International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA), the biggest South Asian Film Festival in North America was launched at Canadian city of Toronto on Thursday.
This ten day extravaganza showcases a diverse, language independent, selection of the best feature films, documentaries and short films from around the world, on themes of South Asian cultures and identities.
In addition, the festival also features concerts, gala events, film parties, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities with government representatives, business leaders, local organizations that support film development, film stars, producers, directors, members of the media and more.
The festival includes two segments : International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) – Toronto with Punjabi International Film Festival (PIFF) – Toronto as a sub segment.
Exciting and glamorous events have been planned at various pristine and prestigious venues in the cities of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Scarborough, Richmond Hill, and Oakville.
The Festival also aims to provide a platform to young South Asian Canadians to showcase their creativity.
A total of three Bangla feature films – ‘Ekattorer Ma Jononi’, ‘Gariwala’ and ‘Bapjaner Bioskope’- will be screened at the ‘International Film Festival of South Asian 2015’ to be held on May 14-18 in Toronto.
Actors Shahiduzzaman Selim, Rokeya Prachi, Nipun, Shah Alam Kiron and Ashraf Shishir are attending the festival.
‘Ekattorer Ma Jononi’, a film based on the country’s Liberation War, has been directed by Shah Alam Kiran. The film, which has been produced by the government donation, has made attempts just to let the new generation know about the sacrifices in 1971. Prominent artiste Mishu Chowdhury has played an important role in the film and she has explored the character of an oppressed woman of Liberation War.
‘Ekattorer Ma Jononi’ has been adapted from the novel ‘Jononi Sahoshini 1971’ by noted writer Anisul Haque. The cast of the play includes Mishu Chowdhury, Nasrin Akter Nipun, Agun, Shakil Ahmed, MM Morshed, Sazu and Sohan, among others. ‘Gariwala’, a feature film directed by Ashraf Shishir, portrays the touchy story of two siblings and their mother who fight to get rid of acute poverty.
The film has also been selected for screening at two film festivals in South America and North America recently. The film was screened at ‘Julien Dubuque International Film Festival’ in Iowa, the USA, held on April 23-26 and at ‘BioBioCine, Concepción International Film Festival 2015’ in Chile on April 23-27.
‘Gariwala’, a Bangla feature film, also won the best screenplay award at the North Carolina Film Festival in the USA. Ashraf Shishir, director and script writer of the movie, received the best screenplay award at the festival held on January 24-25 this year. ‘Gariwala’ also bagged the best supporting actor award and the best child artiste award at the carnival. Earlier, ‘Gariwala’ competed at the three-day ‘Rafi Peer International Film Festival’ in Lahore on December 25-27. The cast of the film includes Rokeya Prachi, Raisul Islam Asad, Masum Aziz, Imran and Saki Farzana, among others. The film was also screened at the ‘Fourth Athens International Digital Film Festival’ on December 16 last year.
Besides, the film was also screened at ‘Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival’ held on October 19-24 and ‘Kolkata International Film Festival’ on November 9-17 in 2014.
Ashraf Shishir is a talented, young film director and scriptwriter. His famous works include ‘The Innocence’, ‘Gaariwala’, ‘The Art & Religion’, ‘The Daily Refuse’, ‘The Fukuwaka Method, and ‘The Ages’. ‘Bap Janer Bioscope’, a feature film directed by Riazul Riju, features Shahiduzzaman Selim, Sanjida Tonmoy, Shatabdi Wadud and Masud Mohiduddin in leading roles.
Source: weekly Holiday
