Two new Indian Australian feature films were announced this week at a gala function held in Mumbai India, to launch the 2018 Asia International Engagement Program, an initiative of The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA).
HONOUR, will be a Sydney-based thriller, the first Australian film to be fully funded by Indian private investment.
Produced by Jannine Barnes, co-produced by Anuya Chauhan, directed by Anupam Sharma with Joan Peters (Australia) and Ritesh Kudecha (India) as Executive Producers, HONOUR will examine the issue of dowry deaths and domestic violence within the newly arrived Indian bride community in Australia.
The theatrical release will be accompanied by an app to assist female migrants new to Australia.
The second will be a documentary ‘BOLLYWOOD DOWNUNDER’ to be produced by Deepti Sachdeva and also directed by Anupam Sharma, which will be a colourful ‘tongue-in-cheek’ musical look at the roller coaster ride of Australia’s links with Bollywood - the world’s biggest film industry.
“The Australian Academy’s Asia International Engagement Program not only showcases the skills and achievements of Asian and Australian filmmakers to new audiences, but is also developing meaningful pathways for collaborations between Australia and the Asian region,” said AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella.
“From a number of films slated for release that focus on cross-cultural storytelling to recent announcements of Asian investment in Australian films, we have been pleased to see an increasing trend of collaborations between Australia and many Asian regions, which our program aims to recognise and foster.”
Addressing the gathering, Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of NSW added, “I also take this opportunity to thank Anupam and everybody who invests and collaborates from the Indian community in the film industry in New South Wales.”
High profile guests at this memorable soiree included Dr Geoff Lee, MP, Member for Parramatta and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Western Sydney and Multiculturalism; former Premier and Special Envoy for the NSW-India Relationship, Barry O’Farrell; leading lights of India’s film industry including actors Shabana Azmi, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Salma Agha; National Film Award-winning director Onir, legendary filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani and Australian Consul General in Mumbai, Tony Huber.
Source: Supplied
Both the films will be produced by Sydney’s Fox Studios based films & casting TEMPLE, renowned for its trademark diversity on both sides of the camera.
“I can’t wait to ‘realise’ this important Australian story by undertaking a route which practices all the key aspects of contemporary Australian cinema. Private investment, gender and cultural diversity, global audience, and an engaging Australian story will combine to allow victims of these terrible crimes a voice with which to speak,” Jannine Barnes, producer for Honour said.
Deepti Sachdeva, who is producing Bollywood Downunder said, “Having dealt with Bollywood in Australia as a journalist and storyteller, this tale, with its colour and amazing insights, will appeal to everyone! I am glad it is being directed and told by Anupam - someone who has been credited with the birth and growth of Bollywood in Australia.”
Director Anupam Sharma, who was in Mumbai to personally announce both the films at the AACTA function, noted, “Whilst integrated film activities have been taking place for the last two decades, it is encouraging to see AACTA’s Asia International Engagement Program merge it cohesively for maximum benefit to all. As a filmmaker, I am very appreciative of the initiatives by CEO Damian Trewhella and his team at AACTA, in bringing more diversity to Australian screens.”
Source: Supplied
Anupam Sharma also recently completed the Australian feature documentary The Run which, earlier this month, won the Best Documentary Award at the UK’s prestigious Newcastle International Film Festival.
Production on both HONOUR and BOLLYWOOD DOWNUNDER is slated to take place later in 2018.
