The 30th Palm Springs International Film Festival has announced its 2019 Lineup. With 223 movies from 78 countries, it has eight Indian films amongst them, and three international films with Indian actors.
The festival has a Focus on India Section this year with five films in it. The films announced are –
The Last Color is the debut feature film by chef Vikas Khanna (yes, you read that right), featuring Neena Gupta. The film will have its world premiere, one of four world premieres announced. The film is an adaptation of his bestselling book of the same name, the story of an unlikely friendship between a nine year old flower selling girl and a 70 year old widow in the city of Varanasi.
The other films in the section are –
Manmarziyaan | Husband Material by director Anurag Kashyap featuring Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan.
Ek Chhilo Raja | The Imposter Prince by director Srijit Mukherji featuring Jisshu Sengupta in the titular role.
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota | The Man Who Feels No Pain by director Vasan Bala, which won the Midnight Madness Award at Toronto International Film Festival 2018, will have its U.S premiere.
Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence by director Dar Gai will also have its North American premiere.
Manmarziyaan | Husband Material by director Anurag Kashyap featuring Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan.
Ek Chhilo Raja | The Imposter Prince by director Srijit Mukherji featuring Jisshu Sengupta in the titular role.
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota | The Man Who Feels No Pain by director Vasan Bala, which won the Midnight Madness Award at Toronto International Film Festival 2018, will have its U.S premiere.
Namdev Bhau: In Search of Silence by director Dar Gai will also have its North American premiere.
Hamid by director Aijaz Khan plays in World Cinema Now as a North American premiere.
Also to note, Anthony Maras’ Australian film Hotel Mumbai featuring Dev Patel, Anupam Kher and Armie Hammer, will be playing in the same section.
Village Rockstars by Rima Das, India’s foreign language Oscar submission for 2019, plays in the same section.
Norway’s submission, What Will People Say | Hva Vil Folk Si by director Iram Haq, for which Adil Hussain won the Best Actor at the Amanda Awards, plays too.
Michael Winterbottom’s British film Wedding Guest, which is competing in the Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Competition section, will be playing in the Modern Masters section. It stars Dev Patel, Radhika Apte, and Jim Sarbh.
And finally, there is Monsoon Wedding! The classic by Mira Nair is part of the Palm Springs Canon, and playing again this year.
The festival runs from January 3 – 14 in Palm Springs, California.