2ND ATLANTA INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL (AIFF 2019)
ATTRACTS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

By Ravi R Ponangi

Atlanta, Georgia: The Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (GIACC), in collaboration with the Indian Consulate in Atlanta, the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), the India China and America (ICA) Institute, and Atlanta Film society presented its one-of-a-kind Atlanta Indian Film Festival (AIFF 2019) on May 10-11at the Aurora Cineplex in Roswell, Georgia. AIFF 2019 commenced with a grand reception on May 10 at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter Hotel followed by the movie screenings at the Aurora Cineplex.

The reception included a panel discussion on opportunities of movie making in Georgia with John Adcox, CEO, Gramarye Media as moderator and panelists, Grant Wainscott of Metro Atlanta Chamber, Don Mandrik, MD, Georgia production finance, Vikas Khanna, director of the last color, Harshad Parashare of Ubuntu, Sapna Bhavani, Director Sindhustan, Kabir Singh Chowdary, producer and Vasanth Sai, director of Siva Ranjani and two other women. This event was witnessed the presence of distinguished guests from South Asian film fraternity. It was the time to appreciate and celebrate the cinema. Dr. Swati Kulkarni, Consul General of India in Atlanta was the chief guest and key note speaker. While commending the work of GIACC, she said Indian cinema is growing phenomenally and Indian cinema industry has become a global power house. CGI said we started in 1913 way back and it was a silent movie “Raja Harishchandra”. It was more than 100 years long journey.

GIACC who hosted 2nd Atlanta Indian Film Festival (AIFF 2019) protects, develops, encourages, promotes and fosters trade, business, financial or professional interests and commercial relations between India and the United States, including specifically Georgia. GIACC also strive Promoting, advancing and protecting direct commercial relations between India and the United States; fostering a more enlarged and friendly relationship between business people interested or actively occupied in trade between India and the United States.

Unmesh Misra, chairman of GIACC told this reporter there is a need to attract Indian movie makers to Georgia. He said the movie industry’s impact to Georgia’s economy has grown exponentially and incentives in Georgia are very encouraging. With this goal in mind, GIACC hosted the 1st Atlanta Indian Film Festival (AIFF) successfully last year. AIFF 2019 brought together state, City, Georgia Economic Development representatives, Indian Film producers and directors, representatives from Consular corps.

AIFF 2019 presented a very successful event by screenings offbeat unusual movies. Audiences who attended the Atlanta Indian Film Festival were treated to screenings, an opportunity to mingle with film directors, makers and actors during the two-day event.  Many attendees said it has been an amazing experience to interact with movie makers, directors, artists and screen writers.

The AIFF 2019 included movie screenings of Vikas Khanna’s “The Last Color”, Marathi movie “Ubuntu”, Sapna Bhavani’s “Sindhustan” and Tamil movie “Sivaranjani and Two other women”. The event also included post screening discussions with movie directors, makers and movie experts. It had also provided an opportunity for a dialogue with attendees with film makers. Attendees overwhelmed watching out of box movies.