NEWS: Sunderland Producer Organises International Film Awards

A Sunderland-based film-maker has managed to bring together independent films from across the globe for the inaugural International Film Awards Newcastle (IFA). Producer and distributor Aman Sharma started his film making career after obtaining a Masters in Film Production at Sunderland University. He leads the IFA as a separate strand to the Newcastle International Film Festival which runs from Thursday 29^th until Saturday 31^st March.

There are seven feature films and 12 shorts which are showcased as emerging and independent works, with four Newcastle venues playing host to the screenings – Dance City, Alphabetti Theatre, The Mining Institute and The Black Swan at Newcastle Arts Centre.

It all starts at Dance City on Thursday 29^th with El Diablo Es Magnifico. The Chilean film explores transgender issues with the story of a transsexual immigrant who returns to Chile after 10 years in Paris.

More than two years in the making, these awards showcase the talent in independent movies around the world, and it’s all brought together by a man whose start in cinema was at Sunderland University.

The International Film Awards run at four Newcastle venues from Thursday 29th until Saturday 31st March.