UK Minister and top Bollywood stars celebrate historic agreement
An era of closer collaboration between Indian and UK film-makers began as Britain's film Minister Barbara Follett launched a historic film co-production on the set of major Bollywood movie London Dreams, Wednesday, October 22, 2008. Now, any Indian filmmaker who wants to collaborate with a British producer under the treaty will have access to a range of benefits including tax breaks, sources of funding and practical support. Read more »
Abhishek Bachchan leads the Indian Film season 2008 on Channel 4
Britain's Channel 4 is the only mainstream television channel in the UK that has been screening Indian film seasons for now almost two decades. And the person behind the whole show has always been Nasreen Munni Kabir who used to produce Britain's only regular programme of Indian cinema- Movie Mahal, again, on Channel 4 in the 1980s. This year's season, starting from September 7, Sunday and Thursday nights, will celebrate the works of Abhishek Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Goutam Ghose and Anupam Kher. All films will be preceded by a 5 minute introduction with the Star/Director featuring in season. Read more »
61st Locarno Film Festival 6-16 August
61st Locarno International Film Festival (6- 16 August, 2008) is expected to attract about 200,000 people in the beautiful Swiss-Italian town of Locarno. Patriotic Indians must not read the following information as Locarno has proved to be another disaster for the Indian cinema. About 180 feature films from all over the world will be screened but India does not feature in any of the major categories.The festival, founded in 1946, has a special focus on cinema from emerging countries and Latin America. Read more »
Is the British film industry in crisis?
The number of international co-productions being shot in Britain has plummeted, claims a report-The big exodus: Is the British film industry in crisis?- published in the British daily 'The Independent' Thursday, June 5. This report assumes importance as the details of newly signed Co production Treaty between India and the UK emerge. It's summer time and one can see Bollywood film units have started arriving in London. But only Bollywood would not be able to revive the sagging morale of the British film industry. Read more »
An affair between Queen Victoria and her waiter Abdul Karim
She was the Queen of Great Britain. He was a dining room waiter in India. The story of a 'love affair' between Queen Victoria and Hafiz Abdul Karim aka Munshi has fascinated historians. They say he was very handsome and polite. The moment Queen Victoria saw him she fell for him. She got him transferred from India to London and promoted him to her 'Indian Secretary'. He taught her Urdu and recited the legendary poet Ghalib. She asked the Austrian painter Rudolf Swoboda to draw a portrait of Abdul Karim, writes Pervaiz Alam about a film "Queen Victoria's Men" that captures glimpses of Karim-Victoria story. Read more »
'Shoot On Sights' hits UK screens
'Shoot On Sight' - much talked about film inspired by the July 7, 2005 underground bombings in London- has been released in 100 cinemas of the UK, Friday, August 22, 2008. Huge posters of the controversial thriller, directed by Jagmohan Mundhra, can be seen on London's red buses and phone booths. Producer Aron Govil has said that a portion of the profits from his 'Shoot On Sight' will be donated to the London bombings memorial planned for Hyde Park. Read more »
Bollywood Unplugged on Fox Business TV with India EU Film Initiative
With 1000 films and about 4 billion cinema tickets per year, Indian film industry is attracting world's attention for another reason; it's phenomenal growth, about 17 per cent, during the last two years. On Tuesday, August 12, 2008, India EU Film Initiative's Editor, Pervaiz Alam, was interviewed on Rupert Murdoch's Fox Business Network by Ashley Webster in London to explain how Spielberg and Hollywood could benefit by aligning themselves with Bollywood. Watch Pervaiz Alam's Interview. Read more »
50 cinema halls in UK get public money for renovation
London. More than 50 independent cinemas across the UK have benefited from a £475,000 injection of Lottery cash from the UK Film Council to help upgrade facilities and enhance the cinema-going experience for audiences, according to a press release issued July 30, 2008. Read more »
The release of film on 7/7 bombings postponed to respect victims
The release of "Shoot on Sight" - a film inspired by the aftermath of the July 7 London bombings- has been postponed to July 25, respecting the wishes of bombing victims who were reported to be outraged over third anniversary premiere date for 7/7, said Jagmohan Mundhra in an exclusive interview with India-EU Film Initiative Editor, Pervaiz Alam. "Though my film, as such, is not focused on the terror attack itself, but still I respect the sentiments of the people who either lost their dear ones or themselves became the victims of 7/7 bombings. So I have decided to postpone my release," Mundhra told iefilmi.com. Read more »
Cannes winner "The Class" reminds of "Salaam Bombay"
CANNES, France —61st Cannes Film Festival awarded the French film "The Class," a story about classroom life using real students and teachers (amateur actors) at a junior high school, with Palme d'Or, the most coveted prize Sunday, May 25, 2008. The occasion reminded many of Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay" which was also made with real street kids and shot on real locations. "Salaam Bombay" went on to win Golden Camera at Cannes in 1988, reports Kathy Robinson for iefilmi.com. Read more »