Birmingham Indian film festival returns
The Birmingham Indian Film Festival (BIFF) is in full swing with exciting screenings happening at cinemas across Birmingham and the Black Country.
BIFF is part of the UK and Europe’s largest platform for Indian and South Asian cinema with screenings taking place simultaneously in six cities.
The Festival will run in Birmingham and, for the first time in Walsall, from 26 October to 3 November.
This year’s partner venues include MAC at Cannon Hill Park, The Mockingbird Cinema at The Custard Factory, Cineworld Broad Street, BCU STEAMhouse and Eastside Projects and, new to this year’s Festival, Light Cinema, Walsall.
Dharmesh Rajput head of Birmingham Indian Film Festival said: “Midland audiences will be amongst the first to see a variety of the very best in South Asian independent cinema from thrillers, horror, romance, films, panel discussions, Q&As with Directors and cast members, to LGBTQIA+ films, and for the first time, the world of gaming and VR.
“We’re also pleased to be increasing the number of BSL signed Q&As to signal our commitment to extending accessibility.”
BIFF will launch with the Midlands premiere of Berlin likely the most cleverly constructed Indian film of 2023 from Indian film director, writer, and producer Atul Sabharwal.
“This compelling spy thriller stars Aparshakti Khurana (Jubilee) as a young sign language teacher lured into the dark world of espionage, as he is coerced by undercover security forces to interrogate a young deaf man, powerfully played by Ishwak Singh, (Rocket Boys) who has been accused of spying.
Veteran actor Kabir Bedi gives a commanding cameo performance. The post-show Q&A will be BSL signed.
Thanks to support from the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, this year BIFF enters the world of online gaming for the first time, honouring Birmingham's British Asian XR Storytellers.
Discover the world of grassroots immersive film, Virtual and Extended Reality, and gaming as BIFF present a panel of British Asian creatives based in Birmingham.
Taran 3D and Harmeet Chagger-Khan will share excerpts of their exciting work and discuss the challenges and opportunities of telling stories using technology that has people and culture at its heart. This event will take place at STEAMhouse, Birmingham City University’s (BCU) innovation centre.
Professor Rajinder Dudrah, Professor of Cultural Studies & Creative Industries, at BCU commented “Birmingham Indian Film Festival is a regular and much awaited feature in the BCU cultural calendar. Yet again, we are offered a series of thought-provoking films from a region bursting with creativity, talent and exciting stories to tell.”
BIFF runs from 26 October to 3 November 2023. Click here for full Festival programme including dates and tickets.
All screenings will be subtitled.
For emerging filmmakers and Q&As, check out BIFF’s annual platform to learn about upcoming talents with Brit-Asian Shorts and Satyajit Ray Short Film Competition packages. Details of the Festivals popular Q&A’s with film directors and special guests will also be available on the BIFF website.
