FILM buffs may soon get to see international regional cinema in multiplexes. UTV World Movies, in association with PVR, will showcase the movies across Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi, with plans to expand to Kolkata some time later. The foray is being made with the premier of Waltz with Bashir, an Israeli film that was nominated for over 22 international awards and won 12. The movie bagged the best foreign film award at the Golden Globe Awards 2009 and was also a nominee at the prestigious Oscar awards this year.

UTV World Movies business head Sameer Ganapathy says, “This was one space that we wanted to fill, as the audience now craves a wider range of films”. With the acquisition of 140 new titles this year for theatrical release, UTV’s movie channel is going beyond television screens to introduce its audience to the realm of a new cinematic journey, he adds. The other films lined up for release are The Song of Sparrows from Iran, I Always Wanted to be a Gangster from France and the Oscar winner The Counterfeiters from Germany.

Using amateur actors, The song of Sparrows

(Avaz-e gonjeshk-ha), a deeply humanistic story set among Iranian society’s underprivileged explores how capitalism and technology corrupt man, making him lose spiritual purity connections with family, friends and nature. Where as I always wanted to be a gangster (J'ai toujours rêvé d'être un gangster) is a story told in four vignettes and an existential comedy that relates to the exploits of four aspiring criminals who hope

to improve their lot, but

find that they might not have what it takes for a life of crime.

Producer of Waltz with Bashir Roman Paul says, “ We always get to see Bollywood films everywhere. With different foreign films in sub-titles, Indian audiences will get an even wider range of entertainment”.

Directed by Ari Folman, Waltz with Bashir is a personal account of the horrors of the 1982 Lebanon War, when Christian militia members massacred more than 3,000 Palestinian refugees in the heart of Beirut as Israeli soldiers surrounded the area. The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for a Palme d’Or.

Talking about the launch of the first release, CEO, UTV Entertainment Television Shantonu Aditya says “With the entrance of World Movies into theatres, the channel has accomplished the 360 degree marketing objective of creating awareness and building the World Movies brand. We believe that there is a tremendous potential for quality cinema in India, and by

this initiative we would be able to give movie lovers a new experience.”

Ganapathy adds, “We are happy to provide cinema lovers in India with an opportunity to view quality world cinema on the big screen. We have always worked towards bringing diverse and contemporary world cinema to India and showcase the movies of eminent film makers across a big platform. Having a partner like PVR, we are sure to reach many avid cinema lovers.”