Europe’s Largest Indian & South Asian Film Festival Presents Killer Programme in its 15th Year

20 VENUES   |   6 CITIES   |   10 LANGUAGES 

3 World Premieres l  5 European Premieres l 12 UK Premieres  

Europe’s largest South Asian film festival, the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) celebrates its 15th birthday this year with a power-packed programme of features, shorts, series, gaming and XR across 6 UK cities (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford and Liverpool). The festival is supported by BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, and major partner The Bagri Foundation. This year’s lineup opens with the European Premiere of US indie, tear-jerker drama Paper Flowers, directed by Mahesh Pailoor (Brahmin Bulls), starring Deadpool’s Karan Soni amongst its stand-out young cast at Regent Street Cinema on 26th June. 

Audiences can expect a heart-pounding finale on closing night, with a special preview of Lionsgate’s Kill. Produced by Bollywood icon Karan Johar (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) of Dharma Productions, and Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga (The Elephant Whisperers), this operatic action thriller will have viewers on the edge of their seats (think John Wick on a train). The cinematic spectacle, which is Lionsgate’s first foray into South Asian cinema, will be shown on the UK’s biggest cinema screen, the BFI IMAX, on 3rd July.  

After successfully launching web series premieres last year, the festival is excited to bring you the first three episodes of Canadian series Late Bloomer. Audiences will be one of the first to watch this hilarious and heartfelt comedy, created by and starring social media star Jus Reign, which follows the adventures of a young Sikh millennial struggling to navigate the complexities of life while balancing his Eastern roots with Western ideals.

The festival is proud to also present two breakthrough feminist pieces, Sthal and Wakhri.  Marathi language film Sthal, which won one of the top awards at the Toronto International Film Festival, follows a young woman's quest for education and empowerment. Through its subtle yet compelling storytelling, the film explores the importance of finding one's voice and the struggles encountered along the path to freedom. Acclaimed filmmaker Iram Parveen-Bilal meanwhile, presents Wakhri, a tale inspired by real-life figures like Qandeel Baloch (Pakistan’s first social media celebrity) and tells the story of a teacher and mother whose progressive views thrust her into overnight fame. Faced with her newfound stardom and a growing backlash, she grapples with the challenges of trying to raise a son in a patriarchal world.

The captivating lineup of documentaries promise a cinematic journey through untold South Asian stories. Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen celebrates the trials and achievements of India’s greatest female filmmaker - Aparna Sen and offers a retrospective of her illustrious six-decade long filmmaking career. Prepare to be inspired by World Premiere of UK-India co-pro Tight: The World of Indian Bodybuilding and dive into the world of Aji, a young bodybuilder from South India, who is on a quest to carve out his own niche in the ever-evolving landscape of competitive bodybuilding. 

The festival’s features programme is brimming with innovative and unmissable films including Ennennum, a Kerala based relationship drama, dressed as a compelling sci-fi tale; while Kannada language award winner Mithya and Gujarati language Shunya, are tender yet powerful coming-of-age stories following child protagonists as they navigate a rapidly changing society. LIFF presents the World Premiere of UK production rom-com Before Nikkah, a charming getting-to-know-you-story about British Asians meeting on a first date,  inspired by Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise. 

The festival’s pioneering LGBTQIA+ film showcase, Too Desi Too Queer, returns with a fresh selection of groundbreaking and thought-provoking queer films. From heartwarming love stories to inspiring documentaries, these eye-opening shorts celebrate and amplify the voices of South Asian queer individuals. 

The festival continues to champion a new generation of emerging South Asian filmmakers with both the internationally programmed Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition and the New Brit-Asian Shorts. The former, which was inspired by the humanist work of the legendary Indian filmmaker, offers five short films to be judged by a distinguished jury, with the winner receiving a £1,000 cash prize supported by Civic Studios. Previous winners include Saim Sadiq, director of Joyland, and Shubhashish Bhutiani, director of Hotel Salvation. 

