Opening celebration to fete South Asian Films in the Tribeca Film Festival: Before The Rains, Ramchand Pakistani, A Story Of The Red Hills, Sita Sings The Blues, Donkey In Lahore
April 19, 2008 (New York, NY) – New York programming duo launch specialty film company with a unique online platform to connect South Asian filmmakers to the global film industry and audience.
| FilmKaravan is spearheaded by Pooja Kohli Taneja and Payal Sethi, who combine over ten years of programming, development and producing experience to benefit South Asian filmmakers across their networks in New York, India and other epicenters of world cinema. The multi-platform company will discover, develop and disseminate specialty films for a global audience, and foster these films along each stage of their lifecycle. “We believe we can be a catalyst for South Asian filmmakers who create groundbreaking cinema, by developing the best outlets to showcase the work of our exclusive network of filmmakers to industry and audience members. Since entering this industry, I’ve dedicated myself to giving a voice to the diaspora of South Asian filmmakers,” said Pooja Kohli Taneja, Managing Director of FilmKaravan. The company’s online platform will provide the foundation for an extensive membership-based network that will allow information sharing about projects in development and production across filmmaker-to-industry and filmmaker-to-audience channels. “FilmKaravan takes root from a crucial need for a single network to unite South Asian filmmakers everywhere. We’re excited to provide film audiences and the industry with unprecedented access to talented filmmakers, and have entered the arena to get their films made, sold and seen,” said Payal Sethi, the second principal in the company. FilmKaravan officially kicks off on Friday, May 2nd and will dedicate their launch party in honor of films from a diverse group of subcontinent filmmakers screening their latest work at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival. Directors and talents from the films will be in attendance, joined by prominent supporters of South Asian film from the local community and film industry. About the films Multi-talented Indian director Santosh Sivan presents BEFORE THE RAINS, a suspense filled love story that meanders through the breathtaking expanse of pristine Kerala plantations, and captures an often unseen layer of colonialism and babudom. The film stars the accomplished Nandita Das, as does RAMCHAND PAKISTANI, a first feature from Mehreen Jabar, who vies against the best in the festival’s World Feature Narrative Competition. Also transmitting from Pakistan is documentary filmmaker Faramarz K-Rahber, who gives us DONKEY IN LAHORE, about an unusual interracial love story, while renowned Bollywood choreographer Remo D’Souza takes a detour into Bengal with A STORY OF THE RED HILLS, which tells a tale of redemption through dance. Finally, newcomer Nina Paley wows us with the irresistible SITA SINGS THE BLUES, perfectly hued with color, music and melancholia in its unique interpretation of the classical Ramayana. About FilmKaravan FilmKaravan is an exclusive network designed to bridge access between member projects, industry decision makers and the audience, united through a passion for quality South Asian cinema. About FilmKaravan Programs FilmKaravan programs take place throughout the year, alongside key film festivals and markets, to provide maximum industry and audience exposure for innovative and culturally unique films from South Asia, representing a wide range of genres and budgets, and strong marketing potential. |
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| In addition to these flagship programs, FilmKaravan will provide year-round ancillary services to filmmakers as well as corporate clients, including film marketing and publicity to South Asian media, branded entertainment packages for companies expanding into entertainment industries, and film festival consulting or representation. About the FilmKaravan Team Pooja Kohli Pursuing a successful career in film festival management and programming, Pooja Kohli was most recently the MIAAC Film Festival Director, and prior to that served as the IFP Market Managing Director for several years. She has expertise in creating and marketing film events to South Asian communities and an exceptional track record directing and producing documentaries and news episodes for I.R.I.B. and Zee TV. Payal Sethi Payal has varied experience programming screenplays and films, and managing industry relations at premier film festivals and markets. She has worked with the Tribeca Film Festival, IFP Market, Hamptons International Film Festival, MIAAC Film Festival, and Asian American International Film Festival. Payal also enjoyed a successful tenure working on film development and production at Mirabai Films, Mira Nair’s production company, working on such films as The Namesake and Hysterical Blindness. |
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