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The world’s longest-running South Asian film festival, outstanding UK Asian Film Festival, is ready to present a spectacular line-up of films and special events throughout it’s run opening on the 2nd and closing 12th May in venues across London, Leicester, and Oxford.

UK Asian Film Festival annually hosts an eclectic mix of films, a thought-provoking lecture series, audience workshops, live performances, visual arts exhibitions, masterclasses, and the annual Short Film Competition. It celebrates the very best in films with a link to South Asia and the myriad dimensions of South Asian arts and culture. “We aim to celebrate, award, and reward great films, filmmakers, and artists from South Asia. The festival provides a unique platform for Asians working in film and media around the world. Our screenings and events include feature films, documentaries, short films, panel discussions, and educational and community screenings. Cinema is a magical place. It appeals to all our senses,...

Exclusive: The world premiere of Rumana Molla’s Indo-Belgian film Minimum and the UK premiere of Indian actor Anshuman Jha’s directorial debut Lord Curzon Ki Haveli will be on show at this year’s UK Asian Film Festival (Ukaff).

Prominent figures including actors Shabana Azmi and Karisma Kapoor will be feted for their roles in Indian cinema at the annual event.

Ukaff, which says it is the longest running South Asian film festival in the world, will run its 26th edition from May 2 to 12 in venues across London, Leicester and Oxford.

Themed ‘Climate of Change,’ the festival will open with the premiere of Minimum at the BFI IMAX in London, while Lord Curzon Ki Haveli will close out the event at the Regent Street Cinema.

Indian industry veterans such as Kapoor, playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy and designer Rina Dhaka are expected to attend the closing gala in London, with...

The upcoming film ‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’, which stars Rasika Dugal and Arjun Mathur, has been selected as the closing film at UK-Asian Film Festival 2024. The film will be screened at the historical Regent Cinema on May 11, and director Anshuman Jha and his leading lady Rasika Dugal are expected to walk the red carpet in London.

The film had its world premiere at Iffm Australia, its North American Premiere at Csaff Chicago and its Canadian Premiere at Isaff Vancouver.

Arjun Mathur said: “I found the script of this film to be wacky and weird – from the outset. I think that’s what initially attracted me, the fact that I did not get to categorise into any one particular genre and in a good way – is it a thriller, a black comedy, a mystery. I feel that’s the experience the audiences around the world are having with the film and liking it.

‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’, which stars Arjun Mathur, Rasika Dugal, Zoha Rahman, Paresh Pahuja and Garrick Hagon, has been selected as the opening film at the International South Asian Film Festival in Vancouver. It will also serve as the closing film at the Chicago South Asian International Film Festival 2023.

For actor Arjun Mathur, it’s the fastest feature film that he has ever filmed.

The film marks the directorial debut of actor Anshuman Jha.

Talking about the film, Arjun said: “I was immediately drawn to ‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ when I read the script, primarily because I could not slot it within any single fixed genre and secondly because inspite of that, my director Anshuman had an extremely clear vision for it. And I’m happy to say that the film has not at all strayed from that vision and what has emerged is an exciting chamber-film which I now...

Anshuman Jha, the actor, is known for his artistic/thought provoking choices. But with Arjun Mathur & Rasika Dugal in the leads along with Marvel Girl Zoha Rahman, Paresh Pahuja, Tanmay Dhanania & Star Wars actor Garrick Hagon – he already has a dream cast for his directorial debut ‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’.

But now as the film, which was shot in the UK last year, is nearing completion – an interesting fact about the film maker has come to the fore – Jha has shot his entire debut film on a single lens (of 35mm). A feat no other Hindi mainstream film maker (as informed) has ever even attempted.

Cult classics like Hitchcock’s “Psycho” & Kurosawa’s “Rushmore” are films which used the single lens minimalist formula in the last century. In a time when many filmmakers today are obsessed with amassing gear and stocking up on the latest toys, Jha is setting a...

Indian actor Rasika Dugal is on a roll, with season 2 of Emmy-winning Netflix series “Delhi Crime” streaming, season 3 of Amazon Prime Video series “Mirzapur” filming and several other series and films in the works.

Dugal describes season 2 of “Delhi Crime” as “very different from season 1, but still very sensitively and beautifully told,” adding that the series is minutely detailed.

While the first season revolved around an horrific 2012 rape case, which caught the attention of the world, the second season follows multiple murders, which are similarly done, and the police investigates.

“It is really about the vulnerability of senior citizens and also the very stark class divide, which is very apparent in a city like Delhi. Somehow, visually in Delhi, it’s much more around than anywhere else. And the season really talks about that very sensitively and carefully and also throws light on the way we treat marginalized communities,” Dugal told Variety.

Aimee Lou Wood Leads UK Comedy Cast

Seize Them!, the UK comedy being helmed by Curtis Vowell (Baby Done), has confirmed its cast as shooting gets underway. Starring will be Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), Lolly Adefope (Shrill), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) and Jessica Hynes (W1A). Written by Andy Riley (Veep), the story is set in the Dark Ages in Britain, following a queen who is toppled by a revolution, leaving her with a bounty on her head. Producing are Damian Jones and Matthew James Wilkinson. The film is financed by Entertainment Film Distributors, which will release in the UK and Ireland.

Garrone’s Next Feature Underway

Dogman director Matteo Garrone is underway with filming on his next project, Io Capitano. The film is shooting in Dakar, Senegal, and stars newcomers Seydou Sarr and Moustapha Fall. The project is an epic tale following the hazardous journey...

British-Pakistani actress Zoha Rahman, who received positive response for her work in superhero film ‘Spiderman: Far From Home’, has been signed for actor Anshuman Jha’s directorial debut ‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’. She will star alongside actors like Arjun Mathur, Rasika Dugal and Paresh Pahuja in the film, which has been written by Bikas Mishra. The […]...

‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ (Photo: Sony Pictures).

Remy Hii landed a supporting role in Sony/Marvel’s Spider-Man: Far From Home just two days after he sent a self-tape to the producers.

Now he is in Los Angeles, celebrating the sequel’s stellar debuts in the Us, Australia and multiple other markets.

Directed by Jon Watts, the action adventure, which also features Angourie Rice, smashed the all-time opening day record in the Us and racked up $150.4 million after its first few days in international markets.

Set in Europe after the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the movie rang up $2.92 million in Australia on Monday, Sony Pictures’ biggest ever launch day. Through Wednesday it has earned $6.96 million, according to Numero.

Starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, Zendaya as Mj, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Jake Gyllenhaal as Quentin Beck/Mysterio, it scored an estimated $39.3 million in the Us on Tuesday.