MUMBAI: The UCLA Film and Television Archive and Mcorp Global will hold Indian Splendor, a six-day celebration of contemporary films, music, dance, art and literature in August this year.

The event will be held in Royce Hall, Los Angeles from 10 August to 15 August 2007, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of India’s Independence, says a release. India-born tennis star and veteran Hollywood film producer Ashok Amritraj is the cultural ambassador for Indian Splendor.

Indian Splendor will introduce Hollywood and the city of Los Angeles to the best recent Indian films and artistes from the Indian subcontinent. UCLA’s chief programmer Cheng- Sim Lim will be in Mumbai till 10 April 2007 to preview and select six films for the event. Plans are also afoot to launch a tribute for Raj Kapoor and his family during the day celebration. 

Indian Splendor was launