The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has merged with the India Center Foundation (ICF) to pursue joint projects centered on the theme of visual storytelling in the South Asian community. Already long-time collaborators, IFFLA and ICF will ‘work closely to incubate and launch an industry development program to showcase the next generation of South Asian talent to studios, funders, and media executives,’ an IFFLA press release said.
Additionally, IFFLA announced the appointment of its new artistic director Anu Rangachar, Head of the International Program at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. She’s been associated with it for the past 15 years and one where she has facilitated many international collaborations. Before that, she attended a film school in New York City and has worked with Rituparno Ghosh and Ashim Ahluwalia. She currently co-produces arthouse Indian independent films and has also been distributing prestigious arthouse world cinema titles in the U.S.
According to ICF co-founder Priya Giri Desai, the merger will bring “ much-needed resources to support the stories that need to be told in the media. Our stories.” Desai has joined the IFFLA Board of Directors as part of this merger, “in part to steward the funding that ICF will provide to the combined venture over several years.” IFFLA said Giri Desai will bring “her formidable talents in creating documentary and scripted South Asian content as well as an exceptional network, to the IFFLA industry development program.”
“We are thrilled to officially team up with ICF,” said Christina Marouda, IFFLA Board Chair. “I have personally worked with the organization since its inception on multiple film festivals and media projects, and I have such respect for the way they have thoughtfully and strategically developed the organization and selflessly supported diverse creative output. They have been a financial and creative partner to IFFLA over numerous festivals already, which makes this a natural fit. I have no doubt that we can bring even greater impact together.”
ICF President and co-founder Raoul Bhavnani also commented on the merger. “We couldn’t be happier to see this match between our two organizations. We care deeply about supporting serious artistry and find real kinship with what Christina and the IFFLA team have built over more than 20 years. I can’t wait to see what comes next.”
The 22nd edition of IFFLA will be held from June 27 through 30.