M.I.A. gets starring role at South Asian Film Festival
The documentary “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.,” a profile of the pop star, will close the 24th annual South Asian Film Festival.
The event will present nine films — four features and five shorts — from Saturday, through Monday at the Enzian in Maitland.
“Dark Wind,” a drama about climate change’s impact on India, starts the festival at 11 a.m. Saturday. Nila Madhab Panda directed the film, which features Sanjay Mishra as the father of a desperate farmer. The film is Hindi with subtitles.
“New Indian Shorts 2018,” at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, will feature five shorts, and the audience will pick its favorite. The titles are “The Never-Ending Marathon of Mr. Dharam Singh,” “Tara Versus,” “Kaashi,” “Moongfali Wala (The Peanut Seller)” and “Shivani.”
The documentary “Lovesick,” at 11 a.m. Sunday, focuses on a respected clinic that treats HIV/ AIDS patients in India. Directors Ann S. Kim and Priya Giri Desai shot the film over eight years. In English, Tamil and Hindi with English subtitles.
The drama “What Will People Say” screens at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Nisha (Maria Mozhdah), 16, goes from living in freedom in Norway to enduring a rigid culture in Pakistan. Director Iram Haq’s film won the Audience Award at AFI Fest. It is in Norwegian and Urdu with English subtitles.
“Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Director Stephen Loveridge charts M.I.A.’s rise as an outspoken artist with hits such as “Paper Planes” and “Bad Girls.” The film won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s in English and Tamil with English subtitles.
A series pass with priority seating costs $50, and individual tickets are $11.
Enzian Theater is at 1300 S. Orlando Ave. in Maitland. Details are at enzian.org. Enzian will offer a menu inspired by South Asia through the festival.