Belfast Film Festival To “Spotlight” Shyam Benegal

Friday, 12 March 2010, 3:45 pm
Opinion: Rajan Zed

Belfast Film Festival To “Spotlight” Shyam Benegal

Cannes nominated India’s film director-screenwriter-producer Shyam Benegal will be in the “spotlight” at prestigious Belfast Film Festival, being held from April 15-30.

Besides screening of Benegal’s films “Zubeidaa” and “The Making of the Mahatma”, he will deliver a public lecture on April 22 and participate in the discussion on his films after screening.

Congratulating Benegal, Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged India Government and large private conglomerates of India to promote independent cinema. India was full of creative and excellent filmmakers and they only needed an integrated effort in funding, encouragement, marketing/promotion, exposure in global avenues, and organization of world-level film festivals in India, Rajan Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added.

Over 16, 000 attended last year’s Festival, which celebrates its 10th birthday this year It will offer over 30 UK/Irish premiers with 125 screenings from over 25 countries, including Japan, Russia, Argentina, Iran, South Africa, and Israel. It opens with “Triage” starring Colin Farrell and closes with Francis Ford Coppola’s “Tetro”. Brian Henry-Martin is the Chair of the Festival while Michele Devlin is its Director.

Iconic ocean liner Titanic was said to be built in Belfast, which is the capital of Northern Ireland (United Kingdom).

ENDS

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