[Cwgrad-announcements] Stay tuned for a screening by one of your own

[rrussin at ucr.edu]

Hi everyone--

Barring unforeseen complications, we're planning a screening of first year MFA screenwriter Bala Rajasekharuni's feature film, Blind Ambition, on THIS TUESDAY June 3 at 8:00 PM in HMNSS 1503.

This movie was an award winner at the Hollywood International Film Festival, described by the jury as an "outstanding family film" and of "the highest artistic merit." 

I will of course let you know if complications ensue, but as of now we're set to do it. Please spread the word, and come celebrate the success of one of your classmates.

Blind Ambition is a 35mm feature Co-written,Produced/Directed
by an MFA Creative Writing Student: Bala Rajasekharuni.
 
Story: Blind Ambition is a story of a blind girl who aspires
to run a marathon - as a tribute to her deceased mother.
It's also a coming-of-age story of a teen-ager with full
of hopes and dreams to celebrate her life despite her
disability.
 
Awards/Festivals/Recognition: 

-Winner - IFFF-Spirit Award - International Family Film Fest - Hollywood. (for being an "outstanding family film)

-Official Selection: Mumbai-International Film Fest (March 08)

-Official Selection:Long Island International Film Expo (July 08)

-Endorsement by National Federation of the Blind, CA.
 
Cast: Christopher Atkins (Blue Lagoon), Vanessa Angel (Kingpin & Weird Science-TV)

Gulshan Grover (Indian star with 260 credits) and a debut actress Michelle Massey as the lead girl.

Original Score : Frank Bennett, a leading Hollywood Orchestrator who worked on The Passion of the Christ, Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty etc.
 
About the filmmaker:

Bala Rajasekharuni is currently in MFA Creative Screenwriting program with Screenwriting & Playwriting as his majors. Bala debuted as a writer/director/co-producer with his indie, Green Card Fever, a satirical drama about the world of illegal immigration and corrupt politics. Green Card Fever was released world-wide in art house theaters in 2003/04. Blind Ambition is Bala's second feature.

Robin Russin
Department of Theatre
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
(951) 827-2707
(213) 949-1061 cel
robin.russin at ucr.edu

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure. -- Samuel Johnson