(IFC.L) Indian Film Company (The) Ltd Buy/Sell

RNS Number : 8349Z Indian Film Company Limited (The) 29 September 2009

29 September 2009

The Indian Film Company's Road, Movie to have Asian premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival

The Indian Film Company (TIFC) announces today that its film ROAD, MOVIE, has been invited to the Tokyo International Film Festival 2009 where it will contend for the coveted award -'Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix'. It's the only Indian film to make it to the final 15 in the competition section, out of 743 nominations from 81 countries.

The film recently had it first screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, where the film received critical success and both screenings were sold out. In May the Company signed a deal with international sales agent Fortissimo Films to sell the film outside of India. The deal marks Fortissimo's first venture in Hindi Cinema.

ROAD, MOVIE, presented by TIFC in association with Studio 18, will be screened as part of competition section at TOHO Cinemas at Roppongi Hills on 21 October and 23 October 2009.

On making the announcement Sandeep Bhargava, CEO of the investment advisor to The Indian Film Company, said:

"We are delighted that Road, Movie has been selected by the Tokyo International Film Festival, after its success at The Toronto International Film Festival, which is another endorsement of our successful strategy in financing high quality international cinema."

About Road, Movie:

Susan B. Landau and Ross Katz produced the film's original screenplay which was written by Dev Benegal. Katz won the Best Picture Academy Award Nomination for Sofia Coppola's Lost In Translation and Todd Field's In The Bedroom. Susan B. Landau's dozen-strong repertoire includes the 1999 Cannes Film festival's closing night film, An Ideal Husband, starring Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver, Julianne Moore and Rupert Everett. Her production and management company represent Slumdog Millionaire's Simon Beaufoy.

ROAD, MOVIE is written and directed by Dev Benegal, whose first feature presentation, English August was hailed as a landmark film in contemporary Indian cinema and inspired a new wave of independent Indian filmmakers. His second feature presentation Split Wide Open premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.

ROAD, MOVIE tells the story of Vishnu, a restless young man, who rejects his father's faltering hair oil business and hits the road with a travelling cinema. Colourful and full of unforgettable characters, the film celebrates India's open road and the pure love of movies.

The film stars critically acclaimed screen sensation Abhay Deol, and Brick Lane stars, festival circuit favourite Tannishtha Chatterjee, and renowned Bollywood Actor/Director Satish Kaushik.

For further information, please contact:

Enquiries:

The Indian Film Company Limited

Sandeep Bhargava Tel: +91 226 629 1723

Grant Thornton Corporate Finance (Nominated Adviser)

Fiona Owen Tel: +44 207 383 5100

Pelham Public Relations

Alex Walters/Francesca Tuckett Tel: +44 207 337 1500

Notes to Editors

The Indian Film Company (the 'Company') is a specialist film investment company which was admitted to trading on the AIM market in June 2007 and raised GBP 55 million in order to invest in a diverse portfolio of Indian films targeted at the Indian audiences across varying genre, language and budgets. The Company is managed by Film Investment Managers (Mauritius) Ltd., which is jointly and equally owned by Viacom Inc. and BK Media Mauritius PVT. BK Media Mauritius PVT is owned by Raghav Bahl, the founder and controlling shareholder of Network 18.

Fortissimo Films is one of the world's leading international film, television and video sales organizations specializing in the production, presentation, promotion and distribution of award-winning and innovative feature films.

This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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