DCSAFF 2012 is shaping up to be the most incredible three days the Washington DC cine-going audience has ever seen. With a bevy of renowned actors and directors from around the world, DCSAFF promises to have something for audiences of all ages and ethnicities. DCSAFF 2012 promises to be an exciting weekend full of cinematic entertainment and workshops, and will feature prominent guests from the Indian film industry, including Shyam Benegal (Director of Well Done Abba!, Zubeidaa, Kalyug), Ketan Mehta (Director of Mangal Pandey, Mirch Masala, Maya), Deepti Naval (Memories in March, Firaaq, Shakti), Rajit Kapur (Guzaarish, Well Done Abba!, Zubeidaa) and Raima Sen (Memories in March, The Japanese Wife, Teen Patti).
DCSAFF will also have a number of prominent artists who are working to promote South Asians here in the American film industry, including Ajay Naidu (Office Space, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, 30 Rock, Monk, Scary Movie 3, Ashes), Samrat Chakrabarti (Arya, Loins of Punjab Presents, Kissing Cousins, When Kiran Met Karen, Deepa Mehta’s upcoming Midnight Children, NBC’s 30 Rock, HBO’s In Treatment), and Manan Singh Katohora (Flavors, Arya, When Kiran Met Karen, Extrospection, Come To My Window, Date # 25, 9 Eleven)
Sponsored by Ceasar Productions, DCSAFF aims to give South Asian filmmakers from around the world a chance to exhibit their films to the diverse cine-going audience of the nation’s capital. The Festival brings together a wide variety of films from across South Asia and and includes films in Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Bengali, and Telegu. This year’s DCSAFF will run from Friday June 1st, through Sunday, June 3rd, 2012 at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland. This beautiful campus is centrally located just a short shuttle ride from the Shady Grove Metro Station and 40 minutes outside of downtown Washington. The festival will kick-off Friday night with an exclusive Opening Night Red Carpet Gala featuring Shyam Benegal’s classic film ‘Mammo’, Official World Premiere Screening of Manan Singh Katohora’s Award-Winning Film “9 ELEVEN”, and will continue throughout the weekend closing with Deepti Naval’s directorial debut Do Paise ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane ki Baarish. Highlights of the weekend include a Shyam Bengal retrospective, acting and filmmaking workshops, short films directed by local artists, and the Washington DC premieres of a number of exciting new films.
Founded by Manoj Singh and Geeta Singh, The Ceasar Productions is focused on hosting and producing good quality professional theatre, films, TV, and radio programs; with ‘Advisory Board’ comprising of Dr Sudha and Pandit Patil, Arun Chawla, Hemant Minocha, Dr Sudhir Sekhsaria, Milan Chatterjee, Jehangir Mehta, Dr Munish Mehra,and Guylaine Saint Juste. DCSAFF 2012 will give a chance for audiences of all ages and ethnicities to discover new South Asian filmmakers, and celebrate ones already well established.
