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India Gazette
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Sivaranjini J directorial 'Victoria' becomes India's solo entry at 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, filmmaker shares her journey
Washington DC [US], June 16 (ANI): Director Sivaranjini J is thrilled as her debut feature film Victoria has been selected as the sole entry from India at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) 2025. The film will be screened under the Asian New Talent section of the festival. Sivaranjini opened up about her journey from a small village in Kerala to gaining international recognition, revealing that she had once given up on her 'dream' of becoming a filmmaker due to the immense struggles faced by independent directors today, reported Variety. In an interview with Variety, the 'Victoria' director said that she feels 'honoured' for the recognition received by her film at the Shanghai International Film Festival 2025. 'I am feeling really honoured by the recognition. On a personal level, it feels like a significant milestone, considering how unattainable making a feature film once seemed to me. It's an acknowledgement of the collective effort of my team and the risks we took with this film,' said Sivaranjini as quoted by Variety. As per the outlet, Sivaranjini developed the project under the Kerala State Film Development Corporation's (KSFDC) Women's Empowerment scheme, which proved instrumental in bringing her vision to life. She calls it a huge 'turning point' in her filmmaking journey. 'By then, I had almost given up on my dream of becoming a filmmaker, aware of the immense struggles independent filmmakers often face. The state government grant was a huge turning point for me. The grant enabled me to pursue my dream without the usual commercial expectations of the producers. We also had access to the facilities of Chitranjali Studio owned by the state government,' said Sivaranjini as quoted by Variety. The film had its premiere at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in 2024. As per Variety, the movie centres on Victoria, a young beautician who is caught between family expectations and personal desires when she plans to elope with her Hindu boyfriend against her conservative Catholic parents' wishes. Set almost entirely within a beauty parlour, the story complicates when Victoria must care for a neighbour's sacrificial rooster intended for a church offering. Sivaranjini J. also shared the inspiration behind her movie, saying that the idea of 'Victoria' struck her five years ago when she visited a neighbourhood beauty parlour in her home village on the outskirts of Kochi, Kerala. 'I encountered a rooster with its legs tied, near their toilet. I enquired and learned it was a sacrificial rooster soon to be taken to the nearby St. George church as an offering. A rooster inside an all-ladies beauty parlour was the image that inspired me to write the script,' said Sivaranjini. Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) announced the selection of Victoria through their Instagram handle. The cast of the film includes Meenakshi Jayan, Sreeshma Chandran, Jolly Chirayath, Steeja Mary, Darsana Vikas, Jeena Rajeev, and Remadevi. The technical team features Anand Ravi as director of photography, Abdul Khader A.K. handling art and production design, with Sivaranjini serving as editor, and Abhaydev Praful composing the music, reported Variety. (ANI)
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
27th Shanghai International Film Festival Kicks Off with a Wave of Chinese Cinema
SHANGHAI, June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) officially opened today, reaffirming its status as a premier platform for Chinese-language cinema. This year, 43 cinemas across Shanghai and 5 cinemas throughout the Yangtze River Delta will showcase more than 400 films from 71 countries and regions, offering approximately 1,500 screenings. Notably, the Golden Goblet Awards will announce the winners on June 21. On June 13, SIFF brought together the full international jury of the Golden Goblet Awards Main Competition, representing 13 countries and regions across Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe. They appeared together on stage and spoke to the press, reflecting the festival's global reach and cultural diversity. World-renowned Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore will chair the jury panel of the Main Competition section, he said: "Film is the love of everyone and I hope these selected movies can really surprise and enchant me. I think the best of these works are sure to touch the hearts of each jury member." The Red Carpet of the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival Gala Night is scheduled for the evening of June 14. Tickets in High Demand, Red Carpet Dazzles The festival offers a symphonic poem of classics and contemporary works from both domestic and international cinema, featuring nearly 40 different sections for film enthusiasts. On the day tickets went on general sale, more than 1,500 screenings of over 400 films with approximately 30% presented in 4K resolution were made available to filmgoers. Among them, 92 films with