The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) announced today its galas and 2018 lineup of narrative and documentary features as well as short films for its 16th annual festival.

“This year’s lineup is a testament to the rich variety of genre, style and skill that exists within the Indian filmmaking community. We’re enormously proud to present this collection of exciting, inspiring, and challenging stories that are sure to make for a thrilling festival experience,” said Mike Dougherty, IFFLA’s Director of Programming.

The festival will open with IN THE SHADOWS, starring Manoj Bajpayee in a tour de force performance as a reclusive shopkeeper who vows to rescue his young neighbour from abuse at the hands of his father. The film premiered at the Mumbai Film Festival and features an impressive Bollywood cast that also includes Ranvir Shorey, Neeraj Kabi, Shahana Goswami and introduces Om Singh as the young boy. The film’s award-winning Los Angeles-based director Dipesh Jain – making his feature debut – will be in attendance along with star Manoj Bajpayee.

Festival will close with the Los Angeles premiere of VILLAGE ROCKSTARS, one of the most lauded Indian films on the festival circuit in the past year. The film premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and is directed by emerging Indian filmmaker Rima Das. The film, written, shot, edited and directed by Das, is a touching coming of age story of a ten-year-old girl in a remote Assamese village who dreams of buying a guitar and starting her own rock band.

This year the festival will feature four world premieres, three North American premieres, two U.S. premieres, and 14 Los Angeles premieres. The lineup represents an impressive 12 languages and a strong list of first and second time filmmakers, including 11 female filmmakers.

The festival will also hold a memorial tribute to the late, beloved Bollywood actress Sridevi. IFFLA will screen a 2K print of Sridevi’s 1989 hit CHANDNI, courtesy of Yash Raj Films.

Highlights from the lineup include the U.S. Premiere of IFFLA alum Hansal Mehta’s 2017 Toronto Film Festival selection OMERTA, featuring rising Indian star Rajkummar Rao as notorious real-life terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh as well as THE ASHRAM, directed by Ben Rekhi and starring Sam Keeley, Melissa Leo, and Kal Penn. Rekhi brings together this star-studded cast for a story of mystical intrigue in the Himalayas. The film’s screening will be preceded by the world premiere of short film FIFTEEN YEARS LATER, directed by and starring Manish Dayal (THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY, VICEROY’S HOUSE, TV’s The Resident), and co-starring recent Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan of THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, Matt McGorry (HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK), and Tracy Mulholland (CRAZY STUPID LOVE).

Other films in the lineup include the 2017 Toronto Film Festival selection THE HUNGRY, starring Bollywood royalty Naseeruddin Shah and Tisca Chopra in a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus”; Devashish Makhija’s festival favorite AJJI, a revenge story centered on a woman seeking justice for her 10-year-old granddaughter after a brutal assault; Nila Madhab Panda’s eco-thriller DARK WIND; and a pair of Malayalam language features: Bash Mohammed’s delightful fish-out-of-water comedy PRAKASAN and TAKE OFF, featuring South Indian superstar Parvathy in the true story of courageous Indian nurses who travel to Iraq for work and find themselves thrust into a hostage negotiation with ISIS. Parvathy has received multiple accolades for the role, including Best Female Actor at the International Film Festival of India, the first time an Indian actor has been given this honor.

On the non-fiction side, Vaishali Sinha’s ASK THE SEXPERT, about 93-year-old sex advice columnist Dr. Mahinder Watsa, headlines a progressive group of documentaries that also includes Ann S. Kim and Priya Giri Desai’s LOVESICK, about Dr. Suniti Solomon’s matchmaking service for her HIV-positive patients, and UP DOWN AND SIDEWAYS, a stunning ethnographic portrait of an indigenous community and their remarkable musical traditions.

Several of the lineup’s talented filmmakers and actors will attend the festival, including Hansal Mehta (OMERTA), Bornila Chatterjee (THE HUNGRY), Vaishali Sinha (ASK THE SEXPERT), Nila Madhab Panda (DARK WIND), AJJI lead actress Sushama Deshpande, and many more.

Competing in the shorts program are 13 films including Sundance highlight COUNTERFEIT KUNKOO, directed by Reema Sengupta, the first Indian short to be featured in Park City in 15 years, and the world premiere of AN ESSAY OF THE RAIN, directed by IFFLA Grand Jury Prize winner Nagraj Manjule (FANDRY).

Singer Demi Lovato and DJ khaled have joined hands for the video of a song titled 'I Believe'.

