After Variety gave a thumbs up to Road, Movie following its Toronto premiere in September 2009 (”Dev Benegal’s aptly titled Road, Movie is a modestly amusing dramedy that is all the more pleasant for its fleeting detours into cheeky fantasy”), Screen International, one of the most revered international trade weeklies, has given it a glowing review in advance of its European premiere at the 60th Berlin Film Festival on February 12.

Writes critic Allan Hunter, “Set in the barren desert landscapes of an unfamiliar India, it offers a picaresque journey of self-discovery given added flavour by generous dashes of adventure, comedy and romance.” He adds, “Opening the Generation 14plus competition at Berlin, this film’s engaging spirit and gentle nature render it very approachable for international audiences looking beyond Bollywood for what Indian cinema has to offer.”

Road, Movie which has been described as ‘India’s Cinema Paradiso’, follows Vishnu (played by Abhay Deol) as a restless young man who rejects his father’s faltering hair-oil business and hits the road with a travelling cinema in search of freedom. Colourful and full of unforgettable characters, Road, Movie celebrates India’s panorama and the pure love of film. Deol is supported by Bollywood actor/director Satish Kaushik and festival favourite, Tannishta Chatterjee. The picture boasts stunning cinema-photography from the Rajasthan and Gujarat region by Michel Amathieu, with a memorable score by Michael Brook.

Presented by The Indian Film Company in association with Studio 18, Road, Movie got premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year followed by its Far East and Middle East premieres at the Tokyo and Doha International Film Festivals respectively.

Visit www.roadmoviethefilm.com

ROAD, MOVIE TO OPEN GENERATION 14PLUS AT 60TH BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

Berlin, January 14 2010 – The Opening Night Generation 14plus Gala of the 60th Berlin International Film Festival has been confirmed as ROAD, MOVIE from writer/director Dev Benegal (ENGLISH, AUGUST; SPLIT WIDE OPEN), presented by leading Indian motion picture studio The Indian Film Company (TIFC) in association with Studio 18.

The film has already received glowing public receptions in Toronto, Tokyo and Doha before heading to Berlin. ROAD, MOVIE will screen in the Generation 14plus competitive programme. The movie is represented by International Sales giant Fortissimo Films, its first Hindi language title. ROAD, MOVIE will be theatrically released in Germany later this year by Senator Film.

ROAD, MOVIE an original screenplay by Dev Benegal, is produced by eminent producers Susan B. Landau and Ross Katz. Katz who earned the Best Picture Academy Award® Nomination for Sofia Coppola’s LOST IN TRANSLATION as well as Todd Field’s IN THE BEDROOM. Susan B. Landau’s dozen strong repertoire includes AN IDEAL HUSBAND the Cannes closing night film in 1999, starring Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver, Julianne Moore and Rupert Everett. Her production and management company represents SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE’s Simon Beaufoy.

ROAD, MOVIE is written and directed by Dev Benegal whose first feature presentation ENGLISH, AUGUST was hailed as a landmark in contemporary Indian cinema and had ignited a wave of independent Indian filmmakers. His second feature presentation SPLIT WIDE OPEN premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. Between them the films have won seven international awards and have been a great success at the box office.

ROAD, MOVIE follows Vishnu played by screen sensation Abhay Deol (DEV D) as a restless young man who rejects his father’s faltering hair-oil business and hits the road with a Chevy traveling cinema in search of freedom. Along the journey Vishnu ponders his life’s priorities as he learns to appreciate his culture and the power of friendship and love. Colourful and full of unforgettable characters, ROAD, MOVIE celebrates India’s panorama and the pure love of film. Deol is supported by Bollywood actor/director Satish Kaushik and Tannishtha Chatterjee, who both gave notable performances in the 2007 British film BRICK LANE. ROAD, MOVIE, Benegal’s love letter to cinema boasts stunning cinema-photography from the Rajasthan and Gujarat region, with a memorable score by Michael Brook.

On having his film invited to open the Generation section, Dev Benegal comments: “I’m thrilled that Road, Movie is the opening film for Berlinale Generation 14plus. It’s a story close to my heart; about the young generation, our love for the open road, music and the desire to break free and celebrate independence. It’s an honour to be at the Berlinale in its 60th year and I look forward to meeting the young audiences coming to see my film.”

