Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer

Indian Film personalities Richa Chadda, Deepti Naval, Pooja Batra, Bappi Lahiri, Gulshan Grover, Guneet Monga, Rajat Kapoor and many more from other ethnicities were felicitated for their contribution to cinema at the Festival of Globe Awards, Silicon Valley and San Francisco Movie Fest. Fans braved the heat and had a bit of disappointment as many names previously announced in the marketing brochures, stars like Jackie Chan, Sonu Nigam, Martin Sheen, Ileana D’Cruz, Rani Mukherjee, Neha Dhupia and many more were unable to make it to the event.

The celebrations included eight days of movie screenings, workshops, panel discussions, the FOG Awards and the India Day Parade. Three controversial Indian films – 19th January, Unfreedom and Oass were screened and admired for their bold storyline.

Commenting on the success of the festival, Rajesh Verma, president FIA said, “This is our way of passing on the torch of our pride in our traditions to the future generations of Indian American youth.”

Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer
Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer

Indian actresses Richa Chadda, Deepti Naval, Pooja Batra, Sonu Walia led a panel on Women Empowerment, discussing women issues and the pressing need to be respected and accepted by society. Pooja Batra highlighted, “A woman should be able to make her own choices, and not be suppressed by family, society, or the world in general.”

At the FOG Awards, the red carpet was rolled out to welcome film personalities from India, China, Nepal, Brazil, Hollywood and thousands of Bay Area community members. The star-studded event showcased world cultures and honored film personalities from across the globe. The festival concluded with the India Day Parade, which was led by Bollywood star Divya Khosla Kumar from T-Series and Dr. Romesh Japra. With the support of local ethnic groups, Bay Area welcomed 20 floats filled with several Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities and cultural programs showcasing the rich culture and heritage of India.

Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer
Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer

The Festival of Globe – Silicon Valley & San Francisco Global Movie Fest is a joint initiative of The FIA – Bay Area. Held annually, it is an international platform that blends world cultures through cinema and creates a one-of-a-kind gathering in the heart of Silicon Valley. The aim of the festival is to promote cinema, culture, and bring together stalwarts and aspirants from various fields and interests. The grand event concludes with the FOG Awards and India Day Parade.