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The MisEducation of Bindu

Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA, United States

Filmmaker Prarthana Mohan in Person!! This coming-of-age comedy follows a day in the life of formerly homeschooled Bindu as she endures high school and tries to graduate early. Paying homage to Bollywood rock with one fantastical Bollywood dance number, the film shines a light on the immigrant experience of a teenager caught between girlhood and womanhood, and India’s traditional past and the promise of a global future where she can blend in to be whomever she wants to be. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Sivaranjani and Two Other Women

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

This cinematic homage to the “everyday” woman is a deeply moving work that focuses a critical lens on patriarchy, with outstanding performances by each of the lead actresses. The film captures the micro awakenings of identity and self-worth when family dynamics, early marriage, and pregnancy threaten to usurp the individuality of three women, unfolding across three different time periods. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Coast to Coast: Mumbai to the Mission

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

3rd i's signature shorts program brings genres ranging from comedy to contemporary music, and short-form documentaries to dramatic narratives. This year's edition tackles stories of relationships, identity, environment, and social justice, with compassion and humor. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Bangla

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

In this playful romantic comedy, "Bangla," an awkwardly charming 22-year-old Italian-Bengali panics when he falls in love with an impulsive and spirited Italian girl. The attraction between them is immediate, and Phaim will have to figure out how to reconcile his love with his life full of rules. Highlighted in Rotterdam’s International Film Festival in the Big screen competition section. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Chippa

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

This humorous and entertaining film is the touching story of Chippa who, on his tenth birthday, sets out into night-time Calcutta looking for a father he has never seen. Filled with humor, hope, and curiosity, he encounters a “marvelous realism” that is evoked in the works of literary giants such as Salman Rushdie. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Nishtha Jain: A Master Class

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

Gifted documentary filmmaker Nishtha Jain returns to 3rd i to talk about her filmmaking process in a free class, and to present excerpts from past work and her current work-in-progress, "The Golden Thread," and her first narrative short "Saboot." Jain’s work holds up a mirror to some of the most pressing concerns in India today. She will address social and political issues, including India’s #metoo women’s movement. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TO RESERVE FREE TICKETS.

Bollywood at the Castro – Animated Tribute “Bombay Rose”

Castro Theatre 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

In this gorgeous and evocative hand-painted animated feature, a single red rose weaves together three fantastical tales of unsung heroes and impossible loves. In the sensual animation, there is an ethereal brightness to the chaotic Mumbai streetscapes where Bollywood cinema is both satirized and romanticized. Fresh from rave reviews at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals, this captivating jewel will entrance you and should not be missed. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Children of the Sun (Gaadi)

Castro Theatre 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

Filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage in Person!! Vithanage's searing masterpiece is a period drama that takes on caste conflict and British colonial influences in Sri Lanka in the early 1800s. Drawing from a wide palette that ranges from historical drama to nuanced and exceptional storytelling, his camera work is transfixing as he crafts a deeply empathetic film that is simultaneously heart-wrenching and hopeful. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence

Castro Theatre 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

A magical and witty, off-beat take on the road movie, this meditative film journeys through the breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh. Driven to the end of his wits by the cacophony of Mumbai – the noisiest city in the world – Chauffeur Namdev sets off in search of the fabled Silent Valley. A clever heart-warming odyssey with an unforeseeable twist. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Ravening (Aamis)

Castro Theatre 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

A quietly shocking film blends gentle romance and body horror into a unique cinematic experience. A doctor and a doctoral student find common ground in their shared love for unconventional meat-eating traditions. Hazarika masterfully concocts a tale of love and addiction, that builds slowly – from a lilting rhythm to a pounding finale. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Cat Sticks

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

Skype Q&A With Ronny Sen!! Hailed as one of the “most gorgeous and affecting films” presented at Slamdance Film Fest in recent years, this haunting film follows the stories of several heroin addicts over the course of one rain drenched night in Kolkata. The film's bewitching score works in tandem with its mesmerizing B&W imagery, to create a work that is a must-see on the big screen! CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

American Hasi

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

Equal parts comedy and self-discovery, this refreshing doc is a portrait of Indian-American comedian Tushar Singh. In an attempt to accelerate his career, Singh maps out a tour in India (with his mom in tow), taking part in India’s flourishing stand-up scene. He discovers the challenges of cross-cultural comedy and confronts his hybrid identity head-on. Interviews with influential comics such as Vir Das and Russell Peters. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

Bulbul Can Sing

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

Following on the heels of last year's magical "Village Rockstars," Rima Das takes us back to the timeless beauty of the Assamese countryside in this bittersweet narrative.Three friends struggle to find their own identities, and to fight back against age-old traditions and parental expectations. This is no simple rural idyll however; in Das' deft hands, it’s a deeply compelling exploration of love, loss, and adolescence. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS.

A Suitable Girl

Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA, United States

"A Suitable Girl" follows three young women in India struggling to maintain their identities and follow their dreams amid intense pressure to get married. Winner of the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director, at the Tribeca International Film Festival, 2017

A Suitable Girl

Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA, United States

"A Suitable Girl" follows three young women in India struggling to maintain their identities and follow their dreams amid intense pressure to get married. Winner of the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director, at the Tribeca International Film Festival, 2017

Shalom Bollywood: The Untold Story of Indian Cinema

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

Full of unexpected surprises and archival jewels from cinematic history, "Shalom Bollywood" reveals the forgotten history of early Indian cinema, when Jewish stars reigned supreme on the desi screen.

Sir

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

This beautifully nuanced, sensual and insightful feature film, which premiered at Cannes this year, explores the forbidden attraction between a maid and her wealthy employer, whilst thwarting the expectations of a typical Indian love story.

Up Down & Sideways

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

Hypnotic rhythms and complex polyphonic music reverberate through the hills of Nagaland in this portrait of an indigenous community and their remarkable musical traditions, set in the alluring northeast of India.

Azmaish: a Journey Through the Subcontinent

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

Traveling across Pakistan and India, filmmaker Sabiha Sumar and actress Kalki Koechlin witness radically changing political landscapes, their encounters giving rise to a personal and poetic search to uncover the voices of the silent majority, particularly those of women. Followed by panel discussion.

Tumbbad

New People Cinema 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

A perfect post-Halloween treat, this gothic fantasy opened International Critics Week at this year's Venice Film Festival, with sumptuous cinematography and a Tim Burtonesque sensibility that transcends the light-horror genre.

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