UK Asian Film Festival 2026 – UK-India industry meet; ‘Never Had a Chance’; ‘Umrao Jaan’; Closing ‘Shadowbox’
The latest from us on the festival now about to drawing the final curtain on Sunday (May 10)…
🎥 Festival closes with UK premiere of Tillotama Shome’s ‘Shadowbox’ – indie star from India to be in attendance at the BFI Southbank (see review link below)
🎥 Closing Night (7pm) will also include Festival Flame Awards
🎥 Muzaffar Ali, painter and the filmmaker behind ‘Umrao Jaan’ expected to address Closing – see him speak to us and watch the clip from his introduction to the new 4K screening on Bank Holiday Monday (May 4) at the BFI Imax Southbank (See below) where he pays tribute to legendary singer Asha Bhosle who passed recently.
🎥 Future Forward: Evolving Landscape of UK-India co-production – panel involving industry experts – Monica Chadha, Agnieszka Moody, Jordan McGarry and Siddharth Jain; Successful case studies; and public feature pitching of four film projects looking for funds – at 11am BFI Southbank Saturday, May 9
🎥 Screening of new British Southall-Hounslow first feature by Jazz Bhalla – ‘Never Had a Chance’ (see more below)
Gritty first feature showcases local talent
WRITER-DIRECTOR Jazz Bhalla, who is behind the feature ‘Never Had a Chance’ was thrilled when an audience member said his tale reminded him of the work of Ken Loach – an iconic British filmmaker, whose success and identity is built on real stories about real people, often trying to survive in a difficult and challenging circumstances.
Bhalla’s first feature centres around the character of Ravi (Amar Chaggar) – who left school without any qualifications, has a fractured family and ekes out a living – working in a warehouse and sells drugs on the side to make ends meet. His home is a bedsit in Hounslow and he dreams of a better life and in the film it comes in the form of best mate Jay (Jayant Singh) – whose aspirations become grander and quicker when he sees an opening…
The film had its first UK Asian Film Festival screening on Tuesday (May 5) at The Kiln Cinema in North London. The audience really appeared to enjoy the film – the score and the music raises this film a notch and two – check out Niraj Chag’s work in ‘Never Had a Chance‘ – when it comes to a screen near you!
We will have more on the film soon – especially when it gets a UK release. Our short interview with Bhalla will be posted to his page soon (follow on socials for update)…
Director Muzaffar Ali dedicates new 4K restoration to Bhosle
ONE OF the most popular films ever made in Bollywood delighted audiences, both new and familiar, at the British Film Institute Imax cinema on the Southbank in London this week.
Restored in 4K, the late Asha Bhosle’s haunting ghazals, Rekha’s pitch perfect performance as Umrao Jaan – a girl who is abducted and then becomes an illustrious courtesan who writes poetry, sings and dances like no other – still manages to make an impression, whether you saw it for the first time on Bank Holiday Monday (May 4) or dozens of times previously. Many were still moved. The audience reaction proved it still has the force to provoke.
Muffazar Ali spoke to www.asianculturevulture.com about its eternal appeal and why it still matters to many who now live outside India but still feel great attachment to its culture and history.
Shadowbox review: ‘Bakhso Bondi’ (‘Shadowbox’) – Berlinale 75: Everyday struggles spiral out of control despite love – asianculturevulture.com
See ticket availabilty below
UK Asian Film Festival 2026 – https://www.tonguesonfire.com/
