As we have said before, and as the reality of a number of countries no one knew much about outside of their borders for decades, comes to the fore, the stories witnessed in documentaries are revealed to be ones that go beyond any kind of imagination (script if you prefer). Asian cinema in particular seems to thrive on both, as a region where life was never as “normal” as in the West, with the category, as a whole, including some of the best films we have seen during the last few years, 11 of which we include here.
Without further ado, here are the best Asian documentaries of 2022, in random order, and, as always, with a focus on diversity in style, directors, and country of origin. Some films may have premiered in 2021, but since they mostly circulated in 2022, we decided to include them.
1. Imad’s Childhood
Zahava Sanjavi followed the family closely for many years,...
Without further ado, here are the best Asian documentaries of 2022, in random order, and, as always, with a focus on diversity in style, directors, and country of origin. Some films may have premiered in 2021, but since they mostly circulated in 2022, we decided to include them.
1. Imad’s Childhood
Zahava Sanjavi followed the family closely for many years,...
- 1/10/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
The concept of the body double is quite spread throughout the movie industry, with people looking like the stars doubling them in stunts or in erotic scenes. In India and Bollywood, though, where a number of stars are bigger than life, it has risen to a whole other level, with film star lookalikes being as much part of Indian popular culture as the revered actors who front the movie industry, even starring as so-called “duplicates” in broadly comedic versions of original films by the megastars they resemble. Documentary director and producer Geetika Narang Abbasi profiles three career duplicates – Kishore Bhanushali, who doubles as Dev Anand; Firoz Khan the Amitabh Bachchan lookalike and Prashant Walde, who makes a living mimicking Shah Rukh Khan.
A.K.A. at Red Sea International Film Festival
The three portraits she presents are quite thorough, as she managed to earn their trust to the point of...
A.K.A. at Red Sea International Film Festival
The three portraits she presents are quite thorough, as she managed to earn their trust to the point of...
- 12/15/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Geetika Narang Abbasi is an independent filmmaker based out of India. With over 15 years of experience, she has directed, produced and edited media content across various formats. Her films have been showcased and awarded at film festivals across the globe. Climate change, society and culture have been some of the recurrent themes in her works.
Yasir Abbasi is a postgraduate in mass communication from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and has been working as an independent cinematographer since 2002. His work, which spans across different forms, has been shown and awarded at film festivals worldwide. He’s also the author of the bestselling book Yeh Un Dinoñ Ki Baat Hai: Urdu Memoirs of Cinema Legends
On the occassion of “A.K.A.” screening at Red Sea International Film Festival, we speak with them about the reasons of shooting a film about lookalikes, the difficulties the production posed, the characters of these people,...
Yasir Abbasi is a postgraduate in mass communication from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and has been working as an independent cinematographer since 2002. His work, which spans across different forms, has been shown and awarded at film festivals worldwide. He’s also the author of the bestselling book Yeh Un Dinoñ Ki Baat Hai: Urdu Memoirs of Cinema Legends
On the occassion of “A.K.A.” screening at Red Sea International Film Festival, we speak with them about the reasons of shooting a film about lookalikes, the difficulties the production posed, the characters of these people,...
- 12/7/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Eighty films from 32 countries, including 21 feature narratives and 43 short films, will be be showcased at the 11th Dharamshala International Film Festival (Diff) in Dharamsala next month, as announced on Thursday.
The highlights include the India premieres of Cannes Jury Prize Winner and 2022 Oscar Nominee, Joyland by Saim Sadiq; Once Upon A Time in Calcutta by Aditya Vikram Sengupta; the Anurag Kashyap-presented debut feature by Parth Saurabh, Pokhar Ke Dunu Paar (On Either Sides of the Pond); 2022 Oscar Nominee, Writing with Fire by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Sen; and Fire in the Mountains (India 2021) by Ajitpal Singh.
The India premieres of these acclaimed international features will also take place at Diff 2022: Eternal Spring by Jason Loftus; In Viaggio by Gianfranco Rosi; Lullaby by Alauda Ruiz de AzAa; Mother Lode by Matteo Tortone; Navalny by Daniel Roher; Neptune Frost by Anisia Uzeyman, Saul Williams; They Carry Death by Helena GirAn...
The highlights include the India premieres of Cannes Jury Prize Winner and 2022 Oscar Nominee, Joyland by Saim Sadiq; Once Upon A Time in Calcutta by Aditya Vikram Sengupta; the Anurag Kashyap-presented debut feature by Parth Saurabh, Pokhar Ke Dunu Paar (On Either Sides of the Pond); 2022 Oscar Nominee, Writing with Fire by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Sen; and Fire in the Mountains (India 2021) by Ajitpal Singh.
