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Media conglomerates, Time Warner, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Wal-Mart will be sponsoring this year’s Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA), it was announced today by the Festival’s Executive Director, Christina Marouda.
Time Warner will be joining ArcLight Hollywood as the festival’s Premiere Sponsors. In addition, Sony Pictures Entertainment and its Sony Pictures Television International divisions, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. have signed on as partnering sponsors for the 2007 IFFLA and will be joining returning sponsors Nickelodeon, Wells Fargo and Deluxe Labs.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, IFFLA has extended its five-day festival to run an extra day from April 17 – 22, 2007 at ArcLight Hollywood.

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles is the first and largest film festival in North America dedicated entirely to presenting the cinema of India – the world’s most prolific motion picture industry – by showcasing features, documentaries and short films from and about India.

According to the 2000 Census report the most affluent and growing ethnicity in the US is the South Asian community. By showing their support for IFFLA, these Fortune 500 companies are confirming these statistics and acknowledging that this is an untapped market,” states IFFLA’s Director of Development, Smrithi Narayan.

With a channel lineup featuring many international networks, including AZN TV, ImaginAsian, TV Asia and Zee TV, Time Warner Cable - Los Angeles is committed to offering programming as diverse as the people who live here.

"Time Warner Cable is excited to partner with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles to bring the cinematic talents of South Asian filmmakers to the diverse communities of Southern California. Together with IFFLA, we can help bring visibility to the culture, arts and movie-making powerhouse for which the growing South Asian community is quickly building a reputation during this weeklong film festival," confirms Roger Keating, Executive Vice President, Time Warner Cable on announcing their sponsorship.
Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) responsible for all television business outside of the United States. SPTI's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in the SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with over 40 networks in more than 130 countries reaching over 298 million viewers worldwide. In India, SPTI launched Sony Entertainment Television (SET) in 1995, which has now grown to four distinct channels in India -- the flagship SET channel, MAX, SAB and PIX. SET is also part of joint venture that distributes 10 other channels throughout India.

Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Foundation is well-known for its commitment to giving back to communities, and last year donated more than $245 million to local US communities. “At Wal-Mart, we are committed to the diverse cultures of our associates and customers. The stories told today are leaving a legacy for others to share in the experience of Indian film culture in the future, and it is a privilege to celebrate the 5th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles,” said Esther Silver-Parker, senior vice president, diversity relations, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (www.walmartfoundation.org)

As a returning sponsor, Nickelodeon will host a Writer’s Symposium at the Festival where network executives will be on-hand to interact with some of the best talent IFFLA has to offer in creative break-out sessions. “Last year, I spent a number of hours in the dark during IFFLA – and I am excited to once again experience the creative brilliance that makes up the filmmaker base of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles,” comments Karen Kirkland, Nickelodeon Executive.

Adds Andy Wong, Wells Fargo Community Banking President, “Wells Fargo is honored to return as a major sponsor for the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles that showcases the cinematic talents of South Asian filmmakers. We are proud to partner with IFFLA to celebrate the culture and movie contributions of the growing South Asian community during this week long film festival.”

Since 2002, Wells Fargo and India’s ICICI Bank have partnered to launch a remittance service from the U.S. to India. Wells Fargo’s Asian Business Services program was created to make information and resources available to Asian business owners, through financial education and community outreach. Since the program's inception, Wells Fargo has already lent more than $2 billion to Asian business owners nationwide.

Returning for the third year running Deluxe Labs services include all service sectors within the entertainment industry including feature and independent film, broadcast television, home entertainment, music and games. Established in 1915 as a film lab for Fox studios, Deluxe has grown to include services around the globe with facilities throughout North America, Europe and Australia. The company offers a complete, turnkey solution for rights holders throughout the lifecycle of a title (www.bydeluxe.com).