ABCC: Film festival offers ray of hope

Showing soon: A theatrical poster for The Beatles and India

Updates and useful information from the largest ethnic support organisation in the UK

Contact: Anjum Khan T: 0845 6036650

Film festival offers ray of hope

The hugely popular UK Asian Film Festival will be hosted by Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, in association with Phizzical.

The world’s longest running South Asian film festival outside India features screenings at the Belgrade from 27 to 29 May.

Now in its 23rd year, the festival is produced by Tongues on Fire and historically showcases South Asian feminist films and the work of pioneering female artists and auteurs.

At a time of global unrest and displacement, the curation of this year’s festival is inspired by the theme ‘Ray of Hope’.

Alongside films, the festival will be hosting series of online workshops for Coventry-based film enthusiasts.

Screenings will open at the Belgrade with the world premiere of ‘Toofan Mail’ on 27 May.

Based on a true story, a woman lands at the New Delhi railway station claiming that she’s the Queen of Awadh.

After asking to meet Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, she demands for her ancestral palace and wealth to be restored. With her head held high, she is the living answer to the question ‘How do you become a Queen?’

The award-winning film Zindagi Tamasha will be screened on 28 May. The film has been caught up in a blasphemy controversy, with its theatrical release in Pakistan suspended.

‘Cinema has been a ray of hope for all of us during this pandemic’

Despite the banned status in its country of origin, Zindagi Tamasha still went onto become Pakistan’s official entry for selection for the ‘Best International Feature’ category at this year's Academy Awards.

Other films to be screened at the Belgrade are ‘Khape’ and ‘Fire of Teak’, ‘Flame of Chinar’.

Screenings will close at the Belgrade with the world premiere of ‘The Beatles and India’ on 29 May.

The documentary chronicles the enduring love affair between The Beatles and India, featuring rare archival footage, photographs and eye-witness accounts.

UK Asian Film Festival creative director and senior producer at the Belgrade, Samir Bhamra, said: “Cinema has been a ray of hope for all of us during this pandemic. Its power to entertain, provide escapism and boost our wellbeing has held us all together during this pandemic.

“And just as characters in films go on a journey of growth, UKAFF has expanded to Coventry this year. Working in partnership with Belgrade Theatre, we are delighted to be one of the key headline events during the UK City of Culture to celebrate the best of South Asian culture, positivity and creativity.”

Competition to win sleeve sponsorship

Warwickshire County Cricket Club (CCC) is offering businesses the chance to win the rights to have their brand feature on the sleeve of Royal London Cup shirts for the 2022 season.

The Royal London Cup is a 50 overs competition which was introduced in 2014.

Following the launch of its Bears Club, a membership offering designed to bring together members of the business community across the West Midlands, Warwickshire is now offering the sponsorship opportunity, worth £8,000 in media value, to one of the first 20 businesses to sign up to its Bears Club gold package.

The Bears Club gold package is the highest level of membership and will give businesses access to events, the opportunity to hire three meeting rooms at Edgbaston for free across the year, 15 per cent discount on hospitality as well as extensive access to Warwickshire memberships and Bears T20 season passes.

To be in with a chance winning this prize, please contact Scott Elstone on scottelstone@edgbaston.com

Awan Marketing takes home ‘Wholesaler of the Year’ title

Awan Marketing, based in Hockley, has been crowned ‘Wholesaler of the Year’ by Republic Technologies UK, during the distributer’s annual awards.

Republic Technologies UK owns and operates smoking accessory brands such as Swan and Zig-Zag.

Awan Marketing is the first independent firm with a single company depot to win the coveted award, which is usually won by multinational wholesalers.

Nasir Awan, vice-president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, runs the business with his two sons Adam and Salman.

He said that he was “honoured and delighted” to have been awarded the accolade, and paid tribute to his sons’ diligence over the past year.

He said: “The last year has been unlike any time of our 40 year business, not just for us but for every business around the world, being an SME, we adapted very quickly,

“I have to pay tribute to my sons, who were very quickly realised that to keep the business running, drastic measures had to be implemented.

“We are one the very few companies that did not furlough any of our staff, and due to the size of our rateable value, we were not eligible for any grants from the authorities.

“As a financially secure company, Adam and Salman immediately invested in stock, so that we were able to supply to our customer base, comprising mainly independent trade, rationing and limits had to be out in place to ensure that all customers were able to be supplied regularly and without any inflated rates.

“This insured a good customer flow as well as loyalty by the customers.

“Our customer base also grew during this time as we were known to have availability of stock, we worked with manufacturers and suppliers, accommodated all their terms of delivery and payments, this ensured that we had a constant supply.

“Through our office in China, we managed to secure masks, gloves as well as sanitiser which was supplied to the multinationals. With the added sales of the PPE, our sales grew last year by 50 per cent. This helped secure that award.

“We have been very fortunate and all credit goes to Adam and Salman for their initiatives and taking risks at a very testing time.”

Success: Nasir (centre) with his sons Adam and Salman and the award