Fortissimo Films’ Chairman Michael J. Werner remarked, “We are thrilled that Road, Movie was selected for this honour. In his film, director Dev Benegal captures and delivers the essence of India in a compelling tale that strikes a universal cord. Together with Senator Film as our German Distributor, we are sure that the film will prove to be a crowd pleaser and a great success in Berlin.”

Remarked Sandeep Bhargava, CEO of the advisory company to Indian Films, “The incredible festival run of Road, Movie is testimony of our vision to back high quality content. Its selection as the opening film of Generation at Berlinale is another statuette on the mantelpiece.”

The 60th Berlin International Film Festival will run between 11 and 21 February, 2010.

www.berlinale.de
Berlin Film Festival Press Enquiries:
For: International Press / TIFC-Studio 18
Jonathan Peake (Festival Press Attaché)
email: jonathan@jonathanpeake.com
Mobile: +44 (0)7971 564495
For: Fortissimo Films
Martin McNamara (DDA)
email: martin.mcnamara@ddapr.com
DDA Tel: +44 (0)20 7932 9800

Notes to Editors:

The Indian Film Company (TIFC), promoted by Network 18, is specifically created to invest in a diverse portfolio of Indian films targeted at global Asian audiences across varying genre, language and budgets. TIFC has raised £55 million in film investment via the AIM market on the London Stock Exchange. The company aims to build a library across various formats and rights.

www.theindianfilmcompany.com

TIFC uses the services of Studio 18, India’s largest vertically integrated motion picture company, to distribute, exploit and market its bouquet of in-house productions, co-productions and acquisitions. Studio 18 is part of Viacom 18, a 50/50 joint venture setup between Viacom and Network 18.

www.studio18india.com
www.viacom18.com

Fortissimo Films is an international film, television and video sales organization specializing in the production, presentation, promotion and distribution of unique, award winning and innovative feature films from independent film makers from all over the world. For more information, please see: www.fortissimofilms.com

Bend It Like Beckham-helmer Gurinder Chadha’s keenly anticipated comedy, It’s A Wonderful Afterlife, has been selected for a world premiere at the coveted Sundance Film Festival, which runs January 21-31, 2010, in Park City, Utah.

Produced by Indian Films and Bend It Films in association with Studio 18, IAWA stars the legendary Shabana Azmi, with a posse of well-known international talent; Goldy Notay, Sally Hawkins, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Zoe Wanamaker and Jimi Mistri, among others.

Azmi plays the role of Mrs. Sethi, a hysterical North-Indian mother who is desperately searching for a son-in-law for her fat daughter.

Shot in London and billed as My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets Shaun Of The Dead, IAWA will be released in the UK by Icon on April 2, 2010 (Easter) and in India and Pakistan on April 16, 2010 by Studio 18.

The film has already attracted a host of top-of-the-line mainstream distributors like Icon (Australia), Prokino (Germany), Lusomundo (Portugal), Central Partnership (Russia & CIS), Sterkinekor (South Africa), TF1 (France), Front Row (Middle East) and Odeon (Greece & Cyprus), to name a few.

“ROAD, MOVIE” CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE AUDIENCE APPEAL WITH BERLIN SELECTION

FOLLOWING NORTH AMERICA, ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST PREMIERES, DEV BENEGAL’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FEATURE WILL HAVE ITS EUROPEAN PREMIERE AT THE 60TH BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

Mumbai: Monday, 21 December, 2009 – The Indian Film Company (TIFC) has announced ROAD, MOVIE, Dev Benegal’s endearing tale of a young man who takes a travelling cinema truck on a life-changing journey across the sublime Indian landscape continues its successful festival run with its European premiere at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in the Generation 14plus programme. ROAD, MOVIE’s presentation in Berlin demonstrates its audience appeal following its world premiere in Toronto during September and subsequence crowd pleasing receptions in Tokyo and Doha.

ROAD, MOVIE was co-produced by TIFC and Susan B. Landau (An Ideal Husband).and Academy Award® nominee Ross Katz (Lost in Translation, In the Bedroom)

Advisory to The Indian Film Company, CEO Sandeep Bhargava said, “We are delighted to bring this crowd pleasing film to Berlin. ROAD, MOVIE presents the hopes and desires of the younger generation in India as well as revealing universal truths that we must all accept and embrace.”

