The 2023 Toronto Film Festival has announced that it will pull the Indian made activist drama film PUNJAB 95 from its list. The feature was due to receive its world premiere in the Gala Presentations strand of TIFF on September 11 but a festival spokesperson confirmed that it is no longer part of the program. The festival would not comment further on the reasons behind its withdrawal.

The film is based on a true story, it stars singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh as Khalra, a renowned human-rights activist who found evidence of the abduction, murder and cremation of more than 25,000 Sikhs by the police during the militancy period in Punjab from 1984 to 1994. Khalra disappeared in September 1995 and six Punjab police officials were convicted a decade later for his murder.

The subject matter has seen the film face censorship battles in India for several months. Mumbai-based production company RSVP Movies applied for a censor certificate from India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in December 2022 but a decision was delayed for six months.

When a certification was finally issued on July 4, it was given an A grade (restricted to adults aged 18+) with an order demanding 21 cuts and alteration of dialogue. This included changing the film's original title of Ghallughara – a Punjabi word that refers to a large-scale massacre of Sikhs.

The CBFC stated that certain parts of the film could incite violence and may potentially radicalise Sikh youth while affecting the integrity of India and its relations with foreign states.

RSVP Movies, led by prominent producer Ronnie Screwvala, filed an appeal with the Bombay High Court over the decision but it is understood that a verdict has yet to be reached.

Punjab '95 marks the second feature of Indian director Honey Trehan after 2020 Netflix film Raat Akeli Hai. Trehan is also a co-writer and producer on the film, through his MacGuffin Pictures banner, and was previously at Toronto in 2016 as a producer on A Death In The Gunj. The cast also includes Bollywood star Arjun Rampal and Suvinder Vicky, who has gained recent popularity through Netflix crime series Kohrra.

View the official trailer

The Torino Film Festival was established in 1982 as the International Youth Film Festival, presenting itself from the start as a metropolitan festival that is linked on one hand to critical thinking, and on the other to the evolution of film language. It was founded by Gianni Rondolino and Ansano Giannarelli, who together run the first edition of the festival. Particular attention was given to retrospectives, which were always of high level and accompanied by important amounts of in-depth study, and to creativity, with a section dedicated to technologically avantgarde independent cinema. With an unprecedented audience in Italy, the festival's backbone was the liveliness of film classes at University (where Rondolino owned a professorship), combined with the relationship with the public produced by cinematic associationism (AIACE, the Movie Club), from which Rondolino's most trusted collaborators came from.

From 1989 on, when Rondolino became director of the festival, it has been led by Alberto Barbera (from AIACE), Steve Della Casa, Roberto Turigliatto and Giulia D'Agnolo (from the film club Movie Club founded by Baldo Vallero, who will be on the festival board for a long time). From 2006 on, the festival has been guided by important directors such as Nanni Moretti, Gianni Amelio, Paolo Virzi, and two film critics, Emanuela Martini and Stefano Francia di Celle. For its 40th edition, Steve Della Casa returns to lead the festival.

The festival has dedicated great attention to retrospectives (particularly successful are the French New Wave, the New German Cinema, John Carpenter, George Romero, Manoel De Oliveira, Paolo Gobetti, Aleksandr Sokurov, William Friedkin, Roman Polanski, Wim Wenders, Philippe Garrel, Paulo Rocha, Mohsen Makhmalbaf). Many nowadays famous directors' first works were also made known thanks to the festival (Jane Campion, Pablo Larrain, Paolo Sorrentino, Pietro Marcello, Gabriele Muccino, Matteo Garrone, Jafar Panahi, Bryan Singer).

The Festival is divided into four competitive sections:

    International Feature Films Competition
    International Documentaries Competition
    Italian Documentaries Competition
    Italian Short Films Competition

and the following non-competitive sections:

    Out-of-competition: dedicated to the most interesting films of the current year
    Special Screenings

Please also visit the Official Website for additional information

On the 50th anniversary of Bruce Lee's passing, the first Hong Kong film co-produced with a major American film studio, "Enter the Dragon," was released nationwide in the United States one month after his death, causing a sensation and ranking 13th in the box office for the year in 1973. Bruce Lee became the first Chinese actor to play the lead role in a Hollywood film, significantly influencing the development and status of martial arts films in world cinema history.

