Festival cheer! Abhay Deol joins the advisory board of the Bandra Film Festival

Abhay Deol

Abhay Deol joins the advisory board of the Bandra Film Festival, which will be held digitally from February 25. "It is a platform for independent filmmakers to showcase their work and reach out to a wide audience base," says Deol. The films will be showcased on the festival's YouTube channel. Audience can also donate to help indie filmmakers. The festival has tied up with Milaap to extend financial support to films and filmmakers in these challenging times. Discerning audiences can click ‘Milaap Donate Link' set up alongside every title on this channel as well as on the BFF website.

Abhay Deol who along with Filmkaravan has produced the film What are the Odds? on Netflix, is elated to be on the Advisory Board of the Bandra Film Festival. Talking about it, Abhay said, "It has always been difficult for independent films and documentaries to reach out to the masses, even though things have evolved now in the content space with so many Digital and OTT players entering the market. I think the Bandra Film Festival will be a fabulous platform for independent filmmakers to showcase their work and reach out to a wide audience base. I am happy to be on board with Filmkaravan, who I believe have been pushing the envelope with a wide range of narratives. Their approach towards backing a good story and striving for inclusiveness is commendable. As for me, I have in my own way too tried backing the underdogs and the unconventional."

He added, "BFF is striving towards an eco-system that enables growth not just in spirit but also in form. The platform is designed to bring together a wide array of subjects from around the world and give an opportunity to filmmakers to showcase their work but it will also work closely with Milaap to orchestrate a fundraiser, extending financial support to the makers. This to my mind is literally walking the talk and never explored before, at least in the sub-continent."

The three broad categories in which the films will be slotted at the Bandra Film Festival are "Undiscovered Gems"- a category that will showcase films which were made ahead of their time, went unnoticed and eventually got buried, "Off The Beaten Path"- will enlist titles that are essentially experimental, unapologetic and non conforming and the third category is "New Discoveries"- will attempt to find fresh films, concepts, makers and delve deep into unravelling these coming of age titles.

Film submissions to BFF 2021 are open currently to all formats of features, documentaries, shorts, animation etc. from all parts of India and the world.

On the work front, Abhay's 1962: The War In The Hills, a series inspired by true events, is set for launch on February 26. Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the series will take viewers back to November 1962, to narrate an untold story of valour. Abhay plays an army major who leads a battalion. 1962: The War In The Hills will be available on Disney+ Hotstar VIP.