Bay Area Women Filmmakers in Focus Series
BAWIFT (Bay Area Women in Film and Television) is proud to co-present 3rd I's Women Filmmakers in Focus at this year's Festival (November 13-16th) and hopes our Membership and Community will come out to support this unique South Asian Film Festival now in it's Sixth Successful Year! From art-house classics to innovative visions to next-level Bollywood – 3rd I brings you diverse images of South Asians through film. This year the Festival features films from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, UK and USA. There are 5 diverse films in the Women Filmmakers in Focus Series. The above film is Lakshmi and Me by filmmaker Nishtha Jain. “What sin did I commit to be born a woman?” Lakshmi wonders aloud. A 21-year old housemaid in Mumbai, she works ten hours a day, seven days a week. One of her employers is Nishtha Jain, who begins to make a documentary that explores their relationship. Nishtha films Lakshmi at home, and at work in various houses. Lakshmi's is a precarious existence to begin with; illness and romance compound her problems in unexpected ways. As the filmmaker is drawn deeper into Lakshmi's life, she is forced to question many of the things she takes for granted. Also at the festival is Slumdog Millionaire and Kissing Cousins.