SUBURBAN TURBAN, a 2015 Academy Nicholl Semi-Finalist, has been selected in the Feature Length Screenplay category for the 16th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) (www.beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com). The festival, which welcomes over 20,000 attendees annually, will be held April 6-10, 2016 and will include several film screenings, panels, Q & A discussions, and exclusive after-parties.
SUBURBAN TURBAN is a gritty, coming-of-age drama about Ravinder Singh, an Indian-American kid who dates a Latina girl in his neighborhood and wants to follow his dreams of winning the ultimate Spin DJ Spin competition, while his father plans an elaborate turban tying ceremony for him, prompting him to question his American identity.
“What does being American mean – that, and the issue of immigration has become a heated conversation,” says Vir, who also write the award-winning short film RESET, a dark drama about addiction and recovery. “I believe Suburban Turban is a gift to America. It gives voice to a second-generation and provides a deeper understanding of the plight of the turbaned community who’ve experienced years of violence and hate in the U.S. because of their appearance. It begins a conversation around identity in America -- the new America.”
After speaking with second generation American youth of Indian/Sikh descent over the years, Vir learned they were desperate to tell their story, particularly after the tragedy of 9/11. SUBURBAN TURBAN became a 2015 Academy Nicholl Semi-Finalist, beating out 7,442 scripts from screenwriters from around the world.
About the Beverly Hills Film Festival
The International Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) is considered among the most exclusive film festivals in the world; in one of the most exclusive cities in the world. Designed to bridge the world of premiere independent cinema with the renowned city of Beverly Hills, the BHFF welcomes over 20,000 attendees annually who congregate for 5 days of screenings, poolside celebrity panels, special events, seminars, VIP after parties and deal making. Entering another successful year, the Beverly Hills Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the art and talent of emerging filmmakers in the city globally recognized as the headquarters for VIPs to the motion picture industry. BHFF creates a wonderful screening environment allowing participants to feature their films in the highest quality venues available to consumers around the world. Professionals and industry taste-makers representing all facets of the movie industry have been spotted attending year after year.