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From the Arno to the Ganges: in December, Florence will be hosting the 9th River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival, coming up this year with a retrospective on the wistful genius of Guru Dutt.

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Despite substantial budget cuts, this year's Festival will come up with a wide range of films, new partnerships and interesting side events. 

From 4 to 10 December, 2009, Florence will be hosting the ninth River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival, established and directed by Selvaggia Velo. The Festival, under the Patronage of the Indian Embassy to Rome, will be held at Odeon, the beautiful 1920s theatre right in the centre of the city, under the aegis of Mediateca Regionale Toscana-Film Commission as part of the Cinquanta Giorni di Cinema Internazionale a Firenze.  

Entries to the River to River Digichannel Audience Award will include the latest feature films, short films and documentaries produced by India's movie industry, telling stories and real-life experiences which reflect a multifaceted, colourful and ever-changing society which is playing an increasingly important role in the Western world. Filmmakers, actors and producers will be there to illustrate their films.  

This year's retrospective will be devoted to the wistful genius of Guru Dutt (1925-1964), one of the great directors of the Golden Age of Indian cinema, who died prematurely at the age of 39, whose works are often imbued with a feeling of loneliness as well as great appeal. Three of his masterpieces have been selected for the Festival and will be screened in their original 35mm. format, with the support of the  Directorate of Film Festivals in New Delhi: the French-style detective movie Aar Paar - This or that (1954), the troubled love story of Mr. and Mrs. 55 (1955), and the autobiographical and poignant Kaagaz ke Phool - Paper Flowers (1959).    

The very latest animation films of the Animation Society of India and a section of student films from India's major cinema schools will be screened out of competition.              

Once again, the Festival has partnered with 1takemedia.com in the second Advantage India award 3-minute short film competition, with the winning works screened during the River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival.              

In addition, the audience may take part in interesting Q&A with the filmmakers after the screenings and in talks and round tables on India, it's culture and movie industry.              

Furthermore, new collaborations have been set up with some of Florence's major institutions, such as Museo Marino Marini and Palazzo Tornabuoni.    

The River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival is supported by the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali-Direzione Cinema, Regione Toscana e Mediateca Regionale Toscana-Film Commission, Consiglio Regionale della Toscana e Assessorato alla Cultura del Comune di Firenze, as well as Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze and Milan's India Tourism Office. Hotel Roma, Hotel River, and Instyle provided their precious sponsorship as well.    

All through the Festival, you can enjoy the Maharajas' food from the India Restaurant of Fiesole.

For information: River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival Piazza Santo Spirito, 1 50125 Florence - Italy ph. +39 055 286929       +39 335 5743364 fax +39 055 284983 pressoffice@rivertoriver.it

http://www.rivertoriver.it/

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