New York Arab and South Asian Film Festival Opens in Manhattan

New York Arab and South Asian Film Festival Opens in Manhattan

NEW YORK, March 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The NYASAFF celebrates the opening of its 2008 festival with an international event that celebrates collaboration across cultural and artistic boundaries. The documentary film I Love Hip Hop in Morocco -- which chronicles the struggle of pioneering Moroccan rap group, H-Kayne to become the first Moroccan Hip Hop Group signed by a major label -- will make its NY Premiere at 7:00 p.m., followed by an Opening Night Party at 9:30 p.m. sponsored by the Tribeca-based post-production and recording studio, Earseph Enterprises. The film's director, Joshua Asen will be in attendance to discuss his work, along with special guests from the NY Hip Hop Community.

Opening Weekend Festival Highlights:

Saturday, March 8: NYU Professor and Chief Film Critic for the Daily Telegraph, Sukhdev Sandhu, will introduce the feature film, Mischief Night. Professor Sandhu's writings on the history and dynamics of contemporary culture appear in a range of publications always inspiring discussion and thought. His book, London Calling, brilliantly chronicles the way Black and Asian writers have experienced and re-imagined London since the 1770s. Mischief Night is set in London and tells a story of clashing cultural barriers that come crumbling down in a blaze of clubbing, love and fireworks.

Sunday, March 9: The US Premiere of the visually stunning and poignant work of young Iranian Director, Hana Makhmalbaf, Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame, will be followed by a book reception with leading Iranian film expert and Columbia University Professor, Hamid Dabashi. Professor Dabashi will discuss his recent publication: Makhmalbaf at Large: The Making of a Rebel Filmmaker, which presents a deeply engaging examination of the tumultuous life and career of Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Hana's Father), the award winning auteur whose work continues to break cinematic boundaries.

Sunday, March 9: The 2008 NYASAFF Retrospective Honoree, innovative South Asian Director, Murali Nair, will present his latest feature film, Unni at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 9 at Tribeca Cinemas. Nair's cinematic vision integrates the complicated affects of globalization on everyday life. His unique and authentic voice experiments with Neorealism as his films reflect the way our world is reinvented and renewed.

The 2008 NYASAFF presents a retrospective of Murali Nair's work that also includes his 1999 directorial debut, Throne of Death, for which he received the very prestigious Camera D'or Award a the Cannes International Film Festival, and his 2003 release, Arimpara, the eccentric tale of a man's relationship with his wart. In addition to screenings, Nair will teach a free Film Masterclass at Columbia University on Wednesday, March 12 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Visit www.nyasaff.org "Special Events" to register.

Tuesday, March 11th from 12pm - 2pm.: A Press Luncheon with most invited filmmakers and guest curators will be hosted by Art in General. Interested members of the Press please contact: sankalpamedia@mac.com

Tribeca Cinemas:
54 Varick Street
Telephone: 212-941-2001 Web site: http://www.tribecacinemas.com/

Art in General:
79 Walker Street
Telephone: 212-219-0473 Web site: http://www.artingeneral.org/

Festival Tickets are $12 for Adults, $8 for Students & Seniors, and are available through the festival website www.nyasaff.org or through Smarttix at (212) 868-4444.

2008 NYASAFF schedule of events and festival information: www.NYASAFF.org

Press Contact: Kamala Seals: sankalpamedia@mac.com
Phone: 917-536-2732
Fax: 800-866-9064

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

http://www.nyasaff.org

http://www.tribecacinemas.com

Source: Alwan for the Arts

CONTACT: Kamala Seals of Alwan for the Arts, +1-917-536-2732,
sankalpamedia@mac.com

Web Site:

http://www.alwanforthearts.org/
http://www.artingeneral.org/

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