Tongues on Fire Asian Film Festival, 6th - 15th March 2009, London

This great festival starts soon. It is "dedicated to expressing the drive and spirit of Asian independent media and cinema cultures of South Asia". See the events calendar and website here.

Highlights include the UK premiere of Deepa Mehta's HEAVEN ON EARTH, with special guest DEEPA MEHTA on 6th and 7th March 2009. This film leads the big gala opening - in it "Preity Zinta plays the leading role of Chand, a young Indian Punjabi woman who finds herself in an abusive arranged marriage with an Indo-Canadian man".

Tickets are sold out for the 6 March showing with the Q&A, but Heaven on Earth will be screened again on 9th March at Watermans, you can book through them directly. I'm told there are still tickets available for Saturday, 7th March, Life in Pictures, with Deepa Mehta, which will be a tribute to her works and Deepa will be there in conversation -this is £40/pp includes a champagne reception (blimey!)

Another highlight is In conversation with Gurinder Chadha on Fri 13 March, at Courthouse Kempinski, 19.00 for a reception, 20.00 for the conversation.

This strangely under-advertised festival is a gem - there is no similarly 'niched' event on this scale in the UK, so get along to it if you can, and let me know what you thought.