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.