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| SIXTH ANNUAL IAAC FILM FESTIVAL: NOV 1-5, 2006 |
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Mira Nair’s much-awaited “The Namesake” to open the Sixth IAAC Film Festival on November 1, 2006
Red Carpet premiere at the Ziegfeld kicks off the 10th year celebration for the Indo-American Arts Council
New York. June 6, 2006: The Indo-American Arts Council is delighted to announce its Sixth Annual IAAC Film Festival Opening Night Film as Mira Nair’s “The Namesake.” Adapted from Pulitzer prize-winning writer Jhumpa Lahiri’s book of the same name, “The Namesake” is a heartbreaking, funny and universal story of the Ganguli family, spanning 30 years, encompassing the tale of millions of us who have left one home for another. The stars of the film are Kal Penn, Tabu, Irrfan Khan, Jacinda Barrett and Zuleikha Robinson. "This film is a "dill ka tukra," a piece of my heart, a seesaw of two great cities of the world - New York and Kolkata," says Mira Nair, Director of “The Namesake.”
Expanding beyond the traditional venue, the opening night will be presented at the legendary Ziegfeld theatre to enable a much wider attendance and celebration of this masterpiece. Scheduled to appear at the opening night are director Mira Nair & writer Jhumpa Lahiri and many members of the cast. “The Namesake” will be released theatrically by Fox Searchlight Pictures on November 3, 2006. "Fox Searchlight couldn't be more proud to be releasing Mira's beautiful film about the universal themes of love and loss within a family. We are all in love with this movie," says Nancy Utley, COO, Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Following IAAC tradition, a Gala Dinner will follow the opening night screening. Gala Chairs for this year are celebrated author Salman Rushdie & model/actress Padma Lakshmi; our Gala Vice-Chairs are Chandrika & Ranjan Tandon and Sandhya & Dhruv Narain. Silent and live auctions will be held during dinner to raise money for the IAAC. Mr. Rushdie states "The IAAC is an important, thriving initiative and I am delighted to support it.”
The rest of the festival screenings for the IAAC Film Festival will be held at various venues around town promoting upcoming talent and their stories. Post-screening discussions, networking events, closing night screening & party as well as awards for excellence in filmmaking complete the celebrations.
In 2007 the IAAC will celebrate the commencement of its tenth year by presenting another annual film festival, New Films from India, in partnership with The Museum of Modern Art, New York. "In recognizing the rich diversity of cinema culture in the world's most active film industry, the Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art, is pleased to collaborate with the IAAC in the first presentation of what will become an annual April survey of recent Indian cinema. This program will join the Museum's yearly exhibitions of new Brazilian, Canadian and German films and will add to our appreciation of a national cinema that, although little known in the West, is vibrant and tremendously popular at home," declares Laurence Kardish, Senior Curator and Joshua Siegel, Assistant Curator, Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art.
The (IAAC) is a 501©3 not-for-profit arts council passionately dedicated to promoting, showcasing and building an awareness of artists and artistic disciplines of Indian origin. " The IAAC began operations in 1998 when South Asian artists were unrecognized and invisible on the American scene. Nine years later, in 2006, our artists are well on their way to recognition and excellence in the visual, performing and literary arts ."Aroon Shivdasani, Executive Director, IAAC.
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