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An Indian American mother lives her life tending to an abusive husband who constantly demeans her. One day she hears about a friend facing loss, this friend also being an old fling from her teenage days. In secret, the mother sets up a Facebook account to reconnect with her teenage sweetheart. An act, that if found out, is certain to incite the wraith of her petty husband.

“Halwa” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative

Often unspoken, there is a general understanding that the system of arranged marriage is not without some faults on the humane level. Ultimately, love is not always something that can be forced and to do so can result in problematic relationships, a sentiment which can be more tragic when considering sexual orientation is even less justified in the process. Gayatri Bajpai & Nirav Bhakta’s short film “Halwa” looks to explore this situation in...

Short film competition, aimed at discussing violence against women, reveals finalists.

Eon producer Barbara Broccoli and US actor Ashley Judd have been revealed as jury members for 16 Days 16 Films, the short film competition aimed at creating content that discusses violence against women.

Scroll down for full list of finalists

The 18-strong jury also includes Emmy-winning actress Anna Friel, directors Phyllida Lloyd and Sarah Gavron and Blue Story producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, who was recently named a Screen Star of Tomorrow. They will award one winner and two runners-up with cash prizes. The first-place winner will also be given the opportunity to...

The annual 16 Days 16 Films short film competition has revealed a heavyweight jury including James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, Emmy-winning actor Anna Friel (“Marcella”) and award-winning “Blue Story” producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor.

This jury also includes actor and political activist Ashley Judd (“Berlin Station”), directors Phyllida Lloyd (“Herself”) and Sarah Gavron (“Rocks”), writer Abi Morgan (“Suffragette”), actor Stacy Martin (“Nymphomaniac”), actress and producer Julie Gayet (“Raw”), stunt performer and intimacy coordinator Teniece Divya Johnson (“Succession”), actor Jasmine Trinca (“The Goddess of Fortune”), and director and actor Tamara Yazbek Bernal (“After Lucia”).

The short film competition platforms female filmmakers and their films, which “explore, emote, and educate” on forms of violence against women. Inspired by the Un Women campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, the initiative will run online from Nov. 25 – Dec. 10, between the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and International Human Rights Day.

Sixteen finalists have been chosen...

HBO’s 2020 Asian Pacific American Visionaries (Apav) short film competition has named Shannon Lee (Executive Producer on Cinemax’s Warrior) as this year’s ambassador, which will be accepting submissions starting September 15 at 9am Pst.

Established in 2016, HBO Visionaries provides an unprecedented platform for emerging filmmakers to share their unique and diverse perspectives of the community. Apav serves to showcase cinematic storytellers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent awarding the top three winners the chance to have their work shown on HBO…and the cash prizes are the cherry on top. Their work will also be shown at the 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific FilmFestival.

Now in its fourth year, HBO is looking for works from storytellers that adhere to the theme of breaking barriers. “One of the most important ways that we lift each other up is by creating opportunity for one another – opportunity to share our intimate stories, opportunity to be seen and heard,...

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage month, short films from the top three finalists in HBO’s 2019 Asian Pacific American Visionaries (Apa) Short Film Competition are now available to stream on HBO Now. The shorts will also be available to stream across all of HBO’s on-demand and digital platforms.

HBO established Apa Visionaries competition in 2016, as part of a mission to help provide a platform for Asian Pacific American stories and to further a dialogue surrounding representation in Hollywood and the importance of diversity in entertainment. This year’s three finalists include ‘Halwa’ directed by Nirav Bhakta, ‘Moonwalk With Me’ directed by So Young Shelly Yo’ and ‘Zoetic’ directed by Julie Zhan.

Still from “Halwa”

The HBO Short Film Award finalists’ films available now for streaming includes:

Halwa

Director: Nirav Bhakta

Co-Director: Gayatri Bajpai

Synopsis: The story of an Indian woman who rekindles her relationship with a childhood...

HBO have selected filmmakers Julie Zhan, So Young Shelly Yo and Nirav Bhakta as finalists for the third annual Asian Pacific American Visionaries short film competition.

The competition adds to Hollywood’s changing landscape of inclusion and representation of marginalized voices by showcasing cinematic storytellers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. Zhan’s Zoetic, Yo’s Moonwalk With Me and Bhakta’s Halwa will premiere at the 2019 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in May.

“HBO is committed to uplifting the next generation of Apa storytellers, talent and entertainment community at large,” said Jackie Gagne, VP Multicultural Marketing at HBO. “The recent surge in Asian American visibility is only the beginning and we hope this competition serves to continue this incredible momentum in Hollywood.”

“HBO Visionaries continues to provide a platform for the community to not only tell authentic stories, but shine a spotlight on all these amazing creatives,” adds Sujata Day,...