Unfortunately, he couldn't witness his achievements and influence during his lifetime. On August 13th and August 16th, Warner Bros. owns the film "Enter the Dragon," which will hold nationwide screenings of the newly restored 4K version. Don't miss the opportunity to see the final work of the legendary Bruce Lee on the big screen.

Listen to the podcast: here (in Cantonese)

One of the highest budget films so far from China is the Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms. With a budget of ￥800,000,000 and a long line of cast it is one of the most anticipated films of the year in China.

The story
Jiang Ziya followed the instructions of his master, Yuanshi Tianzun, and went to the world to seek a new virtuous emperor. He found out that Yin Shou, the King Zhou of Shang was a tyrant who abused slaves and killed good courtiers. Three (East, North, South) out of the four overloads were framed to death in the capital city Zhaoge. The only left one, Ji Chang, the Overlord of the West, was forced to eat his oldest son's meat to get a spare of life. Jiang Ziya allied with Ji Fa, the son of Ji Chang. They escaped from the dangerous capital and started planning to overthrow Yin and his empire...

The second part of the trilogy will continue on Ji's homeland defending against Yin's invasion, while the third part will feature Ji's counterattack towards capital Zhaoge.

The film also won two awards on Weibo

View the Official Trailer

Hong Kong On Screen from Los Angeles continues its podcast in Cantonese about HK film history, this is part 3 of the discussion: Hong Kong Film History - Part 3

More episodes and other podcasts to listen to are available here: click here (some are in English, most are in Cantonese)

For more information on the series please click here

The Red Sea Film Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization created to support the film industry in Saudi Arabia in the production and distribution of films, as well as education on cinema.  The Foundation's initiatives support the ambitious plans for the Kingdom in the entertainment industries, with its pillars of a vibrant society, an ambitious nation and a thriving economy.

Champions of film culture in Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world. Discover global cinema, support filmmakers, develop skills, and make ideas reality through year-round programs.

Every year, ten days of film, new and old – encounter the makers, learn from the masters, be inspired by the best.

The Red Sea International Film Festival is for film lovers, filmmakers, and the global film industry. See the blockbusters of the future before they hit the big screen. Discover old favorites with lovingly curated retrospectives and restored classics. Explore immersive audio-visual worlds and try something new with experimental and short film strands.

Please also visit the Official Website for more information

VISION

VAFF envisions a world where North American Asian actors and filmmakers have the resources and opportunities to shape mainstream culture in a powerful and positive way.

MISSION

VAFF is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the diversity and depth of Asian culture and identity in film and media, and to help North American Asian actors and filmmakers more authentically and more powerfully define and express themselves on screen.

Through its annual film festival and many other programs and events hosted in Vancouver, VAFF's mission is to engage in, support and amplify Asian presence in film and television.

FESTIVAL PROFILE

VAFF is the longest running Asian film festival in Canada. It was founded in 1995 and debuted in September 1997. Since then, tens of thousands of film lovers have experienced a diverse selection of North American-Asian and international films.

Each year VAFF attracts close to 5,000 audience members over its four-day festival and year round events. It also reaches many more through word of mouth, pre-festival events, and traditional and social media throughout the year.

In 2020 almost every regional, national and international film festival pivot to be a virtual festival. VAFF was no exception. From the learnings of hosting virtual screenings and panels, VAFF will expand to include a section of its future film festivals to be virtual from 2021 onward.

VAFF is entirely organized and produced by a group of dedicated volunteers, and is made possible by generous financial support from corporate sponsors, public funders and private donors.

