New Delhi: The Yellowstone International Festival (YIFF) commenced with great enthusiasm on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at DLF Cyberpark in Gurgaon. The event featured a star-studded red carpet, graced by popular celebs like Amit Sadh, Deepak Kalra, Bani J, Siddharth Chauhan, and many others.
The festival, now in its 4th edition, promises to be a remarkable celebration of international cinema. It brings together 140 films from various categories, including Feature Shorts, LGBTQIA+, Women Empowerment, Comedy, Horror, Short and Feature Documentaries, and feature films from a multitude of countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Netherlands, Chile, Spain, Pakistan, Belgium, Turkey, Israel, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, and more. The festival will run until October 27, 2023, across multiple venues in Delhi.
The festival's grand opening featured the premiere of the award-winning film 'AMAR COLONY,' which boasts a stellar cast including Sangeeta Aggarwal, Nimisha Nair, and Ayush Shrivastava. It was followed by the Indian premiere of 'TITS' and the North Indian premiere of 'The Broken Table.' The festival also includes the Asian premiere of the Academy Award-winning Mercedes Ruehl Comedy Feature, 'The Nana Project,' directed by Robin Givens, and the screening of 'Rare,' a thrilling short film featuring Piyush Mishra and 'The Group (Balgam)' starring Priydarshi Pulikonda and Kavya Kalyanram, directed by Venu Yeldandi.
YIFF's 4th edition also witnessed the presentation of awards in various categories. Bani J received the Outstanding Performance In a Series Award for 'Four More Shots Please,' while Amit Sadh received the Outstanding Performance In a Recurring Role Award for 'Breathe Into The Shadows.' Deepak Kalra was honored with the Outstanding Performance In a Supporting Role (Feature Film) award for 'Gumrah,' and Siddharth Chauhan received the Achievement in Film Direction (Feature) award for 'Amar Colony.' Sangeeta Agarwal and Ayush Shrivastava received awards for Outstanding Performance In Supporting Roles in the same film.
Amit Sadh, upon receiving his award, expressed his gratitude, stating, "Attending a festival and receiving an award is like savoring the sweetest flavors of accomplishment. It's a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion that fuel our creative journeys."
Bani J also shared her happiness at receiving the award, noting, “It's a great feeling to get this award at Yellowstone International Film Festival for my series 'Four More Shots Please' on Amazon Prime."
Tushar Tyagi, the founder of the Yellowstone International Film Festival, highlighted the importance of cinema in sparking conversations about vital topics in today's world.
YIFF is a platform for celebrating world-class cinema, emphasizing independent films from around the world that tackle thought-provoking subjects. The festival's 4th edition combines in-person and virtual showings at various venues in Delhi.
Tushar Tyagi added, "We have had over 2800 film submissions from around 135 countries across the globe. Our programming team tirelessly worked the entire year to bring these powerful handpicked 146 films, including features, shorts, animated, and documentaries. The selections are unique in each context, with relevant and touching stories, films that showcase quality storytelling."
The festival also showcased the Indian premiere of 'Amar Colony,' a Special Jury Prize-winning film at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, the first Indian film to be selected in the First Features Section and the first to win for its originality at the prestigious Estonian Festival.
'Amar Colony' weaves a surreal and absurd portrait of an exotic community in India, portraying the lives of its characters in a unique light.
Other notable films at the festival include 'The Broken Table,' directed by Chintan Sarda, and the Indian premiere of 'TITS,' a Cannes Palme D'Or-nominated Norwegian film directed by Eivind Landsvik.
The festival is taking place at various venues in Delhi, with the closing night ceremony set to be held at Pacific Mall Jasola on October 26, 2023, starting at 6:00 PM.
The Yellowstone International Film Festival promises to be an enriching celebration of cinema and a platform for engaging with captivating and meaningful stories from across the globe. It continues to be a driving force in the world of international cinema, making space for stories that inspire dialogue and reflection.