London Indian Film Festival is starting next week in London, Birmingham and Manchester

World Premieres, In Conversations, Cutting edge documentaries, Acclaimed Directors, Retrospectives and Asian Music Events.

Supported by title sponsor Blue Orchid Hotels, Integrity International, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Bagri Foundation and Arts Council of England, this year’s London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) spans 11 days from 23rd June – 3rd July. Selection of the programme will be available on BFI Player and the LoveLiffatHome Online Player/

LIFF opens on 23rd June with the World Premiere of DOBAARAA directed by the acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap and starring award winning actress Taapsee Pannu. The highly anticipated thriller is produced by Shobha Kapoor & Ektaa R Kapoor (Cult Movies, a new wing under Balaji Telefilms) and Sunir Kheterpal & Gaurav Bose (Athena). The Opening Night screening at BFI Southbank will be followed by a Q&A by Kashyap.

Female filmmakers are at the forefront of this year’s festival including the European premiere of THE RAPIST starring Konkana Sen Sharma and Arjun Rampal. The screening of the powerful, award winning film will be followed by a Q&A with its director Aparna Sen, India’s most prolific female filmmaker. Konkona Sen is also expected to be attending.

Rebana Liz John’s documentary LADIES ONLY explores feminist themes through observing the female only compartments of Mumbai’s hectic trains.   

Among other U.K. premieres are Pan Nalin’s uplifting homage to celluloid CHELLO SHOW and Anik Dutta’s APARAJITO – a tribute to legendary director Satyajit Ray’s journey of making his first film, the cult classic ‘Pather Panchali’. An intimate look at modern day Calcutta, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CALCUTTA by Aditya Vikram Sengupta also features in the festival line-up. Set against a score by Academy Award winning AR Rahman, who is also Executive Producer, NO LAND’S MAN stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui as a man dealing with the complexities of identity. Q&A by the film’s director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki follows the film’s premiere.

Under the festival’s ‘Save the Planet’ strand, ecological and climate themes are explored in THE ROAD TO KUTHRIYAR, NO GROUND BENEATH MY FEET and HATIBONDHU. Among the films in the ‘Extraordinary lives’ strand are DUG DUG and PAKA: THE RIVER OF BLOOD.

The ‘Young Rebels’ strand includes GIRLS FOR FUTURE and THE VERY FISHY TRIP.  

Cultures collide in selections from the diaspora including British Indian comedy LITTLE ENGLISH, the Pakistani American film AMERICANISH from the US. Archival screenings include classic 1990s music documentary ASIAN VIBES LONDON & MUMBAI, plus a special screening of Richard Attenborough’s GANDHI celebrating the 40th anniversary of this multi Oscar winner.

Additional shorts categories include hit LGBTQIA+ programme Too Desi Too Queer, the films of Mumbai queer pioneer filmmaker Riyad Vinci Wadia, new British Asian emerging filmmakers and shorts competing in the festival’s annual Satayjit Ray Short Film Competition.

Canadian Indian documentary SUPERFAN: THE NAV BHATIA STORY, uplifting tale on basketball team the Toronto Raptors greatest fan, closes the festival.

LIFF has announced a new title sponsor – the Blue Orchid Hotels. With its excellent locations, exceptional standards and commitment to making a difference within communities, the partnership positively demonstrates the support of the arts by private business. The company also pursues a number of charitable endeavours, including raising awareness of child trafficking and women’s rights which are complementary to themes and causes that the festival also platforms.

Participating Cinemas include: BFI Southbank, Barbican, Ciné Lumière, Rich Mix, Bertha DocHouse, Picturehouse Central, Picturehouse Stratford, Roof East Stratford, MAC Birmingham, Electric Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Everyman Manchester St John’s, Home Manchester & stream UK wide at www.LoveLIFFatHome.com