UK Asian Film Festival is back in Leicester to ‘Celebrate Our Stories’ with exclusive screenings of film premieres and in conversations with Indian & Pakistani film celebrities. Meet film directors, actors and watch exclusive film premieres between Thu 11 and Sat 13 May at Phoenix Cinema, Leicester. Tickets are selling fast!

SANAA

Thu 11 May, 7pm | Tickets £7 (+60p admin fee for non-members)

Award-winning director of LOEV (BFI Flare) presents an incredibly touching story about a career driven professional whose life gets complicated by pregnancy.

LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA

Fri 12 May, 8.30pm | Tickets £7 (+60p admin fee for non-members)

Ratna Pathak Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur are four women living in the same neighbourhood in Bhopal who have secret lives. This film by Alankrita Shrivatava was originally banned for its ‘female fantasies’.

DIRECTOR’S IN CONVERSATION – ALANKRITA SHRIVASTAVA

Fri 12 May, 6pm | Tickets £5 (+60p admin fee for non-members)

Award-winning filmmaker, writer, director and showrunner, Alankrita Shrivastava shares valuable insights into her craft and career highlights making Bombay Begums, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Made In Heaven and Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare.

I’M JIT & I’M AN ALCOHOLIC

Sat 13 May, 4pm | Tickets £5 (+60p admin fee for non-members)

Recovering alcoholic Jit Chauhan from Oadby in Leicestershire, documents his struggle with his addiction in this moving short documentary.

KAMLI + Q&A with Nimra Bucha

Sat 13 May, 6pm | Tickets £9 (+60p admin fee for non-members)

Saba Qamar and Nimra Bucha star in acclaimed Pakistani director Sarmad Khoosat’s visual tale of women caring for each other with a feeling of stifling claustrophobia.

Followed by Q&A with actor Nimra Bucha (Miss Marvel & Polite Society)

KUTCH EXPRESS

Sat 13 May, 8pm | Tickets £9 (+60p admin fee for non-members)

Life in a Gujarati extended family seems idyllic for Dharmesh and Monghi who have been married for over 22 years until she discovers he is seeing someone called “Mamta” in the office.

Starring Ratna Pathak Shah and Darsheel Safary (Taare Zameen Pe)