StarBuzz, Toronto-MOSAIC 2012-The seventh year of the MOSAIC Film festival is bringing you the best in South Asian cinema from festivals around the world. We have selections from Cannes, TIFF, SAIFF and Hot Docs to name a few. This year we will be premiering the Oscar winning film ‘Saving Face’ by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy as well as ‘Doubles With Slight Pepper’ by Ian Harnarine that was awarded best Canadian short film of 2011
Celebrated Canadian filmmaker Richie Mehta will be offering a directors talk and sitting on the jury along with former Hot Docs programmer Karina Rotenstein and Concordia Univerisy professor Dr. David Douglas. Our featured starlet this year is the theatre and film actor Anita Majumdar. Anita will be speaking on a panel about her success from stage to screen. She stars as Emerald in Deepa Mehta’s upcoming feature film ‘Midnight’s Children’ next. Along with RELOAD documentary project for seniors, MOSAIC South Asian Film Festival will be one that caters to the young and old and features programming from South Asia, Europe, The American and the Caribbean making it a festival truly representing the South Asian diaspora.
This year we will be recognizing South Asian talent and awarding prizes in the categories of best film, director, sound, editing, documentary, production design, performer and music, We will also be awarding a prize to the best social justice and human rights film. We hope to see you there. Thursday, August 16th, 2012 6:00 PM
Opening reception followed by a welcome of the Jury and presentation of
criteria for the film festival.
7:00 PM
Director: Arshad Khan (In Attendance)
ZEN (18 min) Limited Community screening. Outside of competition.
Zen is the story of a three year old boy whose parents are fighting the
health care system in order to get timely therapy for their son with
cerebral palsy.
7:30 PM
Director: Rama Rau (In Attendance)
MY LIFE WITH ME (Duration?) Presented with FILMI
9:00 PM
Opening party at location to be announced on Facebook
Friday, August 17th, 2012
5:00 PM
Shorts Program – Pride and Prejudice
1 Insecxtual. 3 min 2011
Rehan Mudannayake
A short film that deals with themes of eroticism and transformation,
comparing the natural rhythms of our own human cycle and existence
with that of nature; at once with it and yet diametrically opposed to it.
2 Afternoon Tea- 13 min 2011
DJ Parmar
A nosy boy tries to get to know an elderly Sikh man and discover his
secrets.
Toronto International Film Festival selection.
3 I Am What I Ought To Be- 12 min 2011
Ameesha Patel
A couple recounts the day of their arranged marriage in India.
4 Kingdom of Women- 9 min 2012
Amna Khaishgi
A documentary about Pakistani first women only market called Meena
Bazaar in Karachi. Cannes Film Festival selection.
5 Doubles With Slight Pepper- 12:35 min 2012
Ian Harnarine
Dhani, a Trinidadian young man, must decide if he will reconnect with his
estranged father dying alone in Canada Ian Harnarine.
Winner best Canadian short Toronto International Film Festival. Cannes
film festival selection in competition.
6 House For Sale- 18 min 2012
Eisha Marjara
A film that explores the bonds that are built in public and behind closed
doors and unravels the complicated negotiations of desire and
commitment.
Winner of several US festival prizes including best director.
7 75 El Camino- 12 min 2011
Sami Khan
In the shadows of the rusted refineries of Sarnia's Chemical Valley, Travis
and Marianne Stanton have just lost their home. Now it's either sell their
beloved 1975 Chevy El Camino or hit the road and never come back. An
Official Selection of the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
8 Meri Pehchaan- 12 min 2012
Karan Singh
A young man confronts white supremacy in the gay community and
recognizes it’s reflection within his own culture.
9 HERE I AM – 10 min 2012
Sami Khan
A documentary about an inspiring recovering heroine addict.
7:00
PM
Good Morning- 42 min 2011
Kabir Chaudhury
A psychological drama examining a possessive husband's insecurities.
Winner South Asian International Film Festival of New York.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
2:30
PM
The Legend of Ponnivala: Death and The Queen - duration?
Director: Brenda Beck (In Attendance) Voice Actor: Afroz Khan
Presented by FILMI
3:30
PM
BEST OF THE FEST All the award winning short films will be presented.
5:00
PM
A Prayer for Aliyah 25 min
Zorawar Shukla
'A Prayer for Aliyah' gives an insight into the lives of three Manipuri Jews
living in a turbulent, neglected part of the country where their steadfast
belief and strict practice of Orthodox Judaism offer them a glimpse of a
better life.
5:45 PM
9:11 am 15 min 2012
Faraz Waqar
Presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2012 - Short Film Corner, ‘9:11 am’
deals with a scenario where tables are turned and the targets of
discrimination become the perpetrators instead.
