Celebrated Indian Filmmaker, Ramesh Sippy, to attend UK Asian Film Festival 2019

Sholay Director to discuss his Career Journey at Closing Gala

Veteran Indian filmmaker Ramesh Sippy is among the coveted line-up of guests attending UK Asian Film Festival 2019, the world’s longest running South Asian film festival outside of India. The Closing Flame Awards Gala on Sunday 7^th April, BAFTA 195, London will feature an In Conversation with the celebrated director and producer.

Ramesh Sippy’s film credits include one of Indian cinema’s most iconic films of all time, Sholay (1975), the blockbuster multi-starrer that reinterpreted the spaghetti western genre within the structure of Indian cinema, ranked first in the BFI’s 2002 poll of the Top Ten Indian Films of all time. Winner of India’s civilian honour, the Padma Shri, Sippy’s other directing credits include timeless classics of Indian cinema such as Andaz (1971); Seeta Aur Geeta (1972); Shaan (1980); and Saagar (1985) among others.

Additional guests attending UK Asian Film Festival 2019 will be screen veteran and one of the most revolutionary actresses in the history of Indian cinema, Zeenat Aman, who will be attending the Opening Gala on Wednesday 27^th March, The May Fair Hotel, London and sharing her extraordinary journey in Indian cinema onstage.

Veteran actress, Shabana Azmi, will be presenting the World Premiere of the documentary film Kaifinama on Sunday 7^th April, BAFTA 195, London and on Friday 12^th April, Glasgow Film Theatre. The film looks at the life and art of Azmi’s father, progressive, Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi, celebrating his birth centenary. Shabana Azmi will also be conducting an Actor’s Masterclass on Saturday 6^th April, Phoenix Cinema, Leicester.

One of the most celebrated masterpieces of Indian cinema, Pakeezah, will be screened on Monday 1^st April,The British Library followed by a Q&A with Tajdar Kamal Amrohi, director, producer, writer and son of the late, legendary Pakeezah filmmaker, Kamal Amrohi.

UK Asian Film Festival will run in five cities across the UK, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, London and Manchester, 27^th March – 4^th May 2019, supported by the BFI with National Lottery funding and Regional Screen Scotland.

At a time of significant change,UK Asian Film Festival marks its 21^st anniversary with a curation inspired by the theme of Revolution.  Historically known as Tongues on Fire and then London Asian Film Festival, the festival is also synonymous with championing South Asian feminist films and supporting pioneering, female artists and auteurs.

Full festival programme details via: www.ukaff.com

Festival Dates: 

London: 27^th March – 7^th April

Edinburgh: 29^th March – 31^st March

Glasgow: 21^st March – 4^th April

Leicester: 3^rd April – 6^th April

Manchester: 30^th April – 4^th May