By Arun Kumar
Washington, Dec 5 (IANS): More than a dozen films focusing on issues affecting South Asians and exploring the lives and stories of the South Asian diaspora in the US will be showcased at a film festival in Texas next February.
The 2nd annual Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) South Asian Film Festival kicks off its programming from Feb 19 to 21, at locations in downtown Dallas and Plano with "Miss India America" as the opening night film.
It will screen Feb 19 at the Hoglund Foundation Theatre of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by a red carpet and cocktail reception at the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall.
The rest of the specially-curated line-up will be showcased at the Angelika Film Centre in Plano on Feb 20 and 21, followed by panel discussions with attending filmmakers, after-parties and networking events, all taking place in Plano.
JINGO Media, a Dallas and New York based, public relations and events management firm, produces the annual festival of South Asian independent cinema in North Texas.
"In our second year, we are stepping up our game," said JINGO Media Principal/CEO Jitin Hingorani.
Our team of curators has spent the year travelling to other South Asian film festivals around the world, including Toronto, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Goa, India, to secure the most meaningful and relevant programming for North Texas audiences.
"We are certain that our community will leave these films entertained, elated and educated."
The festival's opening night film is the Texas premiere of wife/husband creative team of Meera Simhan (actor/co-writer) and Ravi Kapoor's (director/co-writer) award-winning, cross-cultural comedy "Miss India America."
Set against the backdrop of the Indian beauty pageant world in Los Angeles, the film stars Texas native Tiya Sircar and Hannah Simone (of television series New Girl fame), along with a supporting cast of talented South Asian actors.
Produced by Megha Kadakia and Saurabh Kikani, the film "establishes an authentic tone that pays respect to Indian cultural norms, while poking gentle fun at these traditions," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In addition to the opening night, centrepiece and closing night films, the festival will also showcase thought-provoking, edgy shorts and documentaries, along with women's programming, men's programming, LGBT programming and family programming.
Those who couldn't come out and volunteer were requested to send donations to Chennai Micro Fund trust, which was used to carry out relief work.
Social media played a pivotal role in this movement, helping the city to get back on its feet.
Rescue and relief operations were carried out with the help of Twitter. Since most telecommunication networks took a hit due to the heavy downpour, people used the social media platform to reach out to one another.
From updating people about the situation on the ground to tracking somebody's whereabouts with the website chennairains.org collating all information, social media played a big role.
Support also came from maestro Ilayaraja who, on learning that the Little Flower Convent catering to visually challenged, deaf and mute children was under four feet of water, immediately paid them a visit.
The 72-year-old insisted on meeting the children, despite being warned of the high water level.
With life yet to return to normal in the state, these stars continue to work round-the-clock doing their bit to help those in need.