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.