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Manoj Bajpayee, Raghu Rai to attend Dharamshala film fest
Dharamsala, Oct 17 (IANS) Acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee and celebrated photographer Raghu Rai will attend the seventh edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF).
Manoj’s upcoming film “Bhonsle” will be screened and Raghu’s daughter Avani Rai’s debut documentary “A Death in the Gunj” will be presented at the gala, to be held here from November 1-4.
DIFF will this year roll with Dar Gai’s “Namdev Bhau: In Search Of Silence to Open” as its opening film. Ere Gowda’s Kannada feature “Balekempa” is the closing film.
Films like “Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Ja Riya Hoon”, “The Gold-Laden Sheep and the Sacred Mountain” and international films like “48 Years: Silent Dictator”, “A Long Way Home, Bamboo Dogs” and “Boom for Real” are a part of the lineup, read a statement.
DIFF 2018 will focus specifically on up-and-coming filmmakers from Himachal Pradesh. The selected fellows are Rahat Mahajan, Aman Sharma, Mrinali Singha, Vaasu Soni and Kesang Thakur who will be mentored by award-winning filmmakers Gurvinder Singh and Anupama Srinivasan.
For the first time, a Dharamshala PJLF Editing Workshop 2018 will be held in association with the Paddy&Joan Leigh Fermor Arts Fund, to encourage editors in the independent cinema market.
The editing workshop will be mentored by internationally renowned editor Jacques Comets, and Bina Paul, Artistic Director, International Film Festival of Kerala, and producer and script and editing mentor Olivia Stewart.
As for short films, filmmaker Umesh Kulkarni has curated a selection of ten shorts including “Tungrus” and “Eye Test”, which will be featured at DIFF.
Indian short filmmakers Siddharth Chauhan, Sudha Padmaja Francis, Mukul Haloi, Rishi Chandna, Tarun Jain, Raghbir Singh Toor, Natesh Hagde, Abhijeet Phartiyal, Divya Unny, Pia Shah and Ajitpal Singh will also be present at the fest.
DIFF 2018 will also focus on a special programme for children curated by film curator and Director of the South Asia Children’s Cinema Forum, Monica Wahi. This includes two award-winning features, “Chuskit” by Priya Ramasubban and Cross “My Heart” by Luc Picard, and four internationally acclaimed shorts, “Rammat Gammat” (Ajitpal Singh, India), “Hadia the Gift” (Sinem Sakaogl, Germany/Turkey), “Father” (Abu Adnan, Denmark) and “Beauty” (Christina Willings, Canada).
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.