Over the course of its 15-year journey, LIFF (London Indian Film Festival) has transformed into far more than just a film festival, embracing a diverse array of moving image media. This year, we’re breaking new ground with our South Asian XR Showcase, curated by Taran Singh. Immerse yourself in a virtual world of South Asian stories and cutting-edge XR experiences at our Birmingham Indian Film Festival at Birmingham Open Media. 

Setting up Europe’s first South Asian gaming showcase last year, the festival returns in partnership with FORMAT GG, to present a new South Asian Gaming Zone in Liverpool, curated by Simran Whitman and in partnership with Tulsea. Expect visiting game developers to attend this gaming night-life super event.

Our commitment to supporting South Asian arts reaches new heights as the Manchester Indian Film Festival launches with ‘Exploring The Legacy’. Prepare to be dazzled as we shine a spotlight on how South Asians have shaped British music, showcasing stories of boundary-breakers and cultural pioneers, and fostering greater representation in British music through the lens of film.

LIFF industry events this year include a partnership with a major business forum - India Week, where policy and business leaders discuss India’s place in the UK and the world. A new event in partnership with the festival is entitled The Film Conclave: Discussing the Business of Entertainment.

And that’s not all, we’re thrilled to be expanding accessibility for our Deaf and hearing-impaired audiences, with more screenings featuring BSL-interpreted Q&As across all our cities. LIFF is delighted to welcome back its major funders the Bagri Foundation and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, as well as additional support from Film Hub Midlands, Film Hub North, Birmingham City University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Bicester Village and others - their support enables these initiatives.

Speaking on the phenomenal growth of LIFF, CEO and Programming Director Cary Rajinder Sawhney remarked:

“It's been an incredible journey marking 15 years this year and we are delighted to expand into new UK cities, welcoming Bradford and Liverpool into our 6 city reach. It's also personally exciting to have such a talented team and innovative partners, as we push ahead to explore new frontiers of South Asian gaming and XR scenes and continue our mission to showcase and celebrate emerging and established filmmakers, diversifying our offer to UK audiences.”

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Ends

Editors notes

Website:

londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk

birminghamindianfilmfestival.co.uk

manchesterindianfilmfestival.co.uk

yorkshireindianfilmfestival.co.uk

About London Indian Film Festival:

The London Indian Film Festival is the UK and Europe’s largest platform for South Asian (Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan) independent films. It runs from 26th June – 7th July 2024 across London, Birmingham, Manchester and Yorkshire with premieres, special screenings, industry events and Q&As.

About the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund:

The BFI Audience Projects Fund will invest £15m of National Lottery funding over three years to support ambitious, audience-facing activity of national scale that celebrates and showcases independent UK and international film and XR work. It will support projects that seek to expand access and encourage greater enjoyment of cinema by connecting audiences that are representative of the UK population with great films - in venues, at events and online. 

bfi.org.uk/audience-project-fund

About the BFI:

The BFI is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK's lead organisation for film and the moving image. 

Our mission is: 

●       To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers 

●       To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world's largest film and television archive 

●       To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals - delivered online and in venue 

●       To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding 

●       To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK's screen industries 

Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.  

The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Jay Hunt. 

About the Bagri Foundation:

The Bagri Foundation, established in 1990, is a family foundation driven by curiosity. Through grants and strategic partnerships,the Foundation promotes a myriad of exciting arts and cultural programmes that challenge, engage and inspire. Working within a mutually supportive community of partners who share our vision, we give artists and experts from across Asia, or those inspired by the continent, wider visibility on the global stage. Recent projects include Artes Mundi 10, the UK’s largest art award; Bollywood Superstars at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac; Orchestral Qawwali Project presented at the Royal Albert Hall, and Safar Film Festival the largest festival of Arab film in the UK. www.bagrifoundation.org

Festival Film Listings

London

●      Wed 26 June, 18:30, Opening Night Gala - Paper Flowers + Q&A, Regent Street Cinema

●      Thur 27 June, 20:00, Wakhri + Q&A (BSL), Regent Street Cinema

●      Thur 27 June, 20:30, Too Desi Too Queer + Panel, Rich Mix

●      Fri 28 June, 20:20, Sthal + Q&A (BSL), BFI Southbank

●      Sat 29 June, 14:15, Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen + Q&A, ICA