The two musicians unveiled the visuals on March 7, hours after teasing it on 'Good Morning America'. The track serves as the soundtrack to 'A Wrinkle in Time', reports aceshowbiz.com.

The music video opens with Lovato donning a red gown while belting out the song against a backdrop of lush grass and blue skies.

Khaled appears towards the end of the clip, singing in a field. Lovato is seen beside the record producer, adding harmonization.

Besides Lovato and Khaled, the soundtrack album to the Disney film features songs by Sia Furler, Kehlani and Chloe x Halle.

Directed by Ava DuVernay, 'A Wrinkle in Time' is an epic adventure which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love.

Singer Demi Lovato and DJ khaled have joined hands for the video of a song titled 'I Believe'.

The two musicians unveiled the visuals on March 7, hours after teasing it on 'Good Morning America'. The track serves as the soundtrack to 'A Wrinkle in Time', reports aceshowbiz.com.

The music video opens with Lovato donning a red gown while belting out the song against a backdrop of lush grass and blue skies.

Khaled appears towards the end of the clip, singing in a field. Lovato is seen beside the record producer, adding harmonization.

Besides Lovato and Khaled, the soundtrack album to the Disney film features songs by Sia Furler, Kehlani and Chloe x Halle.

Directed by Ava DuVernay, 'A Wrinkle in Time' is an epic adventure which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love.

Actress-host Shibani Dandekar is concerned about the hate being spread across the world through social media and public platforms, which she says people can use to make the world a better place to live.

She says as human beings, we all have a responsibility to make this world a better place and that starts with acceptance and kindness.

"As a woman, it's frustrating to understand and accept the fact that there are so many messed up young boys who threaten girls under the pretext of freedom of speech," Shibani said in a statement.

"If these boys do not understand what they are doing is hateful and probably criminal then that's a huge concern because these are the kind of boys that end up stalking women and harassing them."

Questioning the mentality of trolls, she said: "When you call me a wh*re or a sl*t, what is your understanding about that word? What makes you think that, I should be addressed by those names Why have we become so hateful? Why do we feel the need to slander someone or something if we don't like it?

"It concerns me that we use social media and public platforms to spread hate and say things that are just unkind and unwarranted … As human being,, we all have a responsibility to make this world a better place and that starts with acceptance and kindness."

Shibani will address the issue through TV show 'Troll Police', which brings celebrities and their trolls face-to-face. The show is aired on MTV and the episode will air on Saturday.

"More than finding out who trolls me, I am interested to know why people troll. For me it is very difficult to understand the mind frame of somebody who would take time to write something hateful or negative on anybody's page for any reason," she said.

Actress-host Shibani Dandekar is concerned about the hate being spread across the world through social media and public platforms, which she says people can use to make the world a better place to live.

She says as human beings, we all have a responsibility to make this world a better place and that starts with acceptance and kindness.

"As a woman, it's frustrating to understand and accept the fact that there are so many messed up young boys who threaten girls under the pretext of freedom of speech," Shibani said in a statement.

"If these boys do not understand what they are doing is hateful and probably criminal then that's a huge concern because these are the kind of boys that end up stalking women and harassing them."

Questioning the mentality of trolls, she said: "When you call me a wh*re or a sl*t, what is your understanding about that word? What makes you think that, I should be addressed by those names Why have we become so hateful? Why do we feel the need to slander someone or something if we don't like it?

"It concerns me that we use social media and public platforms to spread hate and say things that are just unkind and unwarranted … As human being,, we all have a responsibility to make this world a better place and that starts with acceptance and kindness."

Shibani will address the issue through TV show 'Troll Police', which brings celebrities and their trolls face-to-face. The show is aired on MTV and the episode will air on Saturday.

"More than finding out who trolls me, I am interested to know why people troll. For me it is very difficult to understand the mind frame of somebody who would take time to write something hateful or negative on anybody's page for any reason," she said.

Actor Gary Oldman's 98-year-old mother Kathleen 'Kay' Oldman is very proud of his Oscar win.

The 59-year-old star scooped the Best Actor award at the Oscars for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in THE DARKEST HOUR. His mother has responded after he thanked her for her "love and support" in his acceptance speech, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Kathleen, known as Kay to her friends, told the Daily Mail newspaper: "I used to tell Gary stories about living in London during World War II and listening to Churchill on the wireless. So to have him win for portraying this great man made me very proud."

Gary ended his speech by mentioning his mother.

"Put the kettle on, I'm bringing (the) Oscar home," he had said on stage.

