News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know A South Asia Arts Focused Success Story In Seattle was an attractive option for Tasveer. The premises has three theaters, which Tasveer has already started using for events. The Tasveer Film Center will also serve as the organi- zation’s headquarters, with office space on the third floor. Along with the theaters there is a conference room which will be available for lease to the community, with special discounts for other nonprofit organizations and Tasveer members. As part of their broader strategy to create partnerships and collaborations with other film-related organizations. For example, the Seattle Documentary Association currently has no space to showcase their films or a per- manent office. Tasveer could offer a space to the Asso- ciation, allowing them to use it for film screenings and potentially as an office location, says Rita Meher. Tasveer’s plans include renovations to modernize the technology while preserving the historical character of the theater. They also plan to show films, host commu- nity workshops, and collaborate with other film festivals. To bring those plans to fruition, the Tasveer team is meeting with fundraising consultants to develop a capital campaign with a goal of raising USD$14 million dollars, says Rita Meher. COMMUNITY CONNECTION How do the local community feel about their new neighbors? When they first moved in, Shailaja Rao and her team went door-to-door to tell neighboring cafes and restau- rants about their new presence. The business owners seemed “very inclusive and happy” that someone had taken ownership of the previously empty building, seeing it as potentially good for their own businesses. The revived theater and its activities will bring in a lot of people, which is obviously good for businesses in the area, she said. Tasveer is committed to welcoming everyone regard- less of their backgrounds, she adds. While diversity, equity and inclusion programs are being dismantled and deprioritized everywhere, Tasveer has bolstered its com- mitment to the mission through art, films, and storytell- ing. SOUTH ASIAN SUNDANCE Their work really began in 2002 at the Elliott Bay Book Company, a local bookstore in Seattle with a documen- tary film screening and book discussion. Barely twenty years later, in 2023, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially accepted Tasveeri as an Oscar-qualifying film festival. It is so far the only South Asian film festival to be officially recognized as such. This means that Tasveer film festival winners become eligible for submissions to the Oscars. In conjunction with the film festival Tasveer intro- duced the Tasveer FilmMarket in 2024, Rita Meher’s brainchild. The Market aims to redevelop the financial and distribution models for South Asian filmmakers in North America by expanding their reach and fostering collaboration within the film industry. There are also plans to host networking and production events such as with the addition of a Producers Lab. “This is a good thing to happen to a South Asian orga- nization. We’re so excited that there’s a place we can call home,” says Shailaja Rao. The bottom line is that regardless of the challenges and issues America faces, its pluralistic society and op- portunities continue to enable people to come together and form strong, cohesive communities without losing their individual identities. (The writer is coordinating editor, Sapan News. She can be reached at regina@sapannews.com . By special arrangement with Sapan) ( This article appeared on Southasiamonitor.org July 13, 2025. Used under special arrangementwith SAM) World Culture Film Festival 2025 Celebrates Role Of Cinema In Building Culture And Community T he 2ndWorld Culture Film Festival concluded recently in Los Ange- les, bringing together award-win- ning films and personalities. The firstWCFF edition was held inWashing- ton, D.C. in 2023. An initiative of the Art of Living Foun- dation, theWCFF mission draws on the vision of ALF founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, “whose work toward a stress- free, violence-free world has touched over 800 million people in more than 180 countries,” notedWCFF in a press release, prior to the Festival. TheWCFF describes its mission as fol- lows: “We strive to bridge the gap between differences, break down barriers, and strengthen inclusivity to create a harmo- nious, peaceful future. We showcase and award works that are culturally diverse and unifying, elevate human conscious- ness through cinema, foster conscious media that uplifts and positively influ- ences society, and provide a platform for creators.” According to organizers, this Festival, “stands apart in a crowded landscape of film gatherings by focusing on stories that illuminate, unite, and inspire.” The festival which ran from June 26- 29, 2025, took place at various locations including the first day and the closing ceremonies including the award presenta- tions at the Art of Living Foundation in LA. It’s theme was – “True art entertains while awakening the best in humanity.” Among the major supporters of the festi- val is the Art of Living Foundation. It featured and a lineup of films from more than 60 countries, several of them from India, and emphasized stories that promote positive change. Apart from film screenings, there were several panel discussions. One of them on June 28, entitled “Parables on Screen – The Sacred Mission of Storytelling” was headlined by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, who joined Chet Lowe, filmmaker, missionary and author of Living Parable. The panel explored the role of storytelling in an increasingly divided world, according to the organizers’ website worldculturefilm- festival.org . Some of the films screened included, the feature films “Laapataa Ladies” the Oscar-nominated film directed by Kiran Rao, and “The Performance” directed by Shira Piven; shorts like “Doori” by Sparsh Banerjee, and “Dream Door by Rishav Rajesh Raman. The Festival included an aerial photography exhibition by Sahil Rohira “whose lens captures landscapes as meditative poetry” festival organizers said. Among the celebrity attendees listed by WCFF were Jeremy Piven, Sam Asghari, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Richa Moorjani, Poorna Jagannathan, Cory Hardrict, Sa- rayu Blue, Preity Zinta, Tamanna Roashan, Punam Patel, Liza Koshy, and many more. Also among the attendees at the Festi- val was the Jain Social Group Beverly Hills Founder & President Rajendra Vora, who said in his note to News India Times, that he thanked Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his vision of “showcasing films that uplift human consciousness, take people out of desperation, and give them not only a sense of entertainment, but also inspire them towards a more responsible, harmo- nious and conscious life.” Vora also quoted FOX TV Los Angeles News Anchor Christine Divine congratulating Gurudev for hosting the Festival “where the stories that dared to push boundaries, champion unheard voices, and celebrate resilience.” The jury for selecting the award win- ning films included several judges of In- dian origin, including filmmaker Abhishek Sharma, actor and former Miss India Manasvi Mamgai, Hollywood producer, director and entrepreneur Sweta Rai, founder of Goldmines Telefilms Manish Shah, entertainment journalist Himesh Mankad, television producer and director Shruti Amindita Verma, P.S. Ramanathan of Rajshri Productions, and award-win- ning educator and filmmaker based in Los Angeles Nidhin Patel. The list of award winners is available at worldculturefilmfestival.org/awards/ winners. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:TRAILERVIDEO GRAB PHOTO:CourtesyRajendraVora PHOTO:worldculturefilmfestival.org Laapataa Ladies was the finest movie experience in cinemas but did only average business. FOX TV News Anchor Christine Divine. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar & Rajendra Vora. Poster for the WCFF. Community News India Times (August 9, 2025 - August 15, 2025) August 15, 2025 12 - Continued From Page 10