Konkana Sen Sharma in a still from “Lipstick Under My Burkha.”

@iffla – An evening with Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, return of the popular Filmmaker Roundtable, numerous movies, and the prestige that Vikram Motwane, Zakir Hussain, Zane Dalal and John Nein are few of the many glitterati slated to be present at the International Film Festival Los Angeles, the event promises to have a lot in store. –  #IFFLA #India #IndianAmerican #Community #Bollywood #Hollywood #UstadZakirHussain @iffla

The 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles is widely recognized as the premiere showcase of groundbreaking Indian cinema globally. It will take place April 5-9, 2017 at Regal L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. This will be IFFLA’s first year in the state-of-the-art, world-class cinema in the heart of Los Angeles’ vibrant and developing downtown district.

The five-day festival is the premiere platform for the latest in cutting-edge global Indian cinema and bridges the gap between the two largest entertainment industries in the world – Hollywood and India. The festival will showcase more than 25 films from the Indian filmmaking community across the globe, host the highly anticipated opening and closing red carpet galas, and the Closing Awards ceremony

The Festival is pleased to highlight a special evening with legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, joined by the Symphony Orchestra of India’s Associate Music Director Zane Dalal, April 6. The event will begin with a screening of the documentary “An Indian Accent,” directed by Sumantra Ghosal, which chronicles Hussain and Dalal’s collaboration on Hussain’s original concerto piece Peshkar.

The two will then participate in an extended discussion about the film and their impressive body of work. The event takes place as Hussain prepares to launch a spring tour of the U.S. on April 9.

IFFLA will host the North American premiere of “Trapped,” helmed by celebrated filmmaker and IFFLA alum Vikramaditya Motwane. The film stars Rajkummar Rao (recently seen in Berlinale award winner “Newton.”) in a captivating performance as a man who becomes locked inside an apartment in an empty Mumbai high-rise without food, water or electricity and must desperately figure out a way to survive.

Returning to the Festival this year is the popular Filmmaker Roundtable hosted by Sundance senior programmer John Nein. Nein will lead ten of the festival’s attending feature directors in a lively discussion about the state of the Indian film industry.

Scene from “Hotel Salvation.”

“IFFLA is proud to add these exciting new events to our already stellar 2017 lineup,” said Mike Dougherty, Director of Programming. “The prestige that Vikram Motwane, Zakir Hussain, Zane Dalal and John Nein represent will no doubt contribute to an unforgettable 15th anniversary for our festival.”

The Opening Night Gala will spotlight “Lipstick Under My Burkha,” a dramatic but irreverent and vibrant film about women and faith. Director Alankrita Shrivastava is confirmed to attend. The Closing Night Gala is the Los Angeles premiere of “Hotel Salvation,” the debut feature of Shubhashish Bhutiani. Star Adil Hussain (“Life Of Pi,” “Umrika,” “Parched”) is confirmed to attend IFFLA’s Closing Night gala representing the film. Spice Affair will host the Opening and Closing Night Gala receptions in Beverly Hills.

Attending Filmmakers: Many impressive filmmakers are attending the festival this year. Confirmed to attend the 15th annual Festival include:

  • Alankrita Shrivastava, director of LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA
  • Adoor Gopalakrishnan, director of ONCE AGAIN
  • Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya, directors of THE CINEMA TRAVELLERS
  • Bobby Sarma Baruah, director of THE GOLDEN WING
  • Suman Mukhpodhyay, director of INCOMPLETE
  • Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla, directors of AN INSIGNIFICANT MAN
  • Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, director of SEXY DURGA
  • Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy, director of A BILLION COLOUR STORY; Satish Kaushik, producer of A BILLION COLOUR STORY
  • Adil Hussain, lead actor of HOTEL SALVATION

Gala tickets and passes are now available at www.indianfilmfestival.org. For more information please visit www.indianfilmfestival.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@iffla).