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

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.

I Want To Be A Desi 2 completes American schools tour

As I Want To Be A Desi embarks on its festival run, Desi 2 has completed the first tour of American schools as organized by Asian CineVision (ACV). ACV are the same folks who premiered Desi 2 at New York's Asian American International Film Festival in July last year.

Desi 2 and other shorts played New York and New Jersey schools "to promote the vision of Asian and Asian American media artists...and inspire and inform the Asian American community and audiences everywhere," said ACV.

Plans are afoot for Desi 2 to take part in the 2010-11 tour. Stay tuned.

Desi2 comes full circle at Masala! Mehndi! Masti!

The Masala! Mehndi! Masti! festival will screen I Want To Be A Desi 2 on Sunday, July 25 at 4:00 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on the CNE grounds. The film is part of a program of shorts programmed by the FILMI South Asian Film Festival.

After a festival run that began exactly a year ago at New York's Asian American International Film Festival that extended across North America including Washington, Vancouver, San Diego, and Portland, Desi 2 returns home with this screening. It's only fitting because a big portion was filmed at the 2008 Masala! Mehndi! Masti!

Admission is free, and the festival runs all weekend with a full schedule of dance, music, parties, food and of course films. Familes welcome. Events held indoors and out, so enjoy the sun.

And if you're in Kelowna that weekend, check out the Okanagan International Film Festival where Desi 2 will play on July 24. Click here for details.