Desi returns to San Diego

San Diego Asian Film Festival loves Desi. After showing I Want To Be A Desi 2 almost exactly two years ago, the venerable SDAFF is unspooling I Want To Be A Desi on October 22 & 26 before the feature, Big In Bollywood. These screenings cap a busy month with Desi playing in screens in Toronto (FILMI) and Barrie.

Mr. Dasgupta (Jazz Mann) elated

Raj (David Yee) not so elated

Bride #2 (Tara Joshi) and Raj (David Yee) celebrate an addition to their young family

Desi invades southern Ontario in October

In October, I Want To Be A Desi hits southern Ontario in back-to-back screenings, first at the FILMI Toronto South Asian Film Festival then the Barrie Film Festival.

FILMI hosts the film on Saturday, October 1 at 4:00 pm at the Revue Cinema in west-end Toronto. Two weeks later north of Toronto, Desi hits the Barrie Film Festival Short Film Showcase & Awards Night on Saturday, October 15th at 6:30 pm.
The FILMI screening marks the second time Desi hits hometown screens. In July, The Mississauga Independent Film Festival played the comedy and awarded it Honourable Mention as best short.

Update: Second Desi screening added to New York's AAIFF

The Asian American International Film Festival in New York has added a second screening of the shorts program, A Day Less Ordinary, which includes I Want To Be A Desi. The encore screening takes place at the Clearview Chelsea Cinemas on Saturday, August 13, 2:00 pm.

The original screening for Friday, August 12, at 6:30 at the Clearview Chelsea Cinemas sold out. Director Allan Tong is offering a free pair of tickets to the Saturday screening on a first-come, first-served basis. To claim the tickets, click here.

Second Desi screening added to New York's AAIFF schedule

The Asian American International Film Festival in New York has added a second screening of the shorts program, A Day Less Ordinary, which includes I Want To Be A Desi. The original screening for Friday, August 12, at 6:30 at the Clearview Chelsea Cinemas is nearly sold out.

Mr. Dasgupta (Jazz Mann) breaks into a rendition of "New York, New York" in Punjabi
upon hearing the good news

AAIFF program director, Martha Tien, has just announced an encore screening at the Clearview for Saturday, August 13, 2:00 pm. Full ticket deals will be announced soon.

The Desi crew are overjoyed with the news. "We're overjoyed with the news!" exclaims director Allan Tong from Toronto as he prepares to shoot his next film, Little Mao.

The AAIFF also screened I Want To Be A Desi 2 at its 2009 festival.

"Newwww Yawk! Newwww Yawk!" croons Jazz Mann (Mr. Dasgupta) between takes

DESI returns to the Big Apple, August 12

Two years after its pre-sequel played there, I Want To Be A Desi returns to Chelsea in Manhattan as part of the Asian American International Film Festival. Desi screens as part of "A Day Less Ordinary" shorts program on Friday, August 12, 6:45 at the Clearview Chelsea Cinemas, right next to the revered Chelsea Hotel.

David Yee (Roger/Raj) takes a smoke break as he dreams of New York

"Great!" says co-writer Dinesh Sachdev who co-produced the documentary I Want To Be A Desi 2, which graced AAIFF screens in summer 2009. "Super!" adds laconic director and co-writer, Allan Tong. The duo just returned from the Mississauga Independent Film Festival with an Honourable Mention for Desi. They are excited about Desi's return to Manhattan, where the AAIFF has welcomed both hims.

Vadanya!

The three lovely brides who woo Raj/Roger so they can honeymoon in Manhattan.
From top: Rashmi Mistry, Tara Joshi & Lida Mankovski

At the MIFF red carpet

I Want To Be A Desi director and co-writer, Allan Tong, and co-writer Dinesh Sachdev chat with TTN-HD Reporter Katie Uhlmann on the red carpet at the gala reception for the Mississauga Independent Film Festival on July 20. The reception took place at the Art Gallery of Mississauga to kick off MIFF where Desi earned an Honourable Mention from the judges. Thanks to Joanne Uhlmann who shot and edited this clip.

Desi earns Honourable Mention at Mississauga Indie Fest

I Want To Be A Desi scored second place in the Short Film Competition at the Mississauga Independent Film Festival. Festival Director Matt Campagna personally congratulated director/writer Allan Tong and co-writer Dinesh Sachdev after last night's Awards Ceremony at the AMC Winston Churchill in Oakville.

So that's the second second-place finish for Desi, including The Grand River Film Festival (Kitchener-Waterloo, ON) last year.

Desi's next festival stop is the Asian-American International Film Festival in New York, NY, on Friday, August 12.