over 600 showings sold out quickly. To meet overwhelming demand from filmgoers, SIFF opened ticket sales for additional screenings at noon on June 11, adding 7 new showings to the lineup. By that time, ticket sales had reached 459,600, achieving a record-breaking sell-out rate of 73%, with more than 30% of attendees traveling from outside Shanghai. The screening featuring the Golden Goblet Best Director winner sold out in just 26 seconds, with tickets available before the winner was announced. This left filmgoers in suspense about which film they would be watching until the reveal. This year's film festival dazzled on the red carpet, attracting over 200 distinguished guests from around the world along the Huangpu River, offering audiences a captivating visual feast where cinema meets charm. The film crew of the opening film, She's Got No Name, along with the creators of upcoming summer blockbusters such as Dongji Island, A Cool Fish, The Litchi Road, and The Shadow's Edge, will be joined by the nominees from the Golden Goblet main competition and the Asian New Talent Award. Over 200 international stars, including the judges of the Golden Goblet Awards, will gather by the Huangpu River on the evening of the 14th. On June 17, the 2025 Chinese Movie Blockbuster Showcase will highlight major domestic productions. The festival's international jury includes 21 members from around the globe. One of the participating directors, Miriam Heard, whose film After the Fog is a finalist, shared: "My father visited China in 1975 and always dreamed of returning. He passed away recently, and I had the chance to show him the final cut of this film. I dedicate this movie — and my journey to China — to his memory." A Truly Global Stage for Cinema This year's Golden Goblet Main Competition showcases three Latin American films—After the Fog, Cyclone, and The Reborn—a first for the festival. It also spotlights the UK and Turkey with dedicated national focuses. "I am truly gratified to see young creators infusing Chinese cinema with fresh perspectives and innovative expressions, bringing it vibrant new life. Through our diverse support mechanisms and platforms, these talented individuals not only find opportunities to showcase their work but also amplify their voices globally, promoting the international spread of contemporary China's multiculturalism and social transformations. I deeply value the mission of connecting Chinese cinema with the global film community, helping Chinese films gain an increasingly significant presence on the world stage." said Chen Guo, Managing Director of Shanghai International Film & TV Events Center. The International Film & TV Market will be held at the Shanghai Exhibition Center from June 21 to 25. It is expected to attract 200 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions, showcasing cutting-edge technology and collaboration opportunities. For the first time, the newly launched International Film & TV Market area will be open to the public free of charge. For more information and the full festival schedule, please visit the official SIFF website at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE SIFF Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Filmmaker Thapelo Motloung launches Soweto Film Market, honouring a legacy
The launch was held at the Eyethu Heritage Hall in Soweto on Thursday afternoon. The uprising of youth in Soweto in 1976 was a protest against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in black schools. In addition to that, the remonstration was also against apartheid's chokehold on young black people's dreams. On Thursday, just a few days to the day that the historic protest took place 49 years ago, a young filmmaker from Soweto, Thapelo Motloung, launched the Soweto Film Market in the township—something that very few people could see nearly 50 years ago. 'We are free today because they had to fight, and for me to have a voice. I'm here today, 26 years old, and we are making this happen in Soweto. We've changed the narrative; we are innovators, we are change makers,' Motloung said, speaking to The Citizen. The Soweto Film Market has joined forces with the long-standing Soweto International Film Festival (SIFF). The market is born from SIFF's mission to elevate African voices. The Market is where creativity meets commerce. 'Teboho Mashinini, Hector Pieterson and them are in our history during this month, so it is also a commemoration to the heroes that have fallen.' The Soweto Film Market and SIFF will take place from November 19 to 22, 2025. ALSO READ: Playing Dad: How film speaks to fathers' desires and struggles of fatherhood Rewriting the future of African film Together with SIFF, the Soweto Film Market is rewriting the future of African film. 'How many other Thapelos are out there looking for platforms?… I've been rejected a lot of times and at a number of places,' he shares. 'The whole idea was, how do I service a Thapelo somewhere, someone who is trying to get into the industry,' Motloung says. 'Soweto did not have a market necessarily, and we're such a big township that is known globally. Coming up with a market was a matter of saying 'why don't we have trade in Soweto' because that's where the two Nobel Prize winners are from,' says Motloung, referring to the significance of the township. