Films by Indo-Americans Set for Screening at WorldFest
Last Updated: April 04, 2008

Before the Rains produced by Ashok Rao

HOUSTON - The 41st Annual WorldFest International Film Festival, starting on April 11, will present more than 150 international film directors, producers, writers and distributors.

The ten-day film & video festival will feature several films, produced by Indian-Americans. It will also include films which focus on India.

WorldFest was founded 48 years ago as Cinema Arts, an International Film Society in August, 1961. WorldFest became the third competitive international film festival in North America, following San Francisco and New York. WorldFest is the oldest Independent Film & Video Festival in the World. It evolved into a competitive International Film Festival in April, 1968. It was founded by award-winning producer/director Hunter Todd to present a quality film festival for the Independent filmmakers.

The WorldFest discovered filmmakers like Lucas, Lynch, Spielberg, Ang Lee, Ridley Scott, The Coen Brothers, Brian de Palma and Robert Rodriguez with their very first awards.

The films by Indo-American producers include:

* Before the Rains produced by Ashok Rao. A British spice grower in Kerala, India becomes involved with a married woman from a local village, and becomes the focus of tribal customs and laws. The year is 1937, and the power that the English wield over citizens of India can be devastating even in the mildest of cases. Told in style of a David Lean epic, this tragedy is set amidst the rising tide of humanity in revolution against the British rule yet still acknowledging the gifts of British infrastructure that helped a nation reach its own freedom. Epic / Drama, 98 minutes, Color, 35mm, English.

* Mahek produced by Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI). An 11-year-old girl, Mahek, wants to be the best in everything, but she does not know what she is best at, until an un-magical, old fairy comes into her life and everything changes. This film looks at the world through the imaginative eyes of children and examines their rights. Will MAHEK ever realize her true strength? Children’s Drama/Fantasy, (9 year old and older), 80 minutes, Color, 35mm, Hindi (English sub-titles).

* Geeta in Paradise produced by Parul Bathia and Benny Matthews. Geeta is a particular lonely and bored Waxahachie housewife who has grown up on too much Bollywood movie fare. When Geeta meets the snobbish Karan Mohair, her favorite Indian Director, she will go to any lengths to make her dreams of stardom come true... to the point of kidnapping him and forcing him to cast her in his next film. This comic celebration of 80’s nostalgia, bad taste, song, and dance, with its cast of dreamers caught up in their delirious desire for self-fulfillment will make you laugh and cry. Ultimately, the film deals with the quest for fame and validation, no matter how irrational, and dares to ask if some wishes are better left un-granted. Comedy, 88 minutes, Color, Digital, English.

* The Road to Partition produced by Laszlo Barna and Steven Silver. A timely look at the factors involved in the 1947 division of Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. India was divided into two separate and unequal states 60 years ago. Separations along religious lines seemed like a good idea at the time. India had just won independence from Britain, but discontent lurked beneath the euphoria and growing nationalism. The present turmoil in Iraq shows no sign of ending soon, unless, as some foreign-affairs analysts are now saying, a proposal is adopted to divide Iraq into three separate states, along Sunni, Shiite and Kurd lines. History would advise caution. 47 minutes, Color, DVD, English.

* Daily Planet: India Unleashed produced by Penny Park The hosts of Daily Planet go to India to examine the Bandra World Sea Link designed to ease congestion for drivers in Mumbai. They also follow Dabbawallah delivery men into the congested streets and rail system as they deliver hot lunches against amazing challenges. And they also venture into the desert to see how camels become part of the elite Team India border patrol unit and show viewers how ancient paintings and sculptures from the Ajanta Caves are being preserved. Documentary, 60 minutes, Color, Digital, English.