IFFLA 2022 announces masterclass with Anurag Kashyap

The 20th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has announced a masterclass with filmmaker and IFFLA alumnus Anurag Kashyap, along with details of its closing gala presentation and the festival’s annual One-on-One programme that connects filmmakers with industry executives.

Kashyap’s films Black Friday (2007) and the two-part crime drama Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012) were screened at IFFLA 2005 and 2013, respectively.

Recently, besides co-directing India's first Netflix original series, the crime thriller Sacred Games (2018), Kashyap has produced a series of features and shorts, including IFFLA selections Trapped (2017), Bebaak (2018), Moothon (The Elder One, 2020, Malayalam) and Paka (River Of Blood) (2021, Malayalam), which is part of the line-up at this year's festival.

At the masterclass, Kashyap will discuss lessons learned during his career, its peaks and valleys, his transition to the episodic medium and thoughts on the festival circuit. He will also offer advice to the next generation of storytellers.

The festival will be wrapped up with a first look at IFFLA alumnus Kahlil Maskati's feature screenplay, Alim Uncle, presented as a live table read featuring Los Angeles-based talent, and a preview of Nimisha Mukerji's New Country, a project supported by Warner Bros Discovery 150. The evening will include the awards ceremony. The awards will be presented in person by the jury members.

The Feature Films jury includes Lakshmi Iyengar (executive vice-president, Minor Realm); Smriti Mundhra (Academy Award nominee and director, St. Louis Superman); and Jonathan Wysocki (director, Dramarama).

Geetika Lizardi (writer, Bridgerton, Mira, Royal Detective); Sid Mehra (manager of development and production, Endeavor Content); and Carey Williams (director, Emergency, R#J) are on the Short Films jury.

IFFLA’s annual One-on-One Programme this year will include a slate of 20 film executives who will meet several of this year’s filmmakers to offer advice and help them take the next steps to develop new projects and hone their filmmaking careers.

IFFLA executive director Christina Marouda said, “This year’s closing celebration will be focused on the future of our filmmakers. Emphasizing a commitment to the next generation of filmmakers and the films and television projects they create is essential to what we do, and have always done at this film festival.

"Ending this edition with a flourish of readings, previews and performances is exciting and beyond appropriate for where our heart is this year. And to be able to add a masterclass from a beloved alum, Anurag Kashyap, whose filmmaking journey has been in many ways parallel to IFFLA’s growth, could not be more fitting for this landmark celebration.”

IFFLA is being held in person from 28 April to 1 May 2022.