6:15 PM
Saving Face- 30 min 2012
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
Oscar winner for best short documentary film
Sunday, August 19, 2012
1:00 PM
Featured Director Talk
Richie Mehta speaks about his film works including two feature films in
post-production.
2:00 PM
Featured Starlet of Mosaic
Anita Majumdar speaks about her transition from theater to cinema and
how to become a successful actor in Canada.
2:30 PM
RELOAD Project Screenings
3:00 PM
Jury Panel with award ceremony
4:30 PM
CLOSING FILM
Herman's House- 60 min 2012
Angad Bhalla. Producer in attendance
The injustice of solitary confinement and the transformative power of art
are explored in Herman’s House, a feature documentary that follows the
unlikely friendship between a New York artist and one of America’s most
famous inmates as they collaborate on an acclaimed art project.
MOSAIC FILM FESTIVAL JURY MEMBERS
We are pleased to have an experienced and credible jury at the festival this year.
Dr. Dave Douglas (Professor)
Dr. David Douglas presently teaches at the School of Cinema of Concordia
University. His courses include History of Cinema, Canadian Cinema, World
Cinema(s), Bollywood Cinema, The Movie Soundtrack, Film Theory, the
Hollywood Studio System, the Red Scare in Hollywood and the Musical. He is a
contributor to South American Cinema: A Critical Filmography 1915-94 (U. of
Texas Press, 1996) and Guide to the Cinemas of Canada (2001). He has also
published in the Canadian Journal of Film Studies and Cinema Canada and
contributed to the online journal Offscreen.com. As co-creator of the Pioneers in
Independent Canadian Cinema Project, he has been responsible for the
restoration and several dvd releases. Since 2008, Dr. Douglas has been a
regular Visiting Professor, teaching Avant-garde Cinema, at the Escuela
Internacional de Cine y Television in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba. He has
also taught in the Altos Estudios program of the EICTV. Dr. Douglas is a past
Chair of the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre and the past Vicepresident
of the Film Studies Association of Canada (2009 - 2011).
Karina Rotenstein
Karina Rotenstein is an independent film consultant and producer, who
specializing in film festival operations, curation, and creative development in
documentary and fiction. Ms. Rotenstein most recently concluded a four-year role
as Programming Manager at Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary
Festival and Market. She has served on numerous film festival juries and panels
including the Toronto International Film Festival and Canada's Top Ten, the
Calgary International Film Festival, South Asian International Film Festival
(NYC), Cleveland International Film Festival, Bahamas International Film
Festival, and Silverdocs. She is based in Toronto, and is currently an Associate
Producer of Yoav Shamir's "10% -What Makes A Hero?"; and serving as an
acquisitions consultant for GetFilmi.com, an online distributor for South Asian
cinema.
Richie Mehta
Richie Mehta's debut feature film AMAL shot to critical acclaim and set him up as
one of the stars of the Canadian film industry. AMAL has won over 30
international awards, was nominated for 6 Genie awards (Canadian Academy
Awards), including Best Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay, and was
named one of the top ten Canadian films of the decade by Playback Magazine
(Canada's Variety). AMAL which was also written by Richie Mehta, is currently
being adapted into an American remake by producer Oprah Winfrey and Harpo
Films. Trained as a painter and sculptor, Mehta attended the University of
Toronto’s Art and Art History and Cinema Studies program and Sheridan
College's Advanced Television and Film program. He's been mentored by
directors such as Wim Wenders, Shekhar Kapur and Brian DePalma.
Mehta is currently working on two feature films, including I'll Follow You Down,
starring Haley Joel Osment, Gillian Anderson, Victor Garber, and Rufus Sewell.
PROGRAMMER BIOS
Dinesh Sachdev
FILMI South Asian Film Festival is celebrating its 11th year in Toronto. Dinesh
Sachdev is the co-founder of the organization who established FILMI on the
premise of supporting and displaying the South Asian filmmakers in Canada and
North America. A native of Brampton, Dinesh Sachdev is an active member of
Festival and this is the sixth year of FILMI programming for MOSAIC festival.
Dinesh currently works in world of media and holds a promising future in
promotion and film machanics.
Arshad Khan
Arshad Khan is a Canadian filmmaker (writer/director/producer) of Pakistani
origin who believes in cinema as a catalyst for change. His films combine
aesthetic sensibility to social conscience. A graduate of the Mel Hoppenheim
school of cinema at Concordia University, Khan has been a programmer for
Cinema Politica over the last three years. Khan is developing two feature film
projects at the moment. His latest award-winning short film ZEN will be
presented out of competition as the opening night screening.
