UK Asian Film Festival Debuts 4K Umrao Jaan
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- UK Asian Film Festival runs from May 1‑10 across venues in the United Kingdom.
- Ghost School (2025) will have its English premiere at the opening gala at BFI Southbank, followed by a Q&A with director Seemab Gul.
- Shadowbox (2025) will close the festival with its UK premiere, and a Q&A with lead actor Tillotama Shome.
- Umrao Jaan (1981) will be screened in a newly restored 4K version, European premiere, restored by the National Film Archive of India, with Q&A with director Muzaffar Ali in London and Leicester.
- Muzaffar Ali will receive the Golden Flame Lifetime Achievement Award at the Closing Gala.
- Zubeen Garg will be honored with a special tribute at the festival.
- Samir Bhamra says the lineup offers fresh perspectives on identity, memory, and belonging, framing the event as an invitation to unite amid societal division.
Why it matters: South Asian filmmakers and audiences gain a high‑profile platform for new releases and a restored classic, while the festival’s Lifetime Achievement award and tribute spotlight veteran creators, reinforcing cultural visibility and community cohesion during a period of heightened societal division.
