Celebrities Converge on City for Silk Screen Festival

4/9/2007 Filed under Press Releases

Contact: Olivia Ciummo
412-322-3300 x114
ociummo@ silkscreenfestival.org

Celebrities Converge on City for Silk Screen Festival
Pittsburgh’s Asian Festival Features International Films & Concerts

Pittsburgh, PA – April 09, 2007 – Cannes, Sundance, Pittsburgh? Don’t be too surprised if
in a few years Pittsburgh is known for more than championship sports teams and
sandwiches made with French fries. Organizers of the Silk Screen Festival would like
Pittsburgh to become a hub of international culture. The 2nd annual Silk Screen Festival –
a unique multi-day event highlighting Asian film and music -- is attracting national and
international attention.

The festival -- running from May 11th through May 20th --will be screening about 20
feature films by Asian and Asian American film makers. Many of the films have won
numerous awards. Silk Screen organizers have added three concerts to the festival this
year – each featuring world-class artists from Japan, India and China. They include Koto
performer Masayo Ishigure, Tabla artist Suphala and the Chinese music ensemble
Melody of Dragon.

In addition to screening award-winning films, and showcasing the talents of world
renowned musicians, festival organizers are excited to be showing off their hometown to
a variety of international dignitaries, world renowned musicians and film industry
celebrities. Anticipated appearances include:

Vishal Bhardwaj, an Indian film director, writer and music composer. He is among the top
music directors of the Hindi film industry and has received numerous critical awards. Mr.
Bhardwaj turned to directing with two highly regarded children’s film – Makdee and The
Blue Umbrella. He is also the director of Omkara – an adaptation of Shakespeare’s
Othello. Vishal has worked with Francis Ford Coppola and is currently working on a
project with Mira Nair, director of this year’s well-received film The Namesake.
Alan Chan is a producer of Inner Circle Line, an award-winning Korean film that tells the
intertwining story of young residents of Seoul who meet, separate, wait and dream by
the Inner Circle Line of the Seoul subway system.

Rehana Mirza is a young Asian-American filmmaker of Filipino and Pakistani descent. She
is the writer and director of the film, Fillum Star: The Peter Patel Story and the new film
Hiding Divya, a multi-generational story of a young woman who learns to accept the
responsibilities of being a daughter and the consequences of being a mother.
Note from Theresa: Do we also want to profile a musician? – Chinese or Japanese will
provide more diversity. Do we know if the Chinese or Japanese Musicians are attending
the GALA?

Some featured filmmakers and musicians are planning to offer discussion forums at their
screenings or concerts. In addition they plan to attend the Opening Night Gala on May 12th
-- a celebration of the diversity of the Asian artistic spirit.
To view the complete festival schedule and to learn more about the films, concerts and
Gala, visit our website at: www.silkscreenfestival.org . The website also has convenient
links to let individuals purchase tickets online.

 

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