The India premieres of these acclaimed international features will also take place at Diff 2022: Eternal Spring by Jason Loftus; In Viaggio by Gianfranco Rosi; Lullaby by Alauda Ruiz de AzAa; Mother Lode by Matteo Tortone; Navalny by Daniel Roher; Neptune Frost by Anisia Uzeyman, Saul Williams; They Carry Death by Helena GirAn...
- 10/20/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Urf (“Aka”) Director Geetika Narang Abbasi, 2022
I spent a number of years living in France, and one of the most interesting words I learned was “sosie” – someone who perfectly resembles someone else, to the point that people could confuse them. I was familiar with impersonators, mostly comedians who did voice imitations of famous people, whether actors or singers. I knew about Elvis impersonators, people who would perform dressed as Elvis. But that’s as far as it went, until I discovered the world of “sosies” in France. Where impersonators or doubles were fairly marginalized here at home, in France I discovered a whole side business of people who resembled famous performers – usually singers – and would hire themselves out to perform at local events. Writer Yann Moix published a book called “Podium” about a bank employee who must choose between his family and the career he longs for: to be a “sosie” of the late,...
I spent a number of years living in France, and one of the most interesting words I learned was “sosie” – someone who perfectly resembles someone else, to the point that people could confuse them. I was familiar with impersonators, mostly comedians who did voice imitations of famous people, whether actors or singers. I knew about Elvis impersonators, people who would perform dressed as Elvis. But that’s as far as it went, until I discovered the world of “sosies” in France. Where impersonators or doubles were fairly marginalized here at home, in France I discovered a whole side business of people who resembled famous performers – usually singers – and would hire themselves out to perform at local events. Writer Yann Moix published a book called “Podium” about a bank employee who must choose between his family and the career he longs for: to be a “sosie” of the late,...
- 6/30/2022
- by Katherine Matthews
- Bollyspice
The weird, wonderful and sometimes sad world of actors who make a living as lookalikes of Bollywood superstars is the subject of Geetika Narang Abbasi’s documentary “Urf,” world premiering in the Cinema Regained strand of the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
The actors are known by the names of the stars they portray, with the prefix Jr. – short for Junior. “Urf,” which translates as also known as or alias, follows several lookalikes, but mainly focuses on Kishore Bhanushali a.k.a. Jr. Dev Anand, Firoz Khan a.k.a. Jr. Amitabh Bachchan, and Prashant Walde, a.k.a. Jr. Shah Rukh Khan.
“I was very intrigued by the whole phenomenon of imitation, of assuming a star’s personality and being a ‘reflected’ star. Soon I realized how it is also unique to our films – there have been mainstream films with lookalikes in the lead and then, of course, they feature...
The actors are known by the names of the stars they portray, with the prefix Jr. – short for Junior. “Urf,” which translates as also known as or alias, follows several lookalikes, but mainly focuses on Kishore Bhanushali a.k.a. Jr. Dev Anand, Firoz Khan a.k.a. Jr. Amitabh Bachchan, and Prashant Walde, a.k.a. Jr. Shah Rukh Khan.
“I was very intrigued by the whole phenomenon of imitation, of assuming a star’s personality and being a ‘reflected’ star. Soon I realized how it is also unique to our films – there have been mainstream films with lookalikes in the lead and then, of course, they feature...
- 1/25/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-winning filmmaker and Turner Prize-winning artist Steve McQueen is set to unveil his new installation, “Sunshine State,” at the International film festival Rotterdam (IFFR).
The installation will be presented at the Dutch landmark Kunsthal as part of Rotterdam’s Art Directions, a multi-disciplinary section dedicated to daring films, installations, exhibitions and live performance. Commissioned by IFFR, “Sunshine State” marks McQueen’s first major commission since “Year 3,” which bowed at Tate Britain in 2019.
“We are beyond thrilled to announce the world premiere of Steve McQueen’s latest installation during the next edition of IFFR,” said festival director Vanja Kaludjercic.
“McQueen is a visual artist and celebrated filmmaker who is known for his powerful and uncompromising vision and we are proud to offer a broad audience the opportunity to experience this newly commissioned work at Rotterdam’s cultural landmark Kunsthal,” Kaludjercic added. The executive said the festival will “celebrate contemporary cinema and...
The installation will be presented at the Dutch landmark Kunsthal as part of Rotterdam’s Art Directions, a multi-disciplinary section dedicated to daring films, installations, exhibitions and live performance. Commissioned by IFFR, “Sunshine State” marks McQueen’s first major commission since “Year 3,” which bowed at Tate Britain in 2019.
“We are beyond thrilled to announce the world premiere of Steve McQueen’s latest installation during the next edition of IFFR,” said festival director Vanja Kaludjercic.
“McQueen is a visual artist and celebrated filmmaker who is known for his powerful and uncompromising vision and we are proud to offer a broad audience the opportunity to experience this newly commissioned work at Rotterdam’s cultural landmark Kunsthal,” Kaludjercic added. The executive said the festival will “celebrate contemporary cinema and...
