NINTH ANNUAL MIAAC FILM FESTIVAL, NYC:
DATES, VENUES AND SPONSORS ANNOUNCED

New York City’s premiere festival for films from, by and about the Indian
subcontinent comes to NYC November 11-15, 2009.

NEW YORK, NY: The Ninth Annual Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council (MIAAC) Film Festival, New York City’s premier Indian film festival, is scheduled for November 11-15, 2009. The MIAAC Film Festival is the destination for films and documentaries from and about the Indian subcontinent. Last year’s enormously successful festival included the New York premiere of Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, which went on to garner critical and box office success all around the world, Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta’s Heaven on Earth and many, many others.

As in past years, the MIAAC Film Festival will feature a mix of film screenings, panel discussions, special events, nightly networking parties, an award ceremony and gala red-carpet opening and closing night events. MIAAC is an only once-a-year opportunity to network, watch some great films, meet celebrities, see the art of contemporary Indian cinema and experience the rich film cultures of the Indian subcontinent.

The Mahindra Group is once again the festival’s sponsoring partner. Anand Mahindra, the group’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, said of the festival, “We are excited to give filmmakers from the Indian subcontinent a platform in which to show their work and celebrate the art of filmmaking. Through its technologies, its products, its arts and its culture, India continues to satisfy a global appetite for all things Indian. ”

The Mahindra Group joins other festival sponsors, including, to date, Continental Airlines, Paramount Hotel, Analog Digital, India Abroad and Filmy/Sahara.

Concieved in 1998, the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating artists of Indian origin in North America. Said Aroon Shivdasani, IAAC’s Executive Director, “This year’s festival promises once again to be a heady mix of terrific films, stimulating conversation and fabulous events. I am thrilled to be joining with L. Somi Roy, our Film Festival Director, in presenting an exciting five-day showcase of the best of Indian filmmaking.”

Film submissions are currently being collected from all over the world until an August 1 deadline. The festival’s glittering gala opening night event will take place at the Paris Theatre on November 11, 2009.  Festival screenings and panel discussions will take place over the next few days at the Quad Cinema, a four-theater complex in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village.  A special gala closing night part and awards ceremony event will be held at the Walter Reade Theatre at Lincoln Center on November 15.

For more information please visit

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Ashok Sinha 917 805-6586 ashokvsinha@aol.com

About the Indo-American Arts Council The Indo-American Arts Council is a registered not-for-profit arts organization passionately dedicated to showcasing, building awareness, and celebrating artists of Indian origin in the performing, visual and literary arts. Annual festivals of art, dance, playwrighting and film are scheduled through the year, with several special events and book launches. For further information please visit The IAAC Film Festival was born in the aftermath of 9/11 in response to Mayor Giuliani’s call to New Yorkers to help rebuild a limping city. The First Annual film Festival opened its doors with Film Diaspora Godfather Ismail Merchant and closed with New York’s favorite Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. Three years ago, Mahindra & Mahindra joined forces with the IAAC Film Festival by becoming the lead sponsor, changing the name of the festival to The MIAAC Film Festival. For further information please visit

About The Mahindra Group The US $6.3 billion Mahindra Group is among the top 10 industrial houses in India. Mahindra & Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top tractor brands in the world. Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector has recently won the Japan Quality Medal, the only tractor company worldwide to be bestowed this honour. It also holds the distinction of being the only tractor company worldwide to win the Deming Prize. Mahindra is the market leader in multi-utility vehicles in India. It made a milestone entry into the passenger car segment with the Logan. The Group has a leading presence in key sectors of the Indian economy, including the financial services, trade and logistics, automotive components, after-market, information technology, and infrastructure development.