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Festival wraps up after four fantastic days of movie screenings, concerts and Punjabi culture
Thousands across the GTA enjoyed four days of movie screenings, star gazing, concerts and more during the first ever Rogers Punjabi International Film Festival held May 18 – 21, 2012.
With multiple events happening in Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto, the festival kicked off with a gala featuring popular Punjabi film stars and singers such as: Neeru Bajwa, Mandy Takhar, Kimmi Verma, Jasbir Jassi, Gippy Grewal, Labh Janjua, Mannu Sandhu and more. Local dignitaries Ontario Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Charles Sousa, MPP Amrit Mangat, Ontario Minister of Government Services Harinder Takhar, MPP Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the Ontario NDP Party Andrea Horwath, MPP Jane McKenna, Deputy Leader of the Ontario PC party Christine Elliott, City Councillor Vicky Dhillon and MPP Dipika Damerla also participated in festival events.
The festival screened more than 30 short films, documentaries and feature films including: the world Premier of Khudesan, Women from the East with Director Jeet Matharru on hand; the Canadian Premier of Anhe Gore Ka Dhaan, with Director Gurviinder Sandhu in attendance; and a special screening of the Punjabi Classic Chand Pardesi with Director Jaswinder Cheema in attendance .
Humber College was the site of two days of documentaries, short films and panel discussions which attracted a large youth audience and screened many unique works by non-traditional and second generation artists. Misssissauga’s Celebration Square was alive with the sounds of Lubh Janjua and local bhangra performers and singers for a fun filled day of free outdoor entertainment at the spectacular state-of-the-art venue. The festival closed with a bang with a concert by the hottest Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal at Brampton’s beautiful Rose Theatre.
“We are thrilled and honoured to have successfully organized the first ever event of this kind for our community,” says festival President Sunny Gill. “We are deeply thankful to all the stars, sponsors, media, industry members, volunteers and staff who gave us their wholehearted support and made this historic event happen,” says festival Vice President Inder Singh.
Organizers have announced that the festival will be an annual event with the 2013 festival being even bigger and better.
Click HERE to view photos from this event.
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