●      Sat 29 June, 18:00, Ennennum, BFI Southbank

●      Sat 29 June, 20:45, Tight: The World of Indian Bodybuilding + Q&A, BFI Southbank

●      Sat 29 June, 21:00, New British Asian Shorts + Q&A, ICA

●      Sun 30 June, 14:15, Mithya, ICA

●      Sun 30 June, 14:45, Before Nikkah (CC) + Q&A (BSL), BFI Southbank

●      Sun 30 June, 17:30, Tight: The World of Indian Bodybuilding, Rich Mix

●      Sun 30 June, 18:30, Sthal, Cine Lumiere

●      Mon 01 July, 18:00, Ennennum, Cine Lumiere

●      Tue 02 July, 18:00, Shunya, Rich Mix

●      Tue 02 July, 18:30, Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition, ICA

●      Tue 02 July, 20:00, Late Bloomer, Regent Street Cinema

●      Wed 03 July, 18:00, Closing Night Gala – Kill, BFI IMAX

Birmingham

●      Thur 27 June, 19:00, Opening Gala, Paper Flowers + Q&A, mac Theatre

●      Fri 28 June, 19:30, Too Desi Too Queer + Panel (BSL), mac Cinema

●      Sat 29 June, 17:00, Sthal + Q&A, Cineworld Broad Street

●      Sat 29 June, 20:00, Shunya, mac Theatre

●      Sun 30 June, 14:00, Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen + Q&A, Mockingbird Cinema

●      Sun 30 June, 17:00, Wakhri + Q&A (BSL), mac Cinema

●      Mon 01 July, 19:00, Tight: The World of Indian Bodybuilding + Q&A, mac Cinema

●      Tue 02 July, 17:30, South Asian XR Stories, BOM

●      Tue 02 July, 19:00, New British Asian Shorts + Panel, mac Cinema

●      Wed 03 July, 18:00 Before Nikkah (CC) + Q&A (BSL), Cineworld Broad Street

●      Thur 04 July, 19:00, Kill + Q&A (BSL), Cineworld Broad Street

●      Fri 05 July, 19:00, Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

●      Fri 05 July, 20:00, Late Bloomer, Mockingbird

●      Sat 06 July, 14:00, Mithya, Light Cinema Walsall

●      Sun 07 July, 17:00, Queen of My Dreams + Q&A (BSL), Light Cinema Walsall

Manchester

●      Wed 26 June, 17:30, Explore the Legacy: South Asians changing the landscape of British Culture plus South Asian Creatives Networking Event, Carlton Club

●      Fri 28 June, 19:00, Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen + Q&A, Cineworld Didsbury

●      Sat 29 June, 14:00, Shunya, High Street Library Bolton, 18:00 Wakhri + Q&A (BSL), The Light Bolton

●      Sun 30 June, 15:00, Before Nikkah (CC) (BSL), The Light Bolton

●      Tue 02 July, 19:30, New British Asian Shorts + Pub Quiz, Carlton Club 

●      Wed 03 July, 19:30, Too Desi Too Queer, Carlton Club

●      Thur 04 July, 17:00, Wakhri, Women’s Only Screening, Reel Cinema

●      Fri 05 July, 19:00 Queen of my Dreams + Q&A (BSL), Cineworld Didsbury

Yorkshire

●      Thur 27 June, 17:30, Before Nikkah + Q&A, (BSL) (CC), The Studio, Alhambra Theatre

●      Thur 27 June, 18:00, Sthal + Q&A, Hyde Park Picturehouse Leeds

●      Thur 27 June, 20:00, Queen Of My Dreams, The Studio, Alhambra Theatre

●      Sat 29 June, 17:00, Wakhri, Hyde Park Picturehouse Leeds

●      Sun 30 June, 17:00, Mithya + Q&A (BSL), Hyde Park Picturehouse Leeds

●      Tue 02 July, 18:00, Tight: The World of Indian Bodybuilding + Q&A, Hyde Park Picturehouse Leeds

Liverpool

●      Thur 26 September, South Asian Zone @ FORMAT: The Ultimate Gaming Social, Camp & Furnace, Liverpool