- 11/24/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Chicago South Asian Film Festival reveals the film lineup for its fourth annual event to be held between September 20 and 22nd. The festival, to be hosted at the Showplace Icon Theaters and Film Row Cinema at Columbia College will present over 24 films.
The festival will open with the Us premiere of Oass, a portrayal of the injustices faced by the many victims of child trafficking. Directed by Abhinav Shiv Tiwari, the film follows Kiku, a girl of great determination, as she endeavors to return home from the dingy brothels of Delhi.
The centerpiece film is Shahid, by director Hansal Mehta and producer Anurag Kashyap. The biographical piece recounts the inspiring journey of Shahid Azmi, a human rights activist and lawyer who was killed in 2010. The festival will close with the presentation of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. The film, directed by Mira Nair and winner of the Iffi Century Award,...
The festival will open with the Us premiere of Oass, a portrayal of the injustices faced by the many victims of child trafficking. Directed by Abhinav Shiv Tiwari, the film follows Kiku, a girl of great determination, as she endeavors to return home from the dingy brothels of Delhi.
The centerpiece film is Shahid, by director Hansal Mehta and producer Anurag Kashyap. The biographical piece recounts the inspiring journey of Shahid Azmi, a human rights activist and lawyer who was killed in 2010. The festival will close with the presentation of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. The film, directed by Mira Nair and winner of the Iffi Century Award,...
- 8/25/2013
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
10th Indian film festival Stuttgart has announced its selection. The festival will take place from July 17 to 21 in the German city of Stuttgart.
Here is the complete list of films to be screened at the festival:-
Ashok Rane’s doucmentay Being with Apu
Blood Brothers by Steve Hoover
Dancing Colours by Stuttgart Media University students
Liv & Ingmar by Dheeraj Akolkar
Much Ado about Knotting by Geetika Narang Abbasi and Anandana Kapur
No Problem! 6 Months with the Barefoot Grandmamas by Yasmin Kidwai
Powerless by Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar
Resonance of Mother’s Melody by Dip Bhuyan
Salma by Kim Longinotto
The Human Factor by Rudradeep Bhattacharjee
The World Before her by Nisha Pahuja
Bombay Talkies by Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar
Shahid by Hansal Mehta
Chokher Bali by Rituparno Ghosh
Bawdi – The Well by Viver Soni
Paroksh by Kuldip Patel
Thaambadhyam by Yugandhara Muthukrishnan
Umbartha by...
Here is the complete list of films to be screened at the festival:-
Ashok Rane’s doucmentay Being with Apu
Blood Brothers by Steve Hoover
Dancing Colours by Stuttgart Media University students
Liv & Ingmar by Dheeraj Akolkar
Much Ado about Knotting by Geetika Narang Abbasi and Anandana Kapur
No Problem! 6 Months with the Barefoot Grandmamas by Yasmin Kidwai
Powerless by Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar
Resonance of Mother’s Melody by Dip Bhuyan
Salma by Kim Longinotto
The Human Factor by Rudradeep Bhattacharjee
The World Before her by Nisha Pahuja
Bombay Talkies by Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar
Shahid by Hansal Mehta
Chokher Bali by Rituparno Ghosh
Bawdi – The Well by Viver Soni
Paroksh by Kuldip Patel
Thaambadhyam by Yugandhara Muthukrishnan
Umbartha by...
- 6/19/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
New Delhi, April 17: "Much Ado About Knotting", a documentary by Geetika Narang Abbasi and Anandana Kapur, has been selected for screening at Poland's forthcoming 10th Planete+Doc Film Festival.
The 10th edition of the festival is scheduled between May 10 and May 19 in Warsaw and it will also travel to Wroclaw where screening will take place from May 12 to May 19.
A light-hearted comedy on matchmaking in contemporary India, the documentary had been earlier appreciated at the New York Indian Film Festival, Byron Bay International Film Festival in Australia, and River To River Florence Indian Film Festival in Italy,.
The 10th edition of the festival is scheduled between May 10 and May 19 in Warsaw and it will also travel to Wroclaw where screening will take place from May 12 to May 19.
A light-hearted comedy on matchmaking in contemporary India, the documentary had been earlier appreciated at the New York Indian Film Festival, Byron Bay International Film Festival in Australia, and River To River Florence Indian Film Festival in Italy,.
- 4/17/2013
- by Diksha Singh
- RealBollywood.com
Still from Dekh Tamasha Dekh
The 13 New York Indian Film Festival will open with Feroze Abbas Khan’s political satire Dekh Tamasha Dekh and close with Nitin Kakkar’s Filmistaan. The festival will be held from April 30 – May 4, 2013.
