Ye Olde Blighty

Danny Boyle might have become a household name in India after his Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire, but he isn't the only flag-bearer of British cinema. A two-week-long film festival, Blighty With Love, seeks to showcase the other doyens through a selection of eight films, many of which have won international awards. "We hardly hear of British films being released in Indian theatres. So, we have crafted a festival of films that have a British connection, either in terms of the production tie-ups or through British directors," explains Sarah McKenzie, export director for the UK-Film Council, a government-backed body for the promotion of films in the UK.

The festival will unfold simultaneously in multiplexes of Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi from today. The festival will also include a few video-conferencing sessions between the director and the audience prior to the screenings. "This is an attempt to reach out to the audience who can never communicate with the cast of a film," adds McKenzie. "On the first day, we will have director Stephen Poliakoff joining us live via webcast from London and he will be in conversation with actress Ayesha Dharkar." Poliakoff's film, Glorious 39 is set during the World War II where an aspiring actress finds herself getting pulled into a political drama which can threaten her life.

Likewise for Armando Iannucci, the director of the 2010 Oscar-nominated film for Best Adapted Screenplay In the Loop, a satirical story set in the world of contemporary politics in London and Washington DC. The film has also received 2010 Bafta award for Outstanding British Film. Sally Porter, writer and director of the 2009 film Rage will be video-conferencing from Mumbai about her film which takes interesting look at the New York fashion world.

Apart from these, there's the gripping real life story of French high wire walker Philippe Petit in Man on Wire (picture). Petit walked on a steel wire between the two towers of the World Trade Centre in August 1974. The film received the 2009 Oscar for Best Documentary.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Saradha group chit fund scam: Sudipta Sen sent to judicial custody

Sparring far from over as SEC rejects govt’s district break-up

Govt pats its back for ‘achievements’ in Mamata’s two-year rule

Govt, SEC fail to resolve deadlock