DESI director and writer attend MIFF opening gala

(L to R): "DESI" co-writer Dinesh Sachdev, director Allan Tong & TTN-HD's Katie Uhlmann
@ Mississauga Indie Film Fest opening gala (July 20). (Photo by Joanne Uhlmann)

(L to R): "DESI" co-writer Dinesh Sachdev, director Allan Tong & TTN-HD's Katie Uhlmann @ Mississauga Indie Film Fest opening gala (July 20): Photo by Joanne Katie Uhlmann

The Desi gang hit the Mississauga Independent Film Festival's gala party at the resplendent Art Gallery of Mississauga. Co-writer Dinesh Sachdev and co-writer/director Allan Tong were interviewed on the red carpet by the lovely Katie Uhlmann of TTN-HD (and photographed by the equally lovely Joanne Uhlmann).

Tong and Sachdev were pleased to meet the festival organizers and fellow filmmakers such as producer Ryan Reaney.

Remember: I Want To Be A Desi screens at MIFF this Saturday at noon.

MIFF opens tonight, Desi on Saturday

Mr. Dasgupta (Jazz Mann) is dressed up for tonight's MIFF gala

The Mississauga Independent Film Fest opens tonight at 7:00pm with a formal gala at the Art Gallery of Mississauga. The festival which runs until July 24, 2011, will screen I Want To Be A Desi at noon on Saturday, July 23 at the AMC Winston Churchill 24 (2081 Winston Park Drive, Oakville). Tickets are $8. Click here for the full MIFF schedule. Following this screening, Desi returns to American screens. Stay tuned, yaar.

DESI is MIFF'd on July 23

Roger/Raj (David Yee) tries to be a "desi" in Mississauga

Next stop on the festival tour for I Want To Be A Desi is just west of Toronto, at the Mississauga Independent Film Fest.

The comedy appears as part of the Short Program A starting at noon on Saturday, July 23 at the AMC Winston Churchill 24 (2081 Winston Park Drive, Oakville). Tickets are $8. Click here for the full MIFF schedule.

Following this screening, Desi returns to American screens. Stay tuned, yaar.

Desi returns to New York

New York's Asian American International Film Festival has invited I Want To Be A Desi to screen at its festival in Manhattan during August 10-20. In July 2009, the AAIFF premiered the pre-sequel, I Want To Be A Desi 2, to wide acclaim.

Needless to say director Allan Tong is thrilled that Desi is playing in New York, the greatest city on Earth, at a renown festival. Allan and co-producer and star, Dinesh Sachdev, attended the 2009 screening. No word yet, however, on whether either can attend the screening in August, given work commitments.

The AAIFF will release a full schedule and ticketing details soon. Stay tuned for updates.

Meanwhile, The Mississauga Independent Film Festival (MIFF), will screen Desi sometime between July 20-24 in western Toronto. Details coming soon.

Meet the crew of I Want To Be A Desi

Making any film is a team effort, and Desi was definitely a collaborative effort. The two-day shoot at a high school in North York was intense, but full of laughs and camaraderie. Here are some of the talented people who helped make Desi. All photos by producer Danijel Margetic and property of Balkan Films:

Director of Photography DANIEL GRANT pondering the next set-up

Production manager PETER MABRUCCO pondering the next meal break for the cast and crew

DP DANIEL GRANT (left) ponders the day's schedule with First Assistant Director CHARLES SMITH (right)

First Assistant Camera BRAW DWORKIN ponders what DP DANIEL GRANT (back to us) says

Production Designer ROSE LEGACE builds a set while others ponder

Desi premieres in Toronto this summer

I Want To Be A Desi has been chosen as an official selection in the Short Film Program for The 2011 Mississauga Independent Film Festival, July 20-24. Screening details to come at: http://miff.ca

I Want To Be A Desi...In Short on May 11

I Want To Be A Desi will have its Canadian broadcast premiere on Bravo!FACT's new show, In Short, at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT, Wednesday May 11, 2011 on Bravo! Since Desi is presently touring the North American festival circuit, only an excerpt will be aired.

The theme of the May 11 episode is Envy and Kindness. Launching at the beginning of May 2011, In Short is the only Canadian TV destination in an easily accessible time slot dedicated to short films. Eight new one-hour specials featuring Canadian short films will air over eight consecutive weeks. The shorts have all been produced with funds awarded by Bell Media's Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent).

Each episode is based on one of the seven deadly sins and their accompanying virtues: pride/humility, envy/kindness, lust/chastity, greed/charity, wrath/patience, sloth/diligence and gluttony/temperance. Renowned film critic Richard Crouse hosts all eight In Short episodes, serving as a guide for the viewer.

Desi American premiere in Oregon on April 29

I Want To Be A Desi makes its U.S. premiere at the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival on Saturday, April 30 to kick off the 3:00 pm Shorts Program. Details and tickets.

Desi invades America

I Want To Be A Desi has been chosen as an official selection at the Sixth Annual DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon. DisOrient take place at the Bijou Arts Cinema in Eugene, OR April 29-May 1, 2011. This will be the American premiere of Desi.

Details to come.