Onir, Juhi, Sanjay Suri: Frankfurt Aug 20-21: I AM, Brother Nikhil

[Darshana]

http://www.brightonverlag.com/shop/category_7/TnT---ONIR-FILMFESTIVAL---TnT.html?sessid=QURtUtViFIba73Tcn3xPd1cH4WpHYZF050gUkDMNoAjgOjVV1Y5GFIHtciWV2S6f&shop_param=cid%3D%26

Aug 20-21 - an Onir festival in Frankfurt: Onir will be there plus Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Suri.  Appear to be a variety of events, including some expensive VIP meet-them things -- but the celebs will be at the screenings, too, and if past experience (of mine)( is a guide, Onir will be friendly and accessible, Sanjay too -- can't say re: juhi just because have never met her, the other 2 come to things here in NY.

Anyhow - great chance to see either or both of these on big screen and hear or talk to Onir et al.

Please post elsewhere if you know a place where interested people might see it.

[Anamika]

Thank you for finding ths, but I can't say I'm happy about it. Frankfurt isn't far from where I am, but I already know the film My Brother Nikhil, own the DVD and I'm certainly not paying 250 Euro (that's more than $350) to meet three really nice people whom I already met for free at festivals and on film sets in Stuttgart, Berlin and Mumbai.

That kind of "VIP meet & greet" ticket price is the kind of rip-off of Hindi film fans I refuse to support. And 30 Euro ($43) for just the cinema ticket is a rip-off, too - that's five times the normal ticket price.

It's a pity that Juhi, Sanjay and Onir have become part of this kind of organisation.

[Darshana]

Does it look as if the money is just for the promoters?  rather than say being to fund Onir's filmmaking, or support a festival?  if so I definitely agree with you in being annoyed by it - I'd assumed it was like the film festivals here, where there is a big expensive thing for the people who fund the festival, which entertains them and raises money for the festival itself.

I can't read the German.   I would have assumed it was a  non-profit thing.  I would still be surprised if Onir got involved in one of those Hindi movie ripoff things, I went to one once!!! 

Is 30 Euro a lot for a film festival ticket there (with director and stars present)?  $30 isn't out of line with major film festival events here in NY. 

[Anamika]

30 Euro is almost $45, and very much out of line with film festival tickets here. At film festivals in Berlin or Stuttgart you won't pay more than 8 or 10 Euro for a ticket for a film or a panel discussion, possibly with directors and stars present.

And with only two films this isn't really a festival IMO. The "VIP meet and greet" looks exactly like the kind of thing we had before (but with much better known stars like SRK), which were badly organised and in some cases canceled at the last minute without people getting their money back.

Having said this, this event seems to be a bit different. Here the organiser is not a NRI company but a small publishing house, which I had never heard of before. On their website you see that they stock an odd mix of books - novels about India, about animals, children's books and gay books. I guess their contact to Onir came from the writer of the German subtitles of "I Am" who is one of their authors (and, incidentally, a member of this forum ).

Maybe she reads this. I would be glad to know why they think they have to charge these outrageous prices.

[Darshana]

I think you can email her through that link - might be good to know what's what.  Onir has posted about this event on FAcebook, along with a little video from Sanjay Suri, so as far as I can tell they are committed to being there. 

[Anamika]

I think you can email her through that link

It's no use now - according to a German Bollywood forum she moderates, she's on holiday.

Anyway, I wish I were closer to Amsterdam'a World Cinema Festival. I AM will be screened there this Friday and Saturday, and Onir will be there (other filmmakers present in Amsterdam include Nandita Das and Kiran Rao). Ticket price: 9 Euro for one film or 19,50 for three films. I envy the Dutch film fans!