11th DEC 2019
Press Release : LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV-WORLD CINE FEST 2019
Literature, Illusion, Film Frame Tv & Theatre India, LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV-WORLD CINE FEST 2019 is the Third Edition of LIFFT INDIA AWARDS & FILMOTSAV. Riju Bajaj, founder of Lifft India, is trying to nourish the art of cinema and other allied art forms and keep it going ahead by way of promoting through various activities under the umbrella of ‘Lifft India’. The filmotsav is more of a world culture fest than just being a film fest.
The overwhelming response from the international film fraternity lapped up the third edition of the LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV 2019, which is slated to screen over 200 films in various categories from 40 countries between 12th dec – 16th dec at Fariyas Resort in Lonavla.
LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV 2019 has received various film projects from over 53 countries in various languages with English subtitles. Most of the films to be screened at the fest are incidentally by 85 debut directors and are looking for marketing avenues. Lifft India Filmotsav therefore is the new platform for young and new talent in the entertainment industry. Over 150 films will be having their Asia premiere at the Lifft India Filmotsav 2019.
Over 60 student short films from 42 film institutes from around the world will also be screened on 13 & 14 Dec
Lifft India fashion show marks display of mesmerizing designs of Mumtaz Khan on 14th dec 2019. Omkar kapoor, Nayani Dixit, Taranjit Kaur, Ram Gopal Bajaj and Meeta Vashishth are slated to walk the ramp along with the the Lifft India Repertory actors.
The filmotsav will showcase 4 feature films of Ashish Avikuntak in the ‘Director In Focus’ segment on 15th Dec. Ashish completed his PHD from Stanford university and has taught film making at Yale University. Ashish is currently an Associate professor of film and media at University of Rhode Island in America and will be attending the fest in Lonavala.
Iran being the country in Focus will have over 25 films from its region screened at the fest. A couple of Iranian film makers will be attending the fest. And we have a few film makers from Iran amongt the guest list this year. We thank Mr. Bahzad khodviesi, Ms Solmaz Etimad and Ghorban Najafi to have brought films and love from Iran.
Founder’s personnel choice of films of the fest are Baba, Daughters of Winter, Bultir Result, Taanashah, Nakkash, 2 Band Radio, Paracosm, Pelicano, Sawah, I killed A Person, Location, Paracosm, Scrap, Déjà Vu, Vitha, Siege, Chumbak, Nadi Vahte, Joss, Museum, Rendezvous, Crab Apple, Under The Blade, I am Banni-Daughter of Kutch, Mission Safeer, The Musk Deer, Frozen, Platform 13, The Phoenix, Maya, The Wallet, NR3535, Patnagarh and Rockumentary.
The opening ceremony will features The Opening film NAKKASH directed by Zaigham Imam. solo play HUM BIHAR MEIN CHUNAV LAD RAHEN HAIN by Vijay Kumar and Nari Bai by Ms.Sushmita Mukherjee.
And may we please invite renowned writer director Mr. Ravi Rai and Mr. Subodh Tiwari, CEO of Kaivalyadham, an iconic yoga centre in lonavla to felicitating an ace editor Mr.Vikas Sharma with Life Time Achievement LIFFT INDIA Award 2019 for his overall contribution to Indian television especially in the field of editing. Mr. Vikas has edited over a hundred serials and 25000 episodes and various films made under the banner of Balaji Telefilms in past 22 years.
There will also be a book reading, Stage play and master class and panel discussions daily between 6pm to 10pm. The conversation sessions and master classes will be conducted and moderated by Nandita Puri and Riju Bajaj.
There will be Conversation Sessions with film makers and actors after the screening of their respective films and performances.
There will be book readings by ace television serial’s writer/director Ravi Rai’s book The Taoo on My Breast, Abhiram Bhadkamkar’s new novel Astikachi Goshta and excerpts from Nandita Puri’s under publication book titled ‘Jennifer’
Live stage plays by Wecandoit group of Singapore will present best of its Dastak festival plays. The group has specially traveled from Singapore to perform at LIFFT INDIA. FILMOTSAV2019. The fest will also host Solo performance by Rituparna Biswas from Kolkata, Short play featuring Jayant Gadekar from Mumbai and a Master class on designing by Parthiv Shah will spice up the festival.
The conversation sessions and master classes will be conducted and moderated by Nandita Puri and Riju Bajaj.
Special screening for children’s films will be done on 15th Dec from 10am onwards. All films will be screened at Regal, Monarch and Society banquet halls, inside Fariyas Resort, Lonavla, where special screens and sound system etc. have been installed to provide professional experience of film screenings.
