SHORT FILMS:

All Roads Lead to Here
(Richie Mehta & Stuart A. McIntyre, Canada, 2005, 6min)

In this visually and acoustically fascinating video, a tabla player and a beat-boxer face off.

The Last Race
(Alex Gabbay & Subina Shrestha, Nepal/UK, 2005, 23min)
Seattle Premiere

In a small village near the Nepal/Tibet border, two boys, Karma and Lakpa, are caught in a coming of age dilemma of how to pursue their own dreams while preserving their friendship.

Lucky
(Avie Luthra, South Africa, 2005, 20min, 35mm)
Seattle Premiere

Veteran UK director Avie Luthra makes a sensitive short film about Lucky, a South African AIDS orphan who learns about life through an unlikely bond with a racist Indian woman. Award winning short film screened at over 50 international festivals.

"The aim of the film was to dramatise the effects of HIV on children in South Africa, whilst looking at African/Indian relationships. The film was shot in and around Durban in Natal, where HIV is estimated at around 40%. The story is taken from real life accounts and research of AIDS orphans and the difficulties they face." - Director Avie Luthra

DANCE PERFORMANCE:

Archana Kumar, trained in classical Indian dance as well as modern dance, will perform "Emotions" with her all women troupe. Emotions is a contemporary exploration of the Navarasas or the 9 human sentiments.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

Bookda Gheisar has been the Executive Director of Social Justice Fund NW beginning of 2001. Bookda has spent the last 20 years working in not- for-profit organizations with a strong mission, vision, and commitment to working with disenfranchised populations.

RECEPTION

Relax and socialize with hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and music. On display will be an art collection by accomplished painter and stone lithographer Ameen Dhillon. Also on display are paintings by local artists Deep Dhillon and Priya Natarajan.