Film Festival of India in its Sixth Year
The sixth Film Festival of India (FFOI) in Atlanta was inaugurated on Saturday, May 5th, by the Honorable Mr. Ken Stewart, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Stewart said that he was very pleased that FFOI is growing every year and that he welcomed film business from Bollywood in Georgia.
As a part of the opening festivities, Sasikala Penumarthi, the founder of the Academy of Kuchipudi Dance in Atlanta, mesmerized the audience with a classical dance performance.
This year, the festival revealed India's many faces through the lens of both Bollywood and independent filmmaking, explored the cultures of both northern and southern India, as well as the experiences of communities in exile and the immigrant experience. Some of the titles screened were: Vanaja, Dreaming Lhasa, Omkara, Nina's Heavenly Delight, and Riding Solo on the Top of World.
The FFOI is organized by the High Museum of Art and is co-sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and the Indo-American Film Society. Organizers estimated about 1300 people came to see five screenings during May 5th and May 19th.
Rajnesh Domalpalli, director of Vanaja and Gaurav Jani, director of Riding Solo, were on hand for Q&A after the screenings. Tara Doyle from Emory University responded to questions after the screening of Dreaming Lhasa which highlighted Tibetan diaspora and their dreams to free Tibet.
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