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Indo-US Chamber is ready for the opening of the exciting second year of India International Film Festival (IIFF). The IIFF of Tampa Bay is dedicated to providing a platform for increased awareness on Indian Cinema and Culture to the Tampa bay community by promoting films and industry professionals representing the diversity of India.
India International Film Festival (IIFF) 2011 will open with a Red Carpet event on Friday, February 18, 2011 at Channelside Cinemas in Tampa. The 2nd Annual Festival is a three-day event through President’s Day Weekend, ending on Sunday, February 20th, 2011. More than just a film festival, IIFF 2011 will feature movies, cultural entertainment, music, food and fun for the entire family.
The Festival, organized by the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, will include full-length independent films, regional films, documentaries, short films, and animated short films. Other events will showcase cultural entertainment, a Bollywood dance workshop, interactive discussions with filmmakers, and a special workshop tailored for aspiring artists, filmmakers, musicians or actors.
The Opening Night festivities will begin will the Red Carpet reception, followed by a feature film, a Q&A session with the filmmakers and actors, dinner, and party at Channelside.
The Festival’s opening feature will be Ashes, a directorial debut by Ajay Naidu (Office Space, Bored to Death, 30 Rock etc) that portrays a young New Yorker who cares for a mentally ill brother (played by Faran Tahir of Iron Man, StarTrek),while
falling into a life of crime. Naidu, producer Nina Spensley, and several actors will attend the red carpet event, along with many other filmmakers whose films will be presented over the weekend. Ashes which also includes star Samrat Chakrabarti will be at the event not only to show Ashes but to show two other films including Fatakra and Home is where the art is.
Not only will IIFF be having many film actors producers, directors and celebrities be attending, but two worldwide music videos will be airing on Sunday at the music segment!
Prita Chhabra and Ajaxxx will be launching there brand new videos at the Film Festival!
Prita tells Urban Asian
“I really want to help build our South Asian Community in Florida and bring them together and last year’s IIFF was a huge hit! I wanted to show support for year two and that’s why I decided to do the world premiere of my video “Roots” at the Tampa India Film Festival. Having grown up in Florida and living there presently, it’s important for me to get the word out about my music at home!”
Ajaxxx tells us:
“I’m real excited to world premiere my new video for ‘Blow’ at IIFF because it presents a great opportunity. From what I witnessed last year, the film festival is an amazing event and draws people from all over. It’s really crazy. There’s going to be a lot of desi people there too, many of which are big supporters of Ajaxxx. And of course, it’s also meaningful because it’s being held right here in Florida. How could I resist, right? Haha!”
Ajaxxx – Blow
Well known music personality Raoul Juneja (a.k.a. Deejay Ra) returns to program and host this year’s music video segment, highlighting the growing independent movement of South Asian music artists from around the world. This year, IIFF Tampa Bay will have a special focus on local South Asian artists from Florida, by presenting world premieres of two music videos – “Roots” by singer/songwriter Prita Chhabra and “Blow” by rap artist Ajaxxx.
Check out the trailer below for Roots!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUYnalp-yOc
