LONDON INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS 17TH EDITION WITH “GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME” REUNION & GROUNDBREAKING UK PREMIERES
Europe's largest South Asian film festival, the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF), returns for its 17th edition with a dynamic programme spanning London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Bradford. Supported by the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, this year’s festival brings together major celebrity events, groundbreaking film showcases and some of the most exciting new voices in South Asian cinema.
Opening the festival is the European Premiere of 52 Blue, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ali El Arabi and starring Adil Hussain and Neha Dhupia. The inspiring coming-of-age drama will tour multiple festival cities, with the director and cast attending special screenings and Q&As.
A major festival highlight sees global superstar Aamir Khan appear In Conversation at BFI Southbank on 16th July, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Academy Award-nominated classic Lagaan, which will also screen at BFI IMAX. The festival’s Central Gala will reunite the iconic cast of Goodness Gracious Me, bringing together Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Nina Wadia, Kulvinder Ghir and Anil Gupta for a special live event.
LIFF will also present Europe’s first India’s AI & Film Future showcase, exploring how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are shaping the future of filmmaking. Curated by an international jury led by acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur, the programme will be accompanied by industry discussions and networking opportunities.
The festival programme features an outstanding line-up of UK premieres, including In Search of the Sky, Master, Roid, All About Weddings and Anmol – Lovingly Ours, alongside restored classics such as In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones and Peter Brook’s celebrated adaptation of The Mahabharata.
Continuing its commitment to nurturing emerging talent, LIFF will showcase new British South Asian filmmakers through its Brit-Asian Shorts programme and industry-focused events, while the pioneering Too Desi Too Queer strand returns with a fresh selection of LGBTQIA+ stories from across South Asia and its diaspora.
With a rich mix of premieres, special events, industry conversations and cultural celebrations, the 17th London Indian Film Festival once again offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience the very best of contemporary South Asian cinema.
For more details visit:
LondonIndianFilmFestival.co.uk
ManchesterIndianFilmFestival.co.uk
BirminghamIndianFilmFestival.co.uk
player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/collection/london-indian-film-festival
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