Showbiz / The 15th Annual NYIFF Opening Night Gala

The 15th Annual NYIFF Opening Night Gala

Showbiz May 07, 2015

by Anokhi Admin

NYIFF Opening Night Featuring Margarita, with a Straw

Paris Theatre Entrance

The 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) kicked off Monday, May 4, at the Paris Theatre in New York City, where moviegoers flocked to catch filmmakers, directors and actors take to the red carpet along with NYIFF director Aroon Shivdasani.

NYIFF Director Aroon Shivdasani

The opening night film for NYIFF — the longest-running, most prestigious South Asian film festival in the country — was Shonali Bose's Margarita, with a Straw, which stars Bollywood actress Kalki Koechlin, Revathi, and Sayani Gupta. This was a powerful movie choice, as it’s a poignant portrayal of a rebellious young woman with cerebral palsy who leaves her home in India to study in New York. The protagonist, played by Kalki, unexpectedly falls in love with another woman and embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery.

Welcome Desk

Much to fans' excitement, the star of the film, Bollywood heavyweight Kalki, was present for the screening along with co-directors Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose as well as Sayani Gupta, who plays Kali’s love interest. Others who attended include actors Mohan Agashe and Samrat Chakrabarti and our very own CEO, Raj Girn, with designer Alia Qureshi.

L–R: Actresses Kalki Koechlin and Sayani Gupta

L–R: Co-directors of Margarita, with a Straw Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose

As the celebrity red carpet flowed with stars and media attention, guests were entertained with a special Bollywood dance performance.

Bollywood dance performance on the red carpet

Over 400 New Yorkers attended the screening, which was followed with a post-screening discussion moderated by festival programmer Aseem Chhabra.

Post-screening Q&A with cast and crew of Margarita, with a Straw, moderated by festival programmer Aseem Chhabra (far right)

The festival runs from May 4 to May 9 and will showcase more than 30 shorts, docs and feature films, including centrepiece film Saari Raat, directed by Aparna Sen and closing night film My Big Fat Bride, a Yash Raj production. Along with the films, the festival will also run special events, networking parties and Q&A sessions with directors, actors and producers.

L–R: Aroon Shivdasani (NYIFF director), Mohan Agashe (actor/director), Samrat Chakrabarti (actor in centre), Hansdip Bindra (producer in green turban), filmmakers attending NYIFF

This year, the festival focuses on the power of the female filmmaker, as many female filmmakers will attend throughout the festival. Plus, five of the films being shown have recently won the prestigious Indian National Award in nine categories.

Raj Girn with Kalki Koechlin (lead actor of Margarita, with a Straw) and fashion designer Alia Qureshi

For the entire festival schedule, click HERE.

Don’t forget that the closing night will take place on Saturday, May 9, at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, where the NYIFF awards will be presented. Categories are Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Short, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Documentary, Best Screenplay and Best Child Actor.

To buy tickets for the festival, click HERE.

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Photo Credits: Pramod Jain}}