This year Khan is the video producer as well as a guest programmer for the
festival. Khan brings new energy propelling the festival to another echelon of
cinematic excellence altogether.
Celebrated Canadian filmmaker Richie Mehta will be offering a directors talk and sitting on the jury along with former Hot Docs programmer Karina Rotenstein and Concordia Univerisy professor Dr. David Douglas. Our featured starlet this year is the theatre and film actor Anita Majumdar. Anita will be speaking on a panel about her success from stage to screen. She stars as Emerald in Deepa Mehta’s upcoming feature film ‘Midnight’s Children’ next. Along with RELOAD documentary project for seniors, MOSAIC South Asian Film Festival will be one that caters to the young and old and features programming from South Asia, Europe, The American and the Caribbean making it a festival truly representing the South Asian diaspora.
This year we will be recognizing South Asian talent and awarding prizes in the categories of best film, director, sound, editing, documentary, production design, performer and music, We will also be awarding a prize to the best social justice and human rights film. We hope to see you there. Thursday, August 16th, 2012 6:00 PM
Opening reception followed by a welcome of the Jury and presentation of
criteria for the film festival.
7:00 PM
Director: Arshad Khan (In Attendance)
ZEN (18 min) Limited Community screening. Outside of competition.
Zen is the story of a three year old boy whose parents are fighting the
health care system in order to get timely therapy for their son with
cerebral palsy.
7:30 PM
Director: Rama Rau (In Attendance)
MY LIFE WITH ME (Duration?) Presented with FILMI
9:00 PM
Opening party at location to be announced on Facebook
Friday, August 17th, 2012
5:00 PM
Shorts Program – Pride and Prejudice
1 Insecxtual. 3 min 2011
Rehan Mudannayake
A short film that deals with themes of eroticism and transformation,
comparing the natural rhythms of our own human cycle and existence
with that of nature; at once with it and yet diametrically opposed to it.
2 Afternoon Tea- 13 min 2011
DJ Parmar
A nosy boy tries to get to know an elderly Sikh man and discover his
secrets.
Toronto International Film Festival selection.
3 I Am What I Ought To Be- 12 min 2011
Ameesha Patel
A couple recounts the day of their arranged marriage in India.
4 Kingdom of Women- 9 min 2012
Amna Khaishgi
A documentary about Pakistani first women only market called Meena
Bazaar in Karachi. Cannes Film Festival selection.
5 Doubles With Slight Pepper- 12:35 min 2012
Ian Harnarine
Dhani, a Trinidadian young man, must decide if he will reconnect with his
estranged father dying alone in Canada Ian Harnarine.
Winner best Canadian short Toronto International Film Festival. Cannes
film festival selection in competition.
6 House For Sale- 18 min 2012
Eisha Marjara
A film that explores the bonds that are built in public and behind closed
doors and unravels the complicated negotiations of desire and
commitment.
Winner of several US festival prizes including best director.
7 75 El Camino- 12 min 2011
Sami Khan
In the shadows of the rusted refineries of Sarnia's Chemical Valley, Travis
and Marianne Stanton have just lost their home. Now it's either sell their
beloved 1975 Chevy El Camino or hit the road and never come back. An
Official Selection of the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
8 Meri Pehchaan- 12 min 2012
Karan Singh
A young man confronts white supremacy in the gay community and
recognizes it’s reflection within his own culture.
9 HERE I AM – 10 min 2012
Sami Khan
A documentary about an inspiring recovering heroine addict.
7:00
PM
Good Morning- 42 min 2011
Kabir Chaudhury
A psychological drama examining a possessive husband's insecurities.
Winner South Asian International Film Festival of New York.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
2:30
PM
The Legend of Ponnivala: Death and The Queen - duration?
Director: Brenda Beck (In Attendance) Voice Actor: Afroz Khan
Presented by FILMI
3:30
PM
BEST OF THE FEST All the award winning short films will be presented.
5:00
PM
A Prayer for Aliyah 25 min
Zorawar Shukla
'A Prayer for Aliyah' gives an insight into the lives of three Manipuri Jews
living in a turbulent, neglected part of the country where their steadfast
belief and strict practice of Orthodox Judaism offer them a glimpse of a
better life.
5:45 PM
9:11 am 15 min 2012
Faraz Waqar
Presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2012 - Short Film Corner, ‘9:11 am’
deals with a scenario where tables are turned and the targets of
discrimination become the perpetrators instead.
6:15 PM
Saving Face- 30 min 2012
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
Oscar winner for best short documentary film
Sunday, August 19, 2012
1:00 PM
Featured Director Talk
Richie Mehta speaks about his film works including two feature films in
post-production.