Lifft India is also showcasing a painting exhibition of legendary painter Late. Shri. Haku Shah as a tribute to his work and celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150 years by displaying Nitya Gandhi series of paintings. Few other paintings of upcoming new and talented painters including Priti Sethi, will also be exhibited in the following days.
The closing ceremony will begin with screening of the film PATNAGARH directed by Rajesh Touchriver on the 16th dec followed by Qissebazi performed by inimitable actor Danish Hussain, a live musical concert by Vidya Shah and a short play by Vinay Sharma before the Lifft India Award announcement on the 16th dec.
The Lifft India jury members include Dolly Thakore, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Gyan Sahay, Atul Tiwari, Parag Chhapekar, Shefali Bhushan, Nayani Dixit, Vivek Sharma, Abhimanyu Ray.
Shruti Bharadwaj has stepped in as brand ambassador of Lifft India Filmotsav. Shruti will be seen in the upcoming Netflix series Bahubali-Before the Beginning. Shruti and Sahitya Sahay are also the part of film selection panel and they will conduct Q&A sessions with the film makers post screening of their respective films.
There are over 50 categories of Lifft India Awards and some are specially dedicated and named after the eminent film personalities as a mark of tribute to Renu Saluja, Ismail Merchant, Khemchand Prakash, Samir Chanda, V.K.Murthy and Om Puri. The Om Puri award for best actor is in conjunction with Om Puri Foundation. And a new addition for best sound designed has been named in memory of Late.Mangesh Desai this year. We thank his daughter Ms. Sucheta Lad for having given us the consent to institute this award in his memory.
LIFFT INDIA produced a short feature film THE RE-BELL based on the screenplay submitted to the festival. The film is directed by Riju Bajaj and written by Supriya Parulekar featuring Vivaan Shah and debutant Shruti Bharadwaj. The film is exclusively available on ‘Lifft India’ You Tube channel.
The first short film to be produced under Lifft India Repertory FALLEN IN LOVE features Jenifer John, Sahitya Sahay, Sumit Bhardwaj and Simmi. The film is exclusively available on ‘Lifft India’ You Tube channel.
Lifft India Repertory has also commenced principal shooting of it’s first Feature Film Titled ‘Kesro’ featuring Shruti Bhardwaj and Sahitya Sahay in lead roles. The film is being directed by Riju Bajaj who has also written the story & screenplay. The dialogues are written by Ms. Tripurai Sharma.
The festival is hosting students of Lalit Kala Kendra from Pune to witness the fest to help them with international exposure for cultural exchange.
Lifft India has also taken a giant leap in bringing a talent hunt show of vibrant youngsters which marks the performances of Kabita Mohanty and master Aman Khan.
Lifft India will also felicitate local talent of Lonavla to celebrate this magnificent township which is growing into a city now.
Lifft India also announced launch of its film academy to begin with acting classes under flagship of Ram Gopal Bajaj Acting Studio. The academy is schedule to open in early 2020. Interested students can apply now.
Hosting a film festival is very important tool in educating and spreading social awareness because it brings the films and filmmakers on one platform to reach out to people of a given place who are possibly the catalysts to bring social change. LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV intends to travel around the world with its bouquet of films.
A bouquet of Feature Films, Short Films, Student Films, Children’s Films, Documentaries and music Videos will enthral the audience at Fariyas Resort Lonavla. Fariyas Resort is pride of Lonavla and an iconic five star Hotel in Lonavla. Special screening for children’s films will be done on 15th dec from 10am onwards. Lifft India invites students in Lonavla from Orphanages and schools to attend the children’s film screenings. All films will be screened free at Regal and Monarch banquet halls where special screens and sound system etc. have been installed to provide professional experience of film screenings.
Any ardent film lover who is interested and wants to bombard themselves with 110 hours of over 250 fantastic films from 40 countries in various languages spiced with 20 hours of live shows and interact with the film makers at LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV 2019 can book online Free delegate season pass via www.lifftindia.com or simply walk in at Fariyas Resort, Lonavla between 12th-16th Dec 2019.
LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV announced the list of Officially selected films and films selected for screenings for LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV 2019 on 15th Oct 2019 via its website www.lifftindia.com
If you like Lifft India Filmotsav, please feel free to hangout at Fariyas Resort or volunteer or donate to support the endeavor to promote films, arts and culture in India.
Riju Bajaj
Founder: Literature, Illusion, Film Frame Tv & Theatre India – Lifft India®