New Delhi: Showcasing 50+ shorts, documentaries and feature films from United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada, INDIA, Cyprus, Italy, Netherlands, Chile, Spain, Pakistan, Belgium, Turkey, Srilanka, New Zealand and Sweden, the Yellowstone International Festival kicked off on Friday, 30th September, 2022, at DLF Cyberpark, Gurgaon. With star studded red carpet attendees namely - SHABANA AZMI, DIVYA DUTTA, ISHVAK SINGH, RAJESH TELANG, MUKUL CHADHA, KARAN TACKER and others.
The festival opened with the India premiere of fantasy feature film 'FAIRY FOLK' starring Rasika Dugal and Mukul Chadha and screening of Faraz Ansari’s short film 'SHEER QORMA' and an intimate panel discussion with the starcast.
Yellowstone International Film Festival is a platform to celebrate world-class cinema. YIFF's primary focus is to enrich the audience with independent cinema from around the world covering thought-provoking topics that can further create meaningful conversations. In its 3rd edition, the YIFF will be in a hybrid format wherein we will be hosting the opening red carpet premiere along with a closing night, the rest of the festival will run virtually. YIFF is curated by Tushar Tyagi, Film Director whose short film 'Saving Chintu' was shortlisted for Oscars 2021.
Actress Divya Dutta said, "It is an absolute pleasure that my film Sheer Qorma screened at YIFF and I am very grateful to the entire YIFF team for conferring me with the award and looking forward to attend it."
Shabana Azmi expressed her pleasure receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, said "I am extremely humbled and honured to recieve this award and so much love from the audience. Yellowstone International Film Festival is doing a great job to showcase independent cinema which creates a much needed dialogue and a hope for change"
Commenting on the festival Actor Ishvak Singh, said "YIFF is a festival that showcases best of Indie films which makes it a great platform to meet and interact with some of the most ingenious people in the business.I'm extremely glad that my show Rocket Boys has won the award at YIFF, it's a proud moment for the entire team"
Actor Jim Sarbh expressed his happiness, "Thank you to the Yellowstone International Film Festival for honouring me for my performance in Rocket Boys. There is no one better than Homi Bhabha to quote, “What comes after death no one knows. Nor do I care. Since, therefore, I cannot increase the content of life by increasing its duration, I will increase it by increasing its intensity. Art, music, poetry and everything else that I do have this one purpose - increasing the intensity of my consciousness of life.”
One of India’s first improvisational new age fantasy films, Fairy Folk is writer-director Karan Gour’s labor of love starring real life husband wife actor duo Rasika Dugal & Mukul Chada. FAIRY FOLKS is a film about ‘Thorny questions of love and sexuality which takes centre stage in this magical realist drama in which a genderless woodland being crashes into the lives of a jaded couple.’
Sheer Qorma is a story of belonging and acceptance, identity and family told through courageous, queer women who choose to embrace love that exists beyond their personal beliefs and social moralities. Directed by Faraz Ansari the film stars veteran actress Shabana Azmi, Divya Dutta and firebrand Swara Bhaskar.
Commenting on the festival, Tushar Tyagi, Founder of Yellowstone International FIlm Festival, said “We are living in extreme uncertainty, the current pandemic, ongoing war, and other calamities in the world need us to introspect on our lives and the things we often shy away from talking about. Cinema has always played an integral part in churning debates and opinions, our selection of films promises to nudge those thoughts.”
List of Awards Given to Actors:-
- Shabana Azmi, Lifetime Achievement Award
- Divya Dutta for Sheer Qorma, Outstanding Performance in a short film
- Rasika Dugal for Fairy Folk, Outstanding Performance in a Feature Film
- Iswak Singh for Rocket Boys, Outstanding Performance Male
- Shefali Shah for Delhi Crime, Outstanding Performance Female
- Suhail Nayyar for Sharmaji Namkeen, Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
- Rajesh Telang for Delhi Crime, Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
During the 8 day festival there will be several panel discussions by eminent film personalities, masterclass by experts and much more.
10 Physical Screenings:
- Sheer Qorma
- Fairy Folks
- Sand storm (Pakistan)
- 1947
- Coming out with the help of a time machine
- Look like you
- Master Ji
- Muffin Club
- Never Stop Running
Some of the digital screenings to look out for
- The Dunes
- Not to Forget
- Down in Paris
- Finding Courage
- The Right To Die
- Purdah
- Ghost Girl
- Soulmates
- The Florist
- It Gets In Your Blood
- The Lutist
For complete list of films to be shown virtually please follow the link: