
By SHYAM PATEL
HOLLYWOOD, CA - The 12th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) took place this past week showcasing a dizzying array of movies from filmmakers all across the globe. IIFLA is the largest film festival in North America entirely dedicated to supporting and celebrating Indian cinema.
HOLLYWOOD, CA - The 12th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) took place this past week showcasing a dizzying array of movies from filmmakers all across the globe. IIFLA is the largest film festival in North America entirely dedicated to supporting and celebrating Indian cinema.

Thirty-three films in ten different languages were featured during the six-day festival held at the iconic Arclight Theatres here, where Christina Marouda, Chair of IIFLA, welcomed hundreds of guests, dignitaries, and filmmakers. Opening the festival was Jeffrey D. Brown’s ‘Sold,’ a powerful story of courage and fortitude set against the backdrop of child trafficking. The film was adapted from Patricia McCormick’s novel of the same title into an inspiring story of a young girl’s resilience in the face of cruelty. It featured a strong cast of Indian and American actors, but it was Niyar Saikia as Lakshmi who was the clear-cut standout. Chosen from over 600 girls, Niyar was a true discovery and brought to life the dream that justice is possible for young women all across the world that have experienced unimaginable hardships. Academy Award nominee Emma Thompson served as Executive Producer of the film.
Other films making their U.S. and Los Angeles premiere were ‘Kush,’ ‘Liar’s Dice’, ‘Alchemy’, ‘Jaya’, and ‘Skin Deep’ just to name a few. A quartet of short films celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema was also showcased in Bombay Talkies, featuring work from Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap, four of India’s most exciting contemporary directors. The films crafted a tale of ordinary people whole love of movies alters the course of their lives. Some notable actors within Bombay Talkies include Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, and Rani Mukerji.
The festival closed with the UK film ‘Jadoo,’ directed by Amit Gupta. Set in Leicester, England, the comedy charts the chaos that ensues when a young Indian girl gets engaged to a Brit. In this uproariously funny and heartfelt exploration of family bonds, Gupta’s cast is very charming. Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, and Harish Patel are just some of the actors that brought Gupta’s hilarious premise to life.
The closing night gala also included many distinguished awards handed out to some of the best films of the festival. ‘Fandry,’ Nagraj Manjule’s film about a boy and his family’s struggle against daily prejudice in their Maharashtra village, won the Jury Grand Prize for Best Narrative Feature Film.
In the same category, ‘Siddharth’ by Richie Mehta took home the Audience Choice Award. In the documentary category, ‘Powerless’ by Deepti Kakkar and Fahad Mustada won the Jury Award while Pan Nalin’s ‘Faith Connections’ won the Audience Choice Award. Other awards in the short film category went to Pranay Patwardhan’s ‘Alchemy’ and Shubhashish Bhutani’s ‘Kush’.
Nirvana-Bombay Palace hosted the opening and closing night gala receptions in Beverly Hills.
Other films making their U.S. and Los Angeles premiere were ‘Kush,’ ‘Liar’s Dice’, ‘Alchemy’, ‘Jaya’, and ‘Skin Deep’ just to name a few. A quartet of short films celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema was also showcased in Bombay Talkies, featuring work from Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap, four of India’s most exciting contemporary directors. The films crafted a tale of ordinary people whole love of movies alters the course of their lives. Some notable actors within Bombay Talkies include Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, and Rani Mukerji.
The festival closed with the UK film ‘Jadoo,’ directed by Amit Gupta. Set in Leicester, England, the comedy charts the chaos that ensues when a young Indian girl gets engaged to a Brit. In this uproariously funny and heartfelt exploration of family bonds, Gupta’s cast is very charming. Kulvinder Ghir, Amara Karan, and Harish Patel are just some of the actors that brought Gupta’s hilarious premise to life.
The closing night gala also included many distinguished awards handed out to some of the best films of the festival. ‘Fandry,’ Nagraj Manjule’s film about a boy and his family’s struggle against daily prejudice in their Maharashtra village, won the Jury Grand Prize for Best Narrative Feature Film.
In the same category, ‘Siddharth’ by Richie Mehta took home the Audience Choice Award. In the documentary category, ‘Powerless’ by Deepti Kakkar and Fahad Mustada won the Jury Award while Pan Nalin’s ‘Faith Connections’ won the Audience Choice Award. Other awards in the short film category went to Pranay Patwardhan’s ‘Alchemy’ and Shubhashish Bhutani’s ‘Kush’.
Nirvana-Bombay Palace hosted the opening and closing night gala receptions in Beverly Hills.