2:00 PM
Featured Starlet of Mosaic
Anita Majumdar speaks about her transition from theater to cinema and
how to become a successful actor in Canada.
2:30 PM
RELOAD Project Screenings
3:00 PM
Jury Panel with award ceremony
4:30 PM
CLOSING FILM
Herman's House- 60 min 2012
Angad Bhalla. Producer in attendance
The injustice of solitary confinement and the transformative power of art
are explored in Herman’s House, a feature documentary that follows the
unlikely friendship between a New York artist and one of America’s most
famous inmates as they collaborate on an acclaimed art project.
MOSAIC FILM FESTIVAL JURY MEMBERS
We are pleased to have an experienced and credible jury at the festival this year.
Dr. Dave Douglas (Professor)
Dr. David Douglas presently teaches at the School of Cinema of Concordia
University. His courses include History of Cinema, Canadian Cinema, World
Cinema(s), Bollywood Cinema, The Movie Soundtrack, Film Theory, the
Hollywood Studio System, the Red Scare in Hollywood and the Musical. He is a
contributor to South American Cinema: A Critical Filmography 1915-94 (U. of
Texas Press, 1996) and Guide to the Cinemas of Canada (2001). He has also
published in the Canadian Journal of Film Studies and Cinema Canada and
contributed to the online journal Offscreen.com. As co-creator of the Pioneers in
Independent Canadian Cinema Project, he has been responsible for the
restoration and several dvd releases. Since 2008, Dr. Douglas has been a
regular Visiting Professor, teaching Avant-garde Cinema, at the Escuela
Internacional de Cine y Television in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba. He has
also taught in the Altos Estudios program of the EICTV. Dr. Douglas is a past
Chair of the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre and the past Vicepresident
of the Film Studies Association of Canada (2009 - 2011).
Karina Rotenstein
Karina Rotenstein is an independent film consultant and producer, who
specializing in film festival operations, curation, and creative development in
documentary and fiction. Ms. Rotenstein most recently concluded a four-year role
as Programming Manager at Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary
Festival and Market. She has served on numerous film festival juries and panels
including the Toronto International Film Festival and Canada's Top Ten, the
Calgary International Film Festival, South Asian International Film Festival
(NYC), Cleveland International Film Festival, Bahamas International Film
Festival, and Silverdocs. She is based in Toronto, and is currently an Associate
Producer of Yoav Shamir's "10% -What Makes A Hero?"; and serving as an
acquisitions consultant for GetFilmi.com, an online distributor for South Asian
cinema.
Richie Mehta
Richie Mehta's debut feature film AMAL shot to critical acclaim and set him up as
one of the stars of the Canadian film industry. AMAL has won over 30
international awards, was nominated for 6 Genie awards (Canadian Academy
Awards), including Best Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay, and was
named one of the top ten Canadian films of the decade by Playback Magazine
(Canada's Variety). AMAL which was also written by Richie Mehta, is currently
being adapted into an American remake by producer Oprah Winfrey and Harpo
Films. Trained as a painter and sculptor, Mehta attended the University of
Toronto’s Art and Art History and Cinema Studies program and Sheridan
College's Advanced Television and Film program. He's been mentored by
directors such as Wim Wenders, Shekhar Kapur and Brian DePalma.
Mehta is currently working on two feature films, including I'll Follow You Down,
starring Haley Joel Osment, Gillian Anderson, Victor Garber, and Rufus Sewell.
PROGRAMMER BIOS
Dinesh Sachdev
FILMI South Asian Film Festival is celebrating its 11th year in Toronto. Dinesh
Sachdev is the co-founder of the organization who established FILMI on the
premise of supporting and displaying the South Asian filmmakers in Canada and
North America. A native of Brampton, Dinesh Sachdev is an active member of
Festival and this is the sixth year of FILMI programming for MOSAIC festival.
Dinesh currently works in world of media and holds a promising future in
promotion and film machanics.
Arshad Khan
Arshad Khan is a Canadian filmmaker (writer/director/producer) of Pakistani
origin who believes in cinema as a catalyst for change. His films combine
aesthetic sensibility to social conscience. A graduate of the Mel Hoppenheim
school of cinema at Concordia University, Khan has been a programmer for
Cinema Politica over the last three years. Khan is developing two feature film
projects at the moment. His latest award-winning short film ZEN will be
presented out of competition as the opening night screening.
This year Khan is the video producer as well as a guest programmer for the
festival. Khan brings new energy propelling the festival to another echelon of
cinematic excellence altogether.
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