MAY 4 - 8, 2011

The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) announced today its complete line-up of exciting and thought- provoking feature films for the 11th Annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) which will take place from May 4th to May 8th in Manhattan.  A total of 25 feature films will be screened over the five day period at the oldest and most prestigious Indian film festival in the country including World and U.S. Premieres.

Making its U.S. Premiere was Sudhir Mishra's acclaimed romantic crime drama Yeh Zindagi starring Irrfan Khan (Slumdog Millionaire, The Namesake).  Legendary actress Shabana Azmi stars in the cross-cultural love story A Decent Arrangement which makes its World Premiere.  And movie fans will get back in time with Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan with the New York Premiere of Raakh Redux (Ashes to Ashes) the digitally remastered version of the actor's early hit which won three National Film Awards.

NYIFF also showcased an amazing line-up of powerful documentaries from and about India.  The Bengali Detective, which chronicles the life of Kolkata's dance-obsessed private eye Rajesh Ji, makes its New York Premiere following its extrordinary reception at Sundance.  Also screened was Made in India, which examines both sides of the surrogacy issue with an infertile American couple and a young mother in India contracted to carry their baby, and Bhopali which looks at the suffering that still exists today after the 1984 Union Carbide gas leak which was one of the world's worst industrial disasters.

The full line-up of features included three previously announced films - Disney's Do Dooni Chaar directed by Habib Faisal and starring Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh which makes its U.S. Premiere as the Opening Night selection of NYIFF, the New York Premiere of Aparna Sen's Iti Mrinalini is the Centerpiece, and the U.S. Premiere of Rituparno Ghosh's Nauka Dubi is the Closing Night Selection.

Following the Closing Night ceremonies with many notable celebrities, the winners of NYIFF are announced.  The winners are listed below.

BEST FEATURE FILM - Sthanlya Sambaad, dir. by Arjun Gourisaria & Moiak Biswas

BEST DIRECTOR - Aparna Sen, Iti Mrinalini

BEST ACTOR - Rishi Kapoor, Do Dooni Chaar

BEST ACTRESS - Konkona Sen Sharma, Iti Mrinalini

BEST SCREENPLAY - Mohan Raghavan, T.D. Dasan Std. VI B

BEST DOCUMENTARY - Bhopali (Max Carlson)

BEST SHORT FILM - Just That Sort Of A Day (Abhay Kumar)