The London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) has become the proud recipient of the Best Live Event 2022 honour at the Asian Media Awards ceremony, held in Manchester in the presence of over 400 of the UK's top South Asian media talent.
In the face of stiff competition, LIFF said its 'Best Live Event 2022' award win is a testament to the festival's fearless and dynamic expansion across four UK cities despite the ongoing Covid fears and other challenges. LIFF was also an early market leader in its dedication to attracting audiences from online viewing and back into cinemas through innovative programming, showcasing the best cinemas from South Asia and its UK diaspora. The festival has also won many admirers from all communities with its inclusive and diverse programme, championing women filmmakers, trailblazing an LGBTQIA+ film strand, and supporting emerging talent from different communities.
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Festival Director Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE says: "Although it's great to get recognition from mainstream UK cultures, as Europe's largest South Asian film event; it has been really touching to receive this important award from our own UK Asian community and to have so many British heavyweights in the room applauding us.
“The Asian Media Awards, over the last 10 years, has really risen to an important monicker of UK Asian media talent and contribution to wider British society. We thank them with all our hearts for giving us this recognition.
“We, of course, couldn't have achieved so much without the tireless support and shared passion in indie filmmaking and arts by our partners Blue Orchid Hotels, Integrity International, British Film Institute, Bagri Foundation and Arts Council England. Our media partners and cinema venues across England and wonderful, loyal audiences from many different communities, many of whom have been on our journey for the last 13 years.
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“The dynamic expansion of the festival in Manchester this year, in the form of the Manchester Indian Film Festival and then Leeds, has been fascinating! Taking the festival ever outwards across the UK."
This year's record number of premieres included the World Premiere of acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap's science-fiction Dobaaraa starring award-winning actress Taapsee Pannu which opened the festival; the British Gala screening of the feel-good film Little English directed by Pravesh Kumar; and uplifting sports documentary Superfan: The Nav Bhatia story with Nav Bhatia, music and entertainment in attendance which closed the festival.
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Unforgettable live star talks included India's greatest resident woman filmmaker Aparna Sen talking about her life and latest films, critically acclaimed actor/filmmaker, two-time Cannes jury member Nandita Das, and dynamic Indian acting talents Konkona Sen Sharma and Taapsee Pannu, who received LIFF awards respectively. Special Q&As included a Women Make Movies Panel, a retrospective with British Asian award-winning director and actor Meera Syal and a Director Q&As with LIFF Audience Award winner Pan Nalin for Last Film Show, India's Official Entry to the Academy Award.
*Info: London Indian Film Festival