Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

International Gujarati Film Festival comes to Atlanta

Several stars and filmmakers came from India to support the event

International Gujarati Film Festival comes to Atlanta

THE 3RD EDITION of the Vadilal International Gujarati Film Festival brought the red carpet to the Atlanta area on May 20 to 22. Hundreds of members of the local Gujarati community turned out for the event, which featured appearances from major stars and filmmakers straight from India.

IGFF, previously held in Los Angeles and New Jersey, set up this time at the Venture Cinema in Duluth. It’s mission, apart from entertainment, is to spread awareness one of India’s alternatives to Bollywood.


GG 05 23 22 Movie fest candles Sponsors and dignitaries attending the Vadilal International Gujarati Film Festival light a ceremonial candle on opening night.

This year’s festival includes 14 feature films, such as “21st Tiffin,” “Divaswapna,” “Dhummas,” “Gandhi & Co.,” “Dear Father” and “Gujarat nu Gaurav”; two documentary feature films, “Sur Shabdnu Sarnamu” and “Shrimad Rajchandra”; five documentary film, such as “Okhamandal – Ek Anokhu Andolan” and “Gandhi”; a short film, “Roha Fort – Ek Visaraati Viraasat”; and six web series, such as “Benaqaab,” “Ghaat” and “Yamraj Calling.”

The night’s sizable turnout of film buffs touched the event’s director, Umesh Shukla. Shukla directed the critically acclaimed film “Oh my god”

“After two years of pandemic, I think I think people want to come out and see the movie theater,” Shukla said.

Many outside India are familiar with India’s Bollywood movie industry, but the IGFF shows the diversity of film in India, said Swati Kulkarni, consul general stationed in Atlanta.

GG 05 23 22 Movie fest dance 2 Dancers performed a traditional routine at the opening ceremony of the Vadilal International Gujarati Film Festival as Yuva Vaishnav Acharya Goswami from Shree Sharnamkumar Mahodaya temple looked on.

“India is not only limited to Bollywood. It has a multilingual film industry,” Kulkarni said. “We have Gujarati cinema, we have Bengali cinema, we have South Indian cinema. So, it's very diverse. It represents the diverse mood of our country. These festivals, the international Gujarati festival, international Bengali film festival, they bring people together. They bring cultures together. And that's how the countries come together.”

The films were selected by a jury of filmmakers, including Gopi Desai. Now a director and producer in Mumbai, formerly called Bombay, Desai also starred in many movies, including “Jhoothi” in 1985 and “Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja” in 1993. The films were selected based on their excellence in cinema and universal appeal. Desai said the festival focuses on Gujarati filmmakers, but the audience for those films is worldwide.

“Gujaratis are spread across the globe, any country you go anywhere, you will come across the Gujaratis,” Desai said. “But America has major pockets and major population and they have settled. The first migration was in the 1960s and that time it was doctors and engineers and all that. But later on people kept on coming here because America has been a dream, a dollar dream, and Gujaratis are very money minded.”

GG 05 23 22 Movie fest group shot smaller Dignitaries attending the IGFF are, from left, Yuva Vaishnav Acharya Goswami from Shree Sharnamkumar Mahodaya temple, an unidentified woman, Swati Kulkarni, consul general stationed in Atlanta and Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason.

Gujaratis have certainly established a firm foundation in the U.S. where they live that dream, she said.

“They own the private jets now, and this game here started from scratch, started from zero,” Desai said. “I would say for 99 percent of them, there are no godfathers for them. But they found their way, they found their path, and they're successful today.”

Atlanta has become a popular location for the U.S. film industry, and Shukla said he planned to scout locations in the city for some future projects. He was a little troubled to see the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had had on movie theaters in this country, such as the now closed theater where IGFF was held.

In India, he said, film is also religion for many.

GG 05 23 22 Movie fest Umesh Shukla Umesh Shukla, IGFF’s director, directed the critically acclaimed film “Oh my god.” He was pleased by the turnout for the festival. “After two years of pandemic, I think I think people want to come out and see the movie theater.”

People came out really fast. Here it took time. I mean, when I see any theater which is shut, my heart goes out for that,” Shukla said. “I feel that government also should support them and give some money to them and you will revive all the theater.”

Dignitaries at the event included Yuva Vaishnav Acharya Goswami from Shree Sharnamkumar Mahodaya temple, Senator Joe Wilson and Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason.

More for you

Trump reviewing 55 million us visas
Getty Images

Trump reviewing 55 million visas

Summary:

  • The Trump administration says it is reviewing more than 55 million visa holders.
  • Reviews cover a wide range of visas for law enforcement and overstay violations.
  • The administration also suspended worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION is reviewing more than 55 million people who hold valid U.S. visas for potential violations. It is expanding a policy of “continuous vetting” that could result in revocation and deportation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree Funds Rio Las Vegas Renovations | $176M CPACE Loan
Photo credit: Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Peachtree originates retroactive CPACE loan for Rio Vegas

Summary:

  • Peachtree Group originated a $176.5 million retroactive CPACE loan for a Las Vegas property.
  • The deal closed in under 60 days and ranks among the largest CPACE financings in the U.S.
  • The company promotes retroactive CPACE funding for commercial real estate development.

PEACHTREE GROUP ORIGINATED a $176.5 million retroactive Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy loan for Dreamscape Cos.’s Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The deal, completed in under 60 days, is its largest credit transaction and one of the largest CPACE financings in the U.S.

Keep ReadingShow less
Global hotel construction pipeline reaches record 15,871 projects in Q2 2025, with U.S. and Dallas leading growth
Photo Credit: iStock

Report: Global pipeline hits 15,871 projects

Summary:

  • Global pipeline hit a record 15,871 projects with 2.4 million rooms in Q2.
  • The U.S. leads with 6,280 projects; Dallas tops cities with 199.
  • Nearly 2,900 hotels are expected to open worldwide by the end of 2025.

THE GLOBAL HOTEL pipeline reached 15,871 projects, up 3 percent year-over-year, and 2,436,225 rooms, up 2 percent, according to Lodging Econometrics. Most were upper midscale and upscale, LE reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
HAMA Launches 20th Student Case Competition in USA
Photo Credit: iStock

HAMA launches 20th student case competition

Summary:

  • HAMA is accepting submissions for its 20th annual student case competition.
  • The cases reflect a scenario HAMA members faced as owner representatives.
  • Teams must submit a financial analysis, solution and executive summary.

THE HOSPITALITY ASSET Managers Association is accepting submissions for the 20th Annual HAMA Student Case Competition, in which more than 60 students analyze a management company change scenario and provide recommendations. HAMA, HotStats and Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting are providing the case, based on a scenario HAMA members faced as owner representatives.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stonebridge hotel management expansion
Photo credit: Stonebridge Cos.

Stonebridge adds Statler Dallas to managed portfolio

Summary:

  • Stonebridge Cos. added the Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton, to its managed portfolio.
  • The hotel, opened in 1956 and relaunched in 2017, is owned by Centurion American Development Group.
  • The property is near Main Street Garden Park, the Arts District and the Dallas World Aquarium.

STONEBRIDGE COS. HAS contracted to manage the Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton in Dallas to its managed portfolio. The hotel, opened in 1956 and relaunched in 2017, is owned by Centurion American Development Group, led by Mehrdad Moayedi.

Keep ReadingShow less