Interview: National Award Winner Rima Das On Being A Part Of Asian Pop Up Cinema In Chicago

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Rima Das, the talented film maker was recently in Chicago for the screening of her much acclaimed film Village Rockstars. Her Assamese language film that just won the Best Feature Film award at the very prestigious National Film Awards was to be shown at the Season Six of Asian Pop Up Cinema that's being held in Chicago from March 13 to May 16. The festival will showcase more than 15 films from Asia.

The event puts together exceptional talent from across Asia and will present many films for the very first time in Chicago.

BWW met up with film maker Rima Das who was ecstatic about her participation in the event. Here she talks about how her film Village Rockstars has been the toast at all major film festivals and the makings of her movie

BWW: Village Rockstars is gaining attention across the globe. It won the national award, was amongst the winners at 2018 edition of IFFLA. It has also been celebrated at all major international film festival. Were you expecting this mega suuccess

RD: When I was making this film, I knew it was a great subject and there was a lot of honesty in it. I did expect it to do good. When it got selected for the Toronto film festival, I was not surprized. But yes, the amount of love and recognition it has been getting has left be very very happy and surprized.

BWW: You have been very hands on with the making of the film. From writing to directing to being involved at each step. Was it a conscious step.

RD: Yes, in many ways it was. I wanted to tell a story the way I felt it and for this it was important that I was involved in each step. There were many things that happened organically too but I did take charge of many aspects. I was also confident having made short films plus we were making a film under not very lavish budgets so we had to also adjust according to many things. The children who were a part of the story, had schools to attend and we had to adjust our routines accordingly. In a way it helped that I was involved at various stages as we could then move around schedules accordingly.

BWW: What sort of reception, Indian films get on international circuits.

RD: I have had very encouraging and ;positive experiences. Everyone is very supportive of a good story and is there is a lot to learn from everyone you meet. As a film maker taking my film on an international podium I would say I am overwhelmed with support.

The Spring 2018 Asian Pop-Up Cinema series concludes on Wednesday, May 16 with a Closing Night presentation of TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY, the U.S. premiere of this evocative drama from Hong Kong. Film details, trailers and ticketing information for each screening, plus details on expected special guests, are
available at www.asianpopupcinema.org.