This year the festival will screen 22 Indian features, all having their New York City premieres.
Khan’s 108 minute film Dekh Tamasha Dekh explores a country where bizarre is normal through a poor man in search for his religious identity. While Kakkar’s 117 minute film Filmistaan connects humans and cultures through cinema.
The festival will celebrate 100 years of Indian Cinema with the screenings of Rudradeep Bhattacharjee’s The Human Factor, Jaideep Varma’s Baavra Mann, Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, M S Sathyu’s Garam Hawa and Uday Shankar’s Kalpana. Whereas, Hansal Mehta’s Shahid will be presented under the Centrepiece section and Amit Gupta’s Jadoo under Special Screening.
The 13 New York Indian Film Festival will open with Feroze Abbas Khan’s political satire Dekh Tamasha Dekh and close with Nitin Kakkar’s Filmistaan. The festival will be held from April 30 – May 4, 2013.
This year the festival will screen 22 Indian features, all having their New York City premieres.
Khan’s 108 minute film Dekh Tamasha Dekh explores a country where bizarre is normal through a poor man in search for his religious identity. While Kakkar’s 117 minute film Filmistaan connects humans and cultures through cinema.
The festival will celebrate 100 years of Indian Cinema with the screenings of Rudradeep Bhattacharjee’s The Human Factor, Jaideep Varma’s Baavra Mann, Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, M S Sathyu’s Garam Hawa and Uday Shankar’s Kalpana. Whereas, Hansal Mehta’s Shahid will be presented under the Centrepiece section and Amit Gupta’s Jadoo under Special Screening.
- 4/6/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur I will open the 12th edition of the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival, while its sequel Gangs of Wasseypur II will be the closing film of the festival. A documentary on the life and career of Amitabh Bachchan, Everlasting Light by Ram Madhvani, will be screened during the festival. Bachchan will also be present for a Q&A session post the screening of his film Black.
Besides film screening, the festival will also host interactive sessions on topics like, ‘Shakti: Women in Indian cinema and literature’ and ‘Bollywood and the expression of emotions in today’s India’.
The festival will run from 7th to 13th December in Florence followed by an edition in Rome from 14th to 16th December 2012.
The films in the 2012 line up are:
Much Ado About Knotting
Dir.: Geetika Narang Abbasi and Anandana Kapur
Bharatmata Ki Jai (Long live Bharatmata)
Dir.
Besides film screening, the festival will also host interactive sessions on topics like, ‘Shakti: Women in Indian cinema and literature’ and ‘Bollywood and the expression of emotions in today’s India’.
The festival will run from 7th to 13th December in Florence followed by an edition in Rome from 14th to 16th December 2012.
The films in the 2012 line up are:
Much Ado About Knotting
Dir.: Geetika Narang Abbasi and Anandana Kapur
Bharatmata Ki Jai (Long live Bharatmata)
Dir.
- 11/23/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council, New York City's Indian film festival, which wrapped Sunday night, presented its best film award to Joseph Mathew-Varghese's "Bombay Summer."
Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury's "The Endless Wait" (Antaheen) served as the closing night film.
The 2009 Miaac Award Winners are:
Short Film Award: "Good Night," directed by Geetika Narang
Documentary Film Award: "The Salt Stories," directed by Lalit Vachani
Actor Award: Aasif Mandvi for "Today's Special"
Actress Award: Tannishtha Chatterjee for "Bombay Summer"
Screenplay Award: "Two Paise for Sunshine, Four Annas for Rain," by Deepti Naval
Director Award: Joseph Mathew-Varghese for "Bombay Summer."
Best Film Award: "Bombay Summer"...
Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury's "The Endless Wait" (Antaheen) served as the closing night film.
The 2009 Miaac Award Winners are:
Short Film Award: "Good Night," directed by Geetika Narang
Documentary Film Award: "The Salt Stories," directed by Lalit Vachani
Actor Award: Aasif Mandvi for "Today's Special"
Actress Award: Tannishtha Chatterjee for "Bombay Summer"
Screenplay Award: "Two Paise for Sunshine, Four Annas for Rain," by Deepti Naval
Director Award: Joseph Mathew-Varghese for "Bombay Summer."
Best Film Award: "Bombay Summer"...
- 11/17/2009
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
'Good Night' (2008), directed by Geetika Narang Plot: A retired loner who has a disorderly lifestyle decides to mend his ways and bring some discipline in his life. But some things are just not meant to be as he realizes that sometimes the most trivial of the things can turn out to be the most significant. Review: The first thing that strikes you about 'Good Night' is that it's an honest film. The film is high on the emotional quotient and for most part of it is compelling enough to make you believe in the plausibility of the plot. The central character of Madan Mohan Khullar is a strong a...
- 3/6/2009
- MoviesOnline.ca
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