Panels
Oct 1, 1:00pm at Columbia College Chicago
South Asian Emergence in US Media moderated by Sachin Bhatia.
The panel will explore how South Asians are making an impact in different forms of entertainment in the US including film, TV, and radio. Panel Guests:
Sachin Bhatia (Curry Smugglers RJ)
Sachin is the co-host of the Curry Smugglers show. As an RJ and a DJ, he has been in the South Asian music scene constantly scouting and promoting new talent. His musical knowledge and sense for fashion are both influenced by being a "Mumbai-born, Dubai-bred Texan". His works can be heard online and commercial radio stations in Dubai.
Manav Dhanda (COO of HumDesi FM)
With over a decade of experience in the Indian entertainment field producing shows such as Jassi Jaise Koi Nahin (adapted in America as Ugly Betty), Indian Idol, and launching BIG 92.7 FM in India; Manav currently heads up HumDesi FM as it expands it's radio reach in North America.
Suzy Singh (MasterChef Season 2)
Fox's MasterChef contestant Suzy Singh recently left behind a successful career as a Neural Engineer to pursue her passion of food and cooking. The Chicago native and former Chicago South Asian Film Festival committee member made it to the final four of this season's MasterChef.
Nandana Sen (Actor)
Nandana Sen studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She made her first debut in Bollywood as Rani Mukerji's 17 year old sister in the movie Black. In 2008 she appeared in the British television series Sharpe, in the episode Sharpe's Peril.
Oct 1, 5:00pm at Columbia College Chicago
Filming in Chicago: Past, Present and Future moderated by Kimberly Huggins.
The panel will discuss the history of films made in Chicago and explore where film making in Chicago is headed. A great event for audiences and filmmakers alike to learn about Chicago's cinema legacy and incentives to shoot your movie in the Windy City. Panel Guests:
Kimberly Huggins (Chicago Filmmaker)
The founder of Sacred Eye Productions, Miss Huggins possesses over 7 years of media and entertainment industry knowledge. Miss Huggins has worked with fortune 500 companies like Harpo Studio's "The Big Give" show, and DDB advertising agency known for their Super Bowl commercials. Her most recent project is "Parvati's Golden Skin", an adaptation of a Hindu mythology.
Rich Moskal (Director of Chicago Film Office)
On behalf of the City of Chicago, Rich leads efforts to attract and make possible feature film, television, commercial, documentary and new media production. Since 1996, he has overseen Chicago's most profitable years in film and television production with more than 800 feature productions generating $1.3 billion in local revenues.
Sandeep Sharma (Filmmaker / Professor, Columbia College)
Sandeep began his film career in New York City as a production assistant on Fox's New York Undercover and the HBO series The Sopranos. He also worked on the feature films A Perfect Murder and Substance of Fire. Sandeep continued his film career working on the controversial films Kama Sutra and Fire. Currently he is an adjunct faculty at Columbia College in the film department.
Sharon Zurek (Sr. lecturer, Columbia College Chicago)
Senior lecturer at Columbia College Chicago and owner of Black Cat Productions, Sharon has edited features like Hannah Free, The Trouble With Dee, and several shorts and documentaries. She has postproduction supervised CA$H and Drunkboat and is on the board of directors of Chicago Filmmakers, and co-founder / programmer for the Dyke Delicious screening series.