Also visit the Official Website for more information

The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,660 attending in 2016. It takes place each January in Park City, Salt Lake City, Utah; and at the Sundance Resort (a ski resort near Provo, Utah), and acts as a showcase for new work from American and international independent filmmakers. The festival consists of competitive sections for American and international dramatic and documentary films, both feature films and short films, and a group of out-of-competition sections, including NEXT, New Frontier, Spotlight, Midnight, Sundance Kids, From the Collection, Premieres, and Documentary Premieres. Many films premiering at Sundance have gone on to be nominated and win Oscars such as Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Please also visit the Official Website for more information

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA (IFFI), GOA
FIAPF Accredited Competitive, Feature Film Festival
(20th - 28th November, 2023)

The 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India is committed to showcasing the best of world cinema and providing a platform to film makers and film talent from across the world.

Since 1952, India has hosted 53 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) both competitive and non-competitive. The festival became an annual event from 1975 onwards. The 54th edition of the festival, which includes a competition for feature films by Directors from all Continents will be held in Goa.

The Festival is being organized by the National Film Development Corporation of India Ltd (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India in collaboration with the State Government of Goa and the Indian Film Industry.

The Festival is recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers' Associations (FIAPF) as a Competitive Feature Film Festival.

The Festival aims at providing a common platform for filmmakers of the world to project their excellence in film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and co-operation among people of the world.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
(The Whole World is one Family)
Celebrating the Joy of Cinema

1. Objectives:

The Festival aims at providing a common platform for filmmakers of the world to project their excellence in film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and co-operation among people of the world.

2. Date and Place
The 54th edition of IFFI will be held from November 20– 28, 2023 in Goa, India

3. Festival Programmes
The festival programme is broadly divided into the following categories: -

i. International Competition for Feature Films (upto 15 numbers. Upto three Indian Films will be selected for this section. Fiction Films with a minimum duration of 70 minutes and above).

ii. Non-Competition (World Panorama) - for feature films from around the world ( Films with a minimum duration of 70 minutes and above).

iii. Country Focus & other specially curated packages (Indian & Foreign) and Special Screenings/Gala Premieres.

iv. Indian Panorama - for Indian feature films, Indian Panorama Regulations 2023 will be applicable.

v. Technical Workshops/Masterclasses/other Interactive & Academic Sessions/Panel Discussions/Talent Hub etc. both virtual and physical.

vi. Film Bazaar: IFFI also hosts the Film Bazaar, South Asia's largest and One of Asia's most prolific Film Markets showcasing rich content to potential buyers from different countries across the world.

vii. National Film Development Corporation Ltd (NFDC) reserves the right to exclude films that are not in conformity with the philosophy and objective of the festival, or which could offend the feelings/susceptibilities of any participating country, or are likely to promote discrimination of any kind.

May please note that only non-Indian films are being received through film freeway. Entries for Indian films will be separately invited by Indian Panorama Section of IFFI.


Please also visit the Official Website for more information

The 29th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival organized by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal is scheduled to be held between 5 - 12 December, 2023 in Kolkata, the cultural capital of the State. Accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers' Association or FIAPF in short, 29th KIFF promises to be more exciting, appealing and satisfying to the cine lovers as they will continue to feel the charm of world class cinema in the City of Joy.

The Kolkata International Film Festival which had started in the year 1995, had drawn inspiration from film legends in Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen and many more stalwarts of cinema from Bengal, who have contributed to world cinema; hence the festival has earned international accolade since the very beginning but was somewhat confined to the more sophisticated and learned fraternity.

It was only in the year 2011 under the able leadership of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee that the doors of this gala event were opened to the masses and since then, the spectacle of KIFF has never failed to reach to the common man, touching the hearts of thousands of cine lovers who wait every year to get absorbed in the festivity of world cinema.

One of the flagship events of the State Government, KIFF not only caters to the cinephile in Kolkata but it captivates viewers who have penchant for cinema of international standard. With each year, KIFF has grown bigger, greater and more fulfilling in terms of its variety, expanse and popularity. Keeping the zestful tradition alive, the 29th KIFF promises to be even more magnificent and true to its style.

Also visit the Official Website for more information