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are the two Nobel winners who resided on the same street in Soweto. He says the market is aimed at filmmakers, where workshops will be held, and industry skills will be shared. 'We have the festival side of things, where we're premiering a film every night here at Eyethu. During the day, we're at Soweto Theatre and in the evening we're here premiering first-time films at Eyethu cinema, which is the oldest cinema in Africa.' Located in Mofolo Soweto, Eyethu is one of the first black-owned cinemas in South Africa and a historic venue in Soweto, where memorable shows and funeral services of Soweto's most prominent were held. 'When you go through the venue, you get to realise that someone started and someone needs to take the baton — I'm here to take the baton,' said Motloung. NOW READ: Mzansi celebs dazzle in African royalty fashion at the 'Shaka iLembe' season 2 launch
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SIFF non-profit slashes staff after festival ends
This story was originally published on The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) non-profit has announced it will lay off nine full-time employees, reducing its administrative staff by 21%. The decision was shared with staff during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after the conclusion of this year's festival, according to The Seattle Times. SIFF's executive director, Tom Mara, explained the choice to reduce staff was made around three weeks ago. However, discussions about these cuts had been ongoing since April with the organization's board. The nonprofit had already been trimming costs, reducing technology expenses, renegotiating vendor contracts, and scaling back the festival in previous years. Despite these measures, further cuts became necessary. Mara stated that the main reason for the layoffs was a decline in revenue. The Seattle Times reported that SIFF needed to reduce its initial $11 million budget by approximately $900,000 to $1 million. Andrea Stuart-Lehalle, SIFF's chief operating officer, added that the layoffs and hourly reductions are expected to save about $500,000 by the end of the year. The announcement comes amid a series of setbacks for SIFF. The historic SIFF Egyptian theater remains closed following flood damage in November, and the annual festival has reduced both the number of films shown and the length of the event. Despite the challenges, attendance grew slightly from nearly 90,000 tickets sold in 2023 to just under 95,000 in 2024.
News18
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Jeo Baby's Malayalam Film Victoria Selected For Shanghai International Film Festival
The Malayalam film Victoria, directed by Sivaranjini J, is the only Indian film selected for the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. Indian cinema is shining bright again. The Malayalam film Victoria, directed by first-time filmmaker Sivaranjini J, has been officially selected for the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). And guess what? It's the only Indian film at the festival this year! The film will be shown in the Asian New Talent section, which highlights new and exciting voices in cinema. The festival will take place from June 13 to June 22, 2025, and will also feature films from countries like Iran, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. Popular director Jeo Baby, known for Kaathal, shared the happy news online. He posted, 'Proud moments for Indian cinema. The one and only Indian movie @ 27th Shanghai international film festival. Congrts @ 🙌🏼 this movie produced by KSFDC." Victoria follows the story of a young woman named Victoria, a beautician working in a small town. Her quiet life takes a dramatic turn when she decides to run away with her Hindu boyfriend, going against her strict Catholic family. Things get even more confusing when a neighbour leaves a rooster with her for a religious offering! It's a story full of emotions, challenges, and unexpected moments. The movie stars Meenakshi Jayan, Sreeshma Chandran, Jolly Chirayath, Steeja Mary, Darsana Vikas, Jeena Rajeev, and Remadevi. It deals with important topics like religious pressure, women's freedom, and cultural identity. Victoria is backed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) and was funded through the Women Empowerment Grant, a special initiative to support women directors. The film had its world premiere at the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2024, where it won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film. That's not all, even Kiran Rao will also be part of the festival as a jury member. The main jury is headed by Giuseppe Tornatore, the famous director of Cinema Paradiso. The Shanghai International Film Festival is the largest film festival in Asia and China's longest-running international cinema event. The first festival was established in October 1993. It is the only Chinese festival accredited by the FIAPF. The festival is held over a ten-day period every June. SIFF is organized by China Film Administration, China Media Group, and the Shanghai government. First Published:
