Tarsem Singh Dhandwar’s “Dear Jassi” and Arati Kadav’s “Mrs” will open and close this year’s New York Indian Film Festival.
Punjabi and English-language “Dear Jassi,” a tale of star-crossed lovers based on a true story, arrives in New York after a glittering festival run that began in 2023, at Toronto, where it won the Platform Prize. That was followed by outings in London, Goa, the Red Sea, Goteborg and Hong Kong festivals. The film is produced by powerhouse Indian studio T-Series alongside Wakaoo Films and Creative Strokes Group.
Hindi-language “Mrs,” a portrait of domestic hell based on acclaimed 2021 Malayalam-language film “The Great Indian Kitchen,” previously played at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. It is produced by Jio Studios and Baweja Studios.
The centerpiece of the festival is an event celebrating 50 years of thespian Shabana Azmi’s career where a screening of...
Punjabi and English-language “Dear Jassi,” a tale of star-crossed lovers based on a true story, arrives in New York after a glittering festival run that began in 2023, at Toronto, where it won the Platform Prize. That was followed by outings in London, Goa, the Red Sea, Goteborg and Hong Kong festivals. The film is produced by powerhouse Indian studio T-Series alongside Wakaoo Films and Creative Strokes Group.
Hindi-language “Mrs,” a portrait of domestic hell based on acclaimed 2021 Malayalam-language film “The Great Indian Kitchen,” previously played at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. It is produced by Jio Studios and Baweja Studios.
The centerpiece of the festival is an event celebrating 50 years of thespian Shabana Azmi’s career where a screening of...
- 5/30/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Pan-Arab distributor Mad Solutions is expanding operations by setting up Mad World, a Dubai-based company dedicated to selling Arab movies internationally that will officially launch in Cannes.
Touted as Arab cinema’s first global sales outfit, Mad World segues from Mad Solution’s first foray in the international distribution arena last year with Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s “Goodbye Julia” which they sold widely after it’s splashy launch from Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section.
In addition to acquiring global rights to an increasing number of international co-productions, the Cairo-based studio has been stepping up its involvement in packaging Arabic projects with global market potential.
Besides fresh product, Mad World will be handling sales on an extensive library of recent festival award-winners, including shorts, and a back-catalog of titles comprising regional theatrical and streaming titles, many of which have not reached audiences outside the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.
Touted as Arab cinema’s first global sales outfit, Mad World segues from Mad Solution’s first foray in the international distribution arena last year with Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s “Goodbye Julia” which they sold widely after it’s splashy launch from Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section.
In addition to acquiring global rights to an increasing number of international co-productions, the Cairo-based studio has been stepping up its involvement in packaging Arabic projects with global market potential.
Besides fresh product, Mad World will be handling sales on an extensive library of recent festival award-winners, including shorts, and a back-catalog of titles comprising regional theatrical and streaming titles, many of which have not reached audiences outside the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.
- 5/9/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Pan-Arab outfit Mad Solutions has launched international sales company Mad World, which will introduce its first slate of titles and executive team at the Cannes market next week.
The Dubai-based firm will handle worldwide sales and international distribution of new Arab-language feature films, led by Mad Solutions’ co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab as well as the company’s managing partner Colin Brown. All three are co-presidents of Mad World, with Karkouti serving as CEO.
Also joining Mad World are European executives Edin De Liancourt as vice president of sales and acquisitions and Jeanne Deny as director of sales and acquisitions.
The Dubai-based firm will handle worldwide sales and international distribution of new Arab-language feature films, led by Mad Solutions’ co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab as well as the company’s managing partner Colin Brown. All three are co-presidents of Mad World, with Karkouti serving as CEO.
Also joining Mad World are European executives Edin De Liancourt as vice president of sales and acquisitions and Jeanne Deny as director of sales and acquisitions.
- 5/9/2024
- ScreenDaily
Mad Solutions has acquired world sales rights to Osn’s first-ever original feature, “Yellow Bus,” which world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
As well as world sales, Mad Solutions will handle Middle East and North Africa theatrical distribution, while Osn will handle all other Mena rights. Sikhya Entertainment will handle distribution in the Indian subcontinent.
In U.S. filmmaker Wendy Bednarz’s feature debut, an Indian woman living in the Arabian Gulf embarks on a search for truth and accountability after her daughter is left to die on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat.
The film stars Syrian actress Kinda Alloush, alongside Indian star Tannishtha Chatterjee, who was nominated for best actress at the British Independent Film Awards for “Brick Lane,” as well as fellow prominent Indian actor Amit Sial, who is known for the series “Inside Edge,” and Aarushi Laud, who plays the daughter.
The film...
As well as world sales, Mad Solutions will handle Middle East and North Africa theatrical distribution, while Osn will handle all other Mena rights. Sikhya Entertainment will handle distribution in the Indian subcontinent.
In U.S. filmmaker Wendy Bednarz’s feature debut, an Indian woman living in the Arabian Gulf embarks on a search for truth and accountability after her daughter is left to die on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat.