ROAD, MOVIE follows Vishnu (played by screen sensation Abhay Deol) as a restless young man who rejects his father’s faltering hair-oil business and hits the road with a travelling cinema in search of freedom. Along the journey Vishnu ponder his life’s priorities as he learns to appreciate his culture and the power of friendship and love. Colourful and full of unforgettable characters, ROAD, MOVIE celebrates India’s panorama and the pure love of film. Deol is supported by Bollywood actor/director Satish Kaushik and festival favourite Tannishta Chatterjee. The picture boosts stunning cinema-photography from the Rajasthan and Gujarat region, with a memorable score by Michael Brook.

Dev Benegal’s debut feature English, August (1994), was hailed as a landmark in contemporary Indian cinema and ignited a wave of independent Indian filmmaking. His second feature Split Wide Open premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 1999.

The 60th Berlin International Film Festival will run between 11-21 February, 2010.

“ROAD, MOVIE” SUCCESSFULLY JOURNEYS ON TO DOHA TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

Mumbai, 5 October 2009 – The story of ROAD, MOVIE continues its successful international launch with its Middle East premiere at the inaugural Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) in November. This third accolade in quick succession follows its crowd pleasing reception at its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and its eagerly awaited Asian premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival later this month.

Dev Benegal’s sharp script that was selected by Cinefondation, Cannes 2006 contains many universal themes such as love, family, adventure and freedom that makes it so appealing to international audiences, offering distributors a Hindi film will true crossover potential. International sales agent Fortissimo Films is handling territory rights, their first Hindi language picture. The movie was coproduced by Indian Films’ and acclaimed producers Susan B. Landau and Ross Katz. International marketing is being coordinated by Studio 18.

Advisory to The Indian Film Company, CEO Sandeep Bhargava said “The triple festival selection of Toronto, Tokyo and now Doha Tribeca confirms ROAD, MOVIE’s global appeal and crossover potential. DTFF is a perfect fit as it offers the best work from independent filmmakers to cinema lovers across the Middle East. We hope the public audiences in Doha enjoy the film as much as they did in Toronto.”

ROAD, MOVIE which has been described as ‘India’s Cinema Paradiso’, follows Vishnu (played by screen sensation Abhay Deol) as a restless young man who rejects his father’s faltering hair-oil business and hits the road with a travelling cinema in search of freedom. Colourful and full of unforgettable characters, ROAD, MOVIE celebrates India’s panorama and the pure love of film. Deol is supported by Bollywood actor/director Satish Kaushik and festival favourite Tannishta Chatterjee. The picture boosts stunning cinema-photography from the Rajasthan and Gujarat region, with a memorable score by Michael Brook.

Dev Benegal’s debut feature English, August (1994), was hailed as a landmark in contemporary Indian cinema and ignited a wave of independent Indian filmmaking. His second feature Split Wide Open premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 1999.

ROAD, MOVIE LINKS

Film website: www.roadmoviethefilm.com

AV promo link: www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi1365967385/

ABOUT THE INDIAN FILM COMPANY-STUDIO 18

Forthcoming international productions from TIFC-Studio 18 include: ROAD, MOVIE an adventure drama by Dev Benegal, produced by the Academy Award® nominee Ross Katz (Lost in Translation, In the Bedroom) and Susan B. Landau. The script of this feature was an official selection at Cinefondation, Cannes 2006. In post-production: IT’S A WONDERFUL AFTERLIFE directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), starring the legendary Shabana Azmi (Fire, Godmother, Arth, Madame Sousatzka), Golden Globe winner, Sally Hawkins (Happy Go Lucky), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes), BAFTA-nominated Zoë Wanamaker (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), Jimi Mistry (East Is East, The Guru, RocknRolla) and Mark Addy (The Full Monty).

www.theindianfilmcompany.com

www.studio18india.com

PRESS ENQUIRIES

Jonathan Peake – email: jonathan@jonathanpeake.com

Mobile: +44 (0)7971 564495

Mumbai, 29 September 2009 –

Following the successful world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival, Indian Films’ ROAD, MOVIE steers towards its Asian premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) in Roppongi Hills on 21 October. Dev Benegal’s ROAD, MOVIE will compete for the coveted ‘Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix’.
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(Pic courtesy: Studio 18)

(Pic courtesy: Studio 18)

The Indian Films – Studio 18 presented Road, Movie had a grand premiere at Toronto’s historic and cavernous Winter Garden Theatre on September 18. The Dev Benegal-directed drama, the only Indian feature to be invited as a special presentation at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival, was incredibly received by the media and audience alike, culminating in a standing ovation from a diverse audience.
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(Pic courtesy: Studio 18)

(Pic courtesy: Studio 18)