HOUSTON, TEXAS, – Sutapa Ghosh announced
the launching of the First Annual Indian Film
Festival of Houston at a gathering hosted by the
Consul General of India, Sanjiv Arora . Ms.
Ghosh, the Festival’s Founding Chairperson and
Director, told the enthusiastic crowd that this
will be the second Indian Film Festival in North
America after the Los Angeles Indian Film
Festival. The First Annual Indian Film Festival
of Houston will be September 21 through
September 25, 2009 and will culminate with a
star studded Gala on September 26, at the
InterContinental Hotel. The Film Festival will
showcase movies from India and beyond, including
regional films in three categories: feature
films, short films, and documentaries.
Leading the helm of the Gala event are Honorary
Chairs: Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and wife
Gwen; Dr. Carolyn Farb hc; Consul General and
Mrs. Sanjiv Arora; Drs. Renu and Suresh Khator;
Joanne King Herring and Congresswoman Sheila
Jackson Lee. Gala chairs are Anna and Thomas
Au, Duni Hebron, Deborah and Bill Colton, and
Dr. Devinder and Gina Bhatia. All funds from
the gala will benefit MediSend International’s
humanitarian programs in India and the First
Annual Film Festival of Houston.
Sutapa Ghosh, the driving force behind creating
the Houston Indian Film Festival, has produced
several award-winning films in India. “Houston
is a natural selection to become another
Bollywood location,” Ms. Ghosh explains. “There
is a large Indian population here and throughout
Texas and Houston has become an important film
center. I am pleased to announce that I will be
working with Worldwide Stage, Inc., the
producing company of numerous international
festivals and celebrity events,” Ms. Ghosh
added.
The composite South Asian Houston, Dallas and
other surrounding city communities include
Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and
others, with an aggregate population of more
than 350,000. The Asian Community includes
Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and others, with a
total population of more than 375,000 people.
These combined communities offer more than
700,000 potential audience members. In addition,
there are large Indian populations in cities
close to Houston – Austin, Baton Rouge and San
Antonio.
The Film Festival will be held at the Studio
Movie Grill at Town & Country CityCentre at
Memorial and Beltway 8 from September 21 through
September 25, 2009 and will culminate with a
star-studded Gala on September 26. The Gala
will be held at the InterContinenal Hotel at
2222 West Loop South. The Gala will be a red
carpet, black-tie/Indian chic award presentation
event.
Nick Hallack, President and CEO of MediSend
International, says, "MediSend International is
grateful for this opportunity to tell the
Houston community about our achievements in
improving healthcare conditions around the
world. India has been and continues to be
an important focus of our mission. Since 2004,
we have served the international healthcare
industry with innovative and comprehensive
solutions designed specifically to meet the
needs and challenges of hospitals in developing
countries. We are able to continue this
progress only through the generosity of
communities like Houston who have an abiding
commitment to helping families and friends in
developing countries."
Celebrities from India attending the Gala will
be:
Ø Music Composer, Director and Singer
A.R.Rahman, the legend who won two Oscar awards.
He was the first Indian to receive the Oscars -
one award for the best score and the second for
best song "jai ho" from the film "Slum Dog
Millionaire.
Ø Sonu Nigaam—Pop Singer and Performer Sonu
has performed not only in India, but almost
every continent. His concerts have been held in
America, UK, Europe, South Africa, France,
Germany, Pakistan, Dubai, Afghanistan, Africa,
Singapore, Bangkok, New Zealand, Fiji Islands,
Nigeria, Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya, Mauritius,
Australia and Egypt.
Ø Director, Producer Megan Mylan, a 2009
Oscar winner for the Documentary Film, “Smile
Pinki.” Her film, “Lost Boys of Sudan,”
co-directed with Jon Shenk, won an Independent
Spirit Award and was nominated for two national
Emmys.
Ø Indian Film Writer and poet Gulzar wrote
the lyrics of the Oscar award winning Original
Song "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire.
Ø Mohammad Iqbal Khan - Model, Actor, TV
Host & television superstar. Talented,
versatile and charming, he has created a niche
for himself. He is an idol for national and
international audiences.
For more information, please contact Jeff Smith
with Smith & Sacco Public Relations at
713/627-8777 or email at
jfsmitty@aol.com.
For ticket information, please call
713-260-9630. For more information regarding the
Festival, please visit the Indian Film Festival
of Houston website at
www.iffhinc.org.
About the Indian Film Festival of Houston
The Indian Film Festival of Houston is a
nonprofit organization devoted to creating a
greater appreciation of Indian Cinema and
culture by showcasing quality films that honor
entertainment industry performers and film
makers while promoting the diverse perspectives
of the Indian Diaspora through an annual
Festival within Houston’s diverse community.
About MediSend International
MediSend International is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit
humanitarian organization that supports
under-resourced hospitals in developing
countries with a multi-dimensional approach to
improving community health. MediSend
International’s mission includes education,
training, technical support and management
technologies in Biomedical Equipment Repair as
well as the distribution of life-saving medical
supplies and biomedical equipment for long-term
partnerships and emergency relief programs.