Kay lives with Gary and his wife, art curator and photographer Gisele Schmidt, who shared a photograph of them celebrating his Oscar win in their kitchen in Los Angeles on Instagram.

Actor Gary Oldman's 98-year-old mother Kathleen 'Kay' Oldman is very proud of his Oscar win.

The 59-year-old star scooped the Best Actor award at the Oscars for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in THE DARKEST HOUR. His mother has responded after he thanked her for her "love and support" in his acceptance speech, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Kathleen, known as Kay to her friends, told the Daily Mail newspaper: "I used to tell Gary stories about living in London during World War II and listening to Churchill on the wireless. So to have him win for portraying this great man made me very proud."

Gary ended his speech by mentioning his mother.

"Put the kettle on, I'm bringing (the) Oscar home," he had said on stage.

Kay lives with Gary and his wife, art curator and photographer Gisele Schmidt, who shared a photograph of them celebrating his Oscar win in their kitchen in Los Angeles on Instagram.

Kangana & Rajkummar make us believe that ‘Sanity is Overrated’ in the ultimate poster of Mental Hai Kya!

On the ultimate day of the mental week, the makers release the fifth poster of the upcoming Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao starrer MENTAL HAI KYA

The powerhouse of talent Kangana and Rajkummar are at their insane best by providing all the oddity possible in the latest look. The posters make a very spunky and bold statement reasserting the fact that ‘Sanity is overrated’.

In the latest poster both Raj and Kangana are enjoying in spite of torturing themselves with a lit cigarette and a lighter. One can say that torture for others is fun for these two insane characters.

The makers have successfully hiked up the crazy quotient and have left the audiences excited for the film which is an entertaining thriller filled with dollops of dark humour.

MENTAL HAI KYA is directed by Prakash Kovelamudi and is being produced by Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures and Shaailesh R Singh's Karma Media and Entertainment. The shooting of the film begins this month with their first schedule in Mumbai before the cast and crew gear up for its London schedule.

Kangana & Rajkummar make us believe that ‘Sanity is Overrated’ in the ultimate poster of Mental Hai Kya!

On the ultimate day of the mental week, the makers release the fifth poster of the upcoming Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao starrer MENTAL HAI KYA

The powerhouse of talent Kangana and Rajkummar are at their insane best by providing all the oddity possible in the latest look. The posters make a very spunky and bold statement reasserting the fact that ‘Sanity is overrated’.

In the latest poster both Raj and Kangana are enjoying in spite of torturing themselves with a lit cigarette and a lighter. One can say that torture for others is fun for these two insane characters.

The makers have successfully hiked up the crazy quotient and have left the audiences excited for the film which is an entertaining thriller filled with dollops of dark humour.

MENTAL HAI KYA is directed by Prakash Kovelamudi and is being produced by Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures and Shaailesh R Singh's Karma Media and Entertainment. The shooting of the film begins this month with their first schedule in Mumbai before the cast and crew gear up for its London schedule.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone and film producer Guneet Monga have featured in the Variety's International Women's Impact Report 2018.

Excited about it, Deepika tweeted on International Women's Day on Thursday: "Honoured and humbled joining these amazing achievers! Thank you Variety."

The list honours Deepika for her contribution to cinema and partaking in philanthropic efforts along with emerging through controversies gracefully.

Introducing the actress, variety.com has written: "The star of the recent Bollywood blockbuster PADMAAVAT faced death threats and verbal abuse from various fringe groups with poise and elan. Padukone, whose father, Prakash, was a star badminton player, used to participate in the sport before becoming a model.

"She is now one of the highest-paid Indian actresses and has made the leap from Bollywood movies such as OM SHANTI OM and CHENNAI EXPRESS to Hollywood titles including XXX: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE last year. She is also philanthropically active, starting her own Live Laugh Love Foundation, which focuses on mental illness."

As for Monga, who heads Sikhya Entertainment and has produced THE LUNCHBOX and THE ASHRAM, variety.com has shared how while female Indian producers are rare, she actually enjoys people saying 'no'.

"There have been several times where I have not been taken seriously and have had to work twice as hard just because I am a young woman, but I have never let that affect my state of mind towards the end goal of putting together the stories we need to tell," Monga said.

The list acknowledges the works of 50 women including names like Miuccia Prada, Daisy Ridley, J.K. Rowling, Sofia Vergara, Emma Watson, Lupita Nyong'o, Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman, Salma Hayek, Gal Gadot, Judi Dench and Adele, who are leading the way at a time when the entertainment business has become increasingly global and women's rights are in the spotlight.