The Immigrant Magazine. Resources for Immigrans in America.

The Immigrant Connection :
The Indian Film Festival 2008

One-on-one with Christina Marouda, Director IFFLA

By Smita Salgaonkar

How do you feel after your 6th successful Indian Film Festival?  And also on getting so much positive feedback from the filmmakers? 

It felt great to see that everyone was being so appreciative and vocal!  We put so much passion into planning this film festival and it is a painful process, and I get emotional when people appreciate all the hard work that goes into it.  We do get good feedback every year, but this year it was truly overwhelming!  We as a company are open and work with no hidden agenda.  We want to be bigger and better next year.  This year set the stage for higher expectations next year.

What was the starting point for the first festival, especially since it was the first Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles.  How did you get filmmakers interested in it, being the first one?  And besides, you being from Greece and not from India?

When I started the film festival, I had been in the United States for only two years, and it was a difficult process.  I realized then that there was no platform to showcase Indian cinema on the right scale, the Indian film industry being as large as it was.  I also feel now that the timing was right for Los Angeles to host an Indian Film Festival, where the mainstream community was just getting interested in India.  This was the time of ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Monsoon Wedding’. 

From the beginning my approach was to create a film festival of international standards.  Having the background that I did, in planning international film festivals, I went out looking for people who knew about Indian cinema and would be able to assist for the right reasons.  From the beginning, we had a solid marketing and strategic business plan.  We had some and had to build more local industry relationships, which is priceless to filmmakers that showcase their films.  One of the first people to come on board was Uma D’Cunha who is a programmer in India.  She is on our Advisory Board. 

Once we were established, the filmmakers become our Ambassadors.  Another thing that has helped us establish relationships is that we guide the filmmakers all year long with any support they need.  We realize that if our filmmakers are successful, we are successful and we can show better films every year. 

What would you like to see happen in the future with the Festival?  What direction would you like it to take?

There is a fine line between growth and yet not losing the intimate atmosphere.  We certainly would like to get bigger and better, however would like to keep the atmosphere welcoming for filmmakers.  In an ideal situation, the films we showcase should be picked up by distributors. 

Which Indian film is your all-time favorite?

‘Kandukondain’, a South Indian film based on Jane Austen’s novel ‘Sense and Sensibility’.

What was the most challenging for you in planning such a large film festival?

Funding is always a challenge.  Our festival gets bigger every year and we need more funding to keep up. 

What is your recipe for success? 

Integrity, sincerity, work with passion and work really hard!  I listen to my heart.  When you are open and sincere, and people see that, it seems to bring out the best in other people. 

Your most memorable moment this year was….

The award ceremony this year and the positive vibes from the filmmakers and jury was the most gratifying!

And the moment you’d like to forget …….

Our tribute film this year had to be cancelled due to an emergency.  At the last minute I had to figure out an alternate plan. 

Is there a Greek film festival? 

The Greek film festival was just started last June.  I was asked last year and from this year, I will be producing the festival.

What do you do in your spare time?  Most of us from India watch Hindi movies!

I too watch movies of my choice (not ones that I have to!)  I play tennis, do yoga, dance and swim.

Do you have a mentor?

I have a handful of people who inspire me and I can go to for advice.

What does your family think of your success?

My family is very proud of what I do, but my sister is the only one who has attended this festival and only she knows how big it really is.

Who is the person who you admire the most?

My sister, for being who she is as a person.  And also my parents.  My family keeps me grounded. 

Learn more about The Indian Film Festival

See Pictures Of The Indian Film Festival 2008

 

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