rakesh Sharma (Director) Rakesh Sharma: Work in progress Oct. 20 Fawzia Mirza (Director) Me, My Mom and Sharmila Oct. 22 Mian Adnan Ahmad ("Adnan") (Director) Journey Within Oct. 23 Mara Ahmed (Director) A Thin Wall Oct. 25 Raghav Murali (Director) The Spectacular Jihad of Taz Rahim Oct. 25 Rahsaan Islam (lead hero) The Spectacular Jihad of Taz Rahim Oct. 25 Paisley Smith (Director) Peace, Daal and Partition Oct. 25 Anam Abbas (Director) Lucky Irani Circus Oct. 25 LOCAL FILMMAKERS FILM / PROGRAM PROGRAM DATE Tarun Seth (Director) Flying Kiss Oct. 16 Cathy Stevulak (Director) Threads Oct. 22 Omar Vaiz (DOP) Tete-a-tete Cinematographer Oct. 22 Amy Benson (Director) Drawing the Tiger Oct. 23 Joydeep Das (Director) The Decision Oct. 24 Monalisa Mukherji (Director) Songs of the Bards of Bengal Oct. 24 9

10 SSAFF 2015 TICKETING INFO: Online Ticket Sales Tickets for each program can be purchased online at until 11:45PM the night before respective show times. Tickets will be available at the venue s Will Call. Box Office Sales Tickets for each program will be available onsite at the ticket counter on the day of screenings based on availability. Please note the onsite ticket price is higher for the Opening Night Gala. Opening Night Gala Friday, 10/15/15 from 7PM to 12AM $45 Regular $35 Student in advance $35 Early Bird (Purchase before 9/30/2015) Film Screenings $12 Regular $10 Student (with ID) $10 Early Bird (Purchase before 9/30/15) Film Screenings SIFF Film Center Upstairs $10 Regular $7 Student (with ID) $7 Early Bird (Purchase before 9/30/15) Closing Film + Awards Ceremony & Closing Reception $20 Regular $15 Student (with ID) $15 Early Bird (Purchase before 9/30/15) Panels are FREE to attend SSAFF 2015 Festival Passes: Limited Availability! ALL ACCESS $150 Regular $100 Early Bird (Before 9/30) $50 Student (with ID) Get easy access to every event and all films! WEEKEND 1 PASS $75 Regular $50 Early Bird (Before 9/30) $50 Student (with ID) All events from Oct. 15 through Oct. 18, including Opening Night Gala and Retrospective WEEKEND 2 PASS $75 Regular $50 Early Bird (Before 9/30) $50 Student (with ID) All events from Oct. 22 through Oct. 25, including Centerpiece event and Closing Night Ceremony 10

11 Seating No reserved seating is available. First come, first serve. Films will start on time. Note: Children 12 and under may attend events and screenings for FREE but please be advised that some content may not be suitable for young viewers. 11

12 PRESS INFO Press Contact Information Sara Huey Festival Publicist Festival Screenings and Event Access For media access to screenings and events of the Seattle South Asian Film Festival, please contact the Festival publicist listed above. Screener Access For access to physical and online screeners of the films of the 9th annual Seattle South Asian Film Festival, please contact the Festival publicist listed above. Interview and Media Inquiries Please contact the Festival publicist listed above to request interviews with visiting filmmakers or Festival organizers, and for all additional media inquiries. Media Materials Media can download film stills, press kits, and other publicity materials by visiting ssaff.tasveer.org/2015/ and clicking Press in the upper right-hand corner. For attribution information, please contact the Festival publicist listed above. Media Guidelines All media requesting access to events, screeners, and press assets of the 10th annual Seattle South Asian Film Festival presented by Tasveer (SSAFF 2015) must be on editorial assignment and should be prepared to provide proof of assignment or editorial contact upon request. Recording and photography of the events of SSAFF 2015 should be limited to red carpet events, pre- and post-screening interviews, and lifestyle elements. Photography should be for editorial use only. Any other use, including but not limited to commercial and promotional use, is expressly prohibited and strictly enforced. Footage of any film shown at SSAFF 2015 may not be used without the filmmaker s consent. 12

13 All footage clips intended for television broadcast or online streaming shall not exceed 15 minutes in length and no individual clip shall exceed three minutes in length. Streaming of any Festival films or events is strictly prohibited and Tasveer reserves streaming rights for all SSAFF 2015 content and events. Print and online media may create capsule reviews, feature articles, and mentions for any Festival film regardless of format, on the condition that reviews for films with US distribution be held until the film is released commercially. Any violations of these guidelines will result in revocation of media credential(s) and removal from SSAFF 2015, and may result in legal action. 13

14 SSAFF 2015 SPONSORS Platinum KCTS9 Gold City of Renton City of Redmond South Asia Center at the University of Washington Crossings TV Silver KUOW 94.9 Chutneys Restaurant Bronze Crosscut.com Seattle Globalist International Examiner Desi 1250AM Radio Spice Route Friends of the Festival K&L Gates Individual Donors Lowell Douglas Ing 14

15 SSAFF 2015 TEAM Staff Artistic Director: Rita Meher Festival Director: Kiran Dhillon Festival Co-director: Alka Kurian Marketing Director: Smeeta Hirani Festival Publicist: Sara Huey Social Media Lead: Amelia Greim Partnership Lead: Isha Korde Website Lead: Kiran Dhillon Programming Committee: Rita Meher, Alka Kurien, Kiran Dhillon, Bharati Ravi, Shalaka Karache, Rajesh Korde, and Jaya Venketaraman Marketing Committee: Smeeta Hirani, Amelia Greim, Mugdha Nayak, Linishya Sequeira Vaz, Rajesh Korde, Shalaka, and Rasanga Weerasinghe Website Committee: Kiran Dhillon, Logan Nishioku, Saumya Nanduru, Garima Parghi, Madhuri Kudaravalli, Rajesh Korde, and Andrew Varma Content Creators: Alka Kurian and Nabeeha Chaudhary Festival Coordinators: Anita Butail, Madhuri Kudaravalli, Jaya Venkataraman, Bharati Ravi, and Tanushree Chowdhury Guest Liaisons: Rumela Ganguly and Sheraz Malik Program Guide: Shuba Iyer, Sheetal Gosalia The Tasveer Board Rita Meher, Co-founder and Executive Director, Tasveer Farah Nousheen- Co-founder, Tasveer and MPhil Student Madhuri Kudaravalli, Microsoft Tameem Ansari, Microsoft Alka Kurian, University of Washington Uzma Khan, Boeing Company Sheraz Malik, NexGen Technology 15