The film stars Syrian actress Kinda Alloush, alongside Indian star Tannishtha Chatterjee, who was nominated for best actress at the British Independent Film Awards for “Brick Lane,” as well as fellow prominent Indian actor Amit Sial, who is known for the series “Inside Edge,” and Aarushi Laud, who plays the daughter.
The film...
- 12/6/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Following its successful world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2023, Wendy Bednarz’s directorial debut feature, ‘Yellow Bus’ is set for its Asia premiere on 2nd November at Mami 2023 in Mumbai. ‘Yellow Bus’ is an emotional rollercoaster, exploring themes of loss, betrayal, and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit through processing a life-changing loss. The film is a poignant drama starring Tannishtha Chatterjee and Amit Sial, in lead roles.
‘Yellow Bus’ is a collaborative effort between Indian, Jordanian, Emirati, and American production houses, including Screen Project, Metatron Productions, Osn, Creative Venture, Sikhya Entertainment, and Ta Films. The feature film has already garnered widespread acclaim for its heartfelt narrative and stellar performances since its world premiere in Toronto last month.
Set against the backdrop of a sand-swept city in the Middle East, ‘Yellow Bus’ follows the story of Ananda, portrayed by the talented Tannishtha Chatterjee, who embodies a hopeful...
‘Yellow Bus’ is a collaborative effort between Indian, Jordanian, Emirati, and American production houses, including Screen Project, Metatron Productions, Osn, Creative Venture, Sikhya Entertainment, and Ta Films. The feature film has already garnered widespread acclaim for its heartfelt narrative and stellar performances since its world premiere in Toronto last month.
Set against the backdrop of a sand-swept city in the Middle East, ‘Yellow Bus’ follows the story of Ananda, portrayed by the talented Tannishtha Chatterjee, who embodies a hopeful...
- 10/26/2023
- by Editorial Desk
- GlamSham
Following its successful world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2023, Wendy Bednarz’s directorial debut feature, ‘Yellow Bus’ is set for its Asia premiere on 2nd November at Mami 2023 in Mumbai. ‘Yellow Bus’ is an emotional rollercoaster, exploring themes of loss, betrayal, and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit through processing a life-changing loss. The film is a poignant drama starring Tannishtha Chatterjee and Amit Sial, in lead roles.
‘Yellow Bus’ is a collaborative effort between Indian, Jordanian, Emirati, and American production houses, including Screen Project, Metatron Productions, Osn, Creative Venture, Sikhya Entertainment, and Ta Films. The feature film has already garnered widespread acclaim for its heartfelt narrative and stellar performances since its world premiere in Toronto last month.
Set against the backdrop of a sand-swept city in the Middle East, ‘Yellow Bus’ follows the story of Ananda, portrayed by the talented Tannishtha Chatterjee, who embodies a hopeful...
‘Yellow Bus’ is a collaborative effort between Indian, Jordanian, Emirati, and American production houses, including Screen Project, Metatron Productions, Osn, Creative Venture, Sikhya Entertainment, and Ta Films. The feature film has already garnered widespread acclaim for its heartfelt narrative and stellar performances since its world premiere in Toronto last month.
Set against the backdrop of a sand-swept city in the Middle East, ‘Yellow Bus’ follows the story of Ananda, portrayed by the talented Tannishtha Chatterjee, who embodies a hopeful...
- 10/26/2023
- by Editorial Desk
After a three-year hiatus, the Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival is returning with a larger lineup and an expanded focus on South Asian cinema.
The festival will feature 250 films including 40 world premieres, 45 Asia premieres and 70 South Asia Premieres. The opening and closing films have not been finalized yet.
The festival’s new vision is to become a hub for South Asian and South Asian diaspora cinema and talent and, in keeping with this, the main competition is for 14 films from the region. These include the world premieres of Leesa Gazi’s “A House Named Shahana” (Bangladesh-u.K.), Dibakar Das Roy’s “Dilli Dark” (India), Sumanth Bhat’s “Mithya” (India) and Fazil Razak’s “The Sentence” (India). The new focus will also include 46 non-competition films from South Asia.
The Icons South Asia strand features Anand Patwardhan’s Toronto title “The World is Family”; “Indi(r)a’s Emergency” by Vikramaditya Motwane...
The festival will feature 250 films including 40 world premieres, 45 Asia premieres and 70 South Asia Premieres. The opening and closing films have not been finalized yet.
The festival’s new vision is to become a hub for South Asian and South Asian diaspora cinema and talent and, in keeping with this, the main competition is for 14 films from the region. These include the world premieres of Leesa Gazi’s “A House Named Shahana” (Bangladesh-u.K.), Dibakar Das Roy’s “Dilli Dark” (India), Sumanth Bhat’s “Mithya” (India) and Fazil Razak’s “The Sentence” (India). The new focus will also include 46 non-competition films from South Asia.
The Icons South Asia strand features Anand Patwardhan’s Toronto title “The World is Family”; “Indi(r)a’s Emergency” by Vikramaditya Motwane...
- 10/9/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
It's a sweltering day on the Arabian peninsula, but Ananda's (Tannishtha Chatterjee) family is happy. Ananda and her husband Gagan (Amit Sial) can barely keep their hands off each other, smiling at one another like newlyweds. Ananda lovingly and delicately prepares pomegranate for her two daughters' school lunches, six-year-old Anju (Kshethra Mithun) and older sister Ravina (Aarushi Laud). Ananda walks her kids to the bus, and waves excitedly as they drive away, the joy reciprocated in her daughter's faces.
But this gleeful day is about to come crashing down around them. Anju has fallen asleep on the school bus, and a series of small, unfortunate decisions compound, and Anju is left on the bus while the rest of the kids go to school. In the suffocating heat, Anju gets heat asphyxiation and dies. Ananda and Gagan are called into the school, believing their daughter has wet herself again. But...
But this gleeful day is about to come crashing down around them. Anju has fallen asleep on the school bus, and a series of small, unfortunate decisions compound, and Anju is left on the bus while the rest of the kids go to school. In the suffocating heat, Anju gets heat asphyxiation and dies. Ananda and Gagan are called into the school, believing their daughter has wet herself again. But...
- 9/11/2023
- by Barry Levitt
- Slash Film
Ananda (Tannishtha Chatterjee) says it all towards the end of Wendy Bednarz’s feature debut Yellow Bus: “There were so many chances to save her life.” That’s the message at the center of its tragedy. Not justice, but acknowledgement. Because while it’s easy to blame anyone whose presence touched a senseless and avoidable death, few (if any) are actual murderers. Grief has a tendency of blinding us from this fact, though. Even when the person we blame most is ourselves.
Ananda, conversely, wants justice. She saw the way the school bus door jammed after Ravina (Aarushi Laud) and Anju (Kshethra Mithun) boarded and how it didn’t when she’s supposedly shown the same bus again after the latter girl was left inside to die of hyperthermia. She sees the obvious guilt in the academy principal’s (Kinda Alloush’s Mira) eyes when attempting to give Ananda...
Ananda, conversely, wants justice. She saw the way the school bus door jammed after Ravina (Aarushi Laud) and Anju (Kshethra Mithun) boarded and how it didn’t when she’s supposedly shown the same bus again after the latter girl was left inside to die of hyperthermia. She sees the obvious guilt in the academy principal’s (Kinda Alloush’s Mira) eyes when attempting to give Ananda...
- 9/10/2023
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
A Mother’s Quest for Justice in the Arabian Gulf Takes Centerstage in Toronto Selection ‘Yellow Bus’
A mother’s quest for justice is the fulcrum around which Toronto Film Festival U.A.E. selection “Yellow Bus” revolves.
Set in an unnamed Arabian Gulf country, “Yellow Bus” follows an Indian family that endures a tragedy when their daughter is neglected on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat. Consumed by grief, mother Anada (Tannishtha Chatterjee), sets out to find the truth about who is accountable.
The film is the feature directorial debut of American Wendy Bednarz who teaches film in the Middle East. It is inspired by multiple real-life incidents of neglect across the region, which stayed with Bednarz – a mother herself – and she decided to make a film on the subject. The filmmaker strove to be as authentic as possible.
“Even before I decided to make the film, I really questioned my own positionality in terms of, who am I to actually make this film...
Set in an unnamed Arabian Gulf country, “Yellow Bus” follows an Indian family that endures a tragedy when their daughter is neglected on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat. Consumed by grief, mother Anada (Tannishtha Chatterjee), sets out to find the truth about who is accountable.
The film is the feature directorial debut of American Wendy Bednarz who teaches film in the Middle East. It is inspired by multiple real-life incidents of neglect across the region, which stayed with Bednarz – a mother herself – and she decided to make a film on the subject. The filmmaker strove to be as authentic as possible.
“Even before I decided to make the film, I really questioned my own positionality in terms of, who am I to actually make this film...
- 9/8/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Next Goal Wins (Taika Waititi, 2023).The lineup is being unveiled for the 2023 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, starting with 60 selections from the Gala and Special Presentations programs. The festival takes place from September 7–17, 2023.Gala PRESENTATIONSConcrete Utopia (Um Tae-Hwa)Dumb Money (Craig Gillespie)Fair Play (Chloe Domont)Flora and Son (John Carney)Hate to Love: Nickelback (Leigh Brooks)Lee (Ellen Kuras)Next Goal Wins (Taika Waititi)Nyad (Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin)Punjab ’95 (Honey Trehan)Solo (Sophie Dupuis)The End We Start From (Mahalia Belo)The Movie Emperor (Ning Hao)The New Boy (Warwick Thornton) The Royal Hotel (Kitty Green)The Holdovers.Special Presentationsa Difficult Year (Éric Toledano, Olivier Nakache)A Normal Family (Hur Jin-ho)American Fiction (Cord Jefferson)Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet)Close to You (Dominic Savage)Days of Happiness (Chloé Robichaud)The Rescue (Daniela Goggi)Ezra (Tony Goldwyn)Fingernails (Christos Nikou)Four Daughters (Kaouther Ben Hania...
- 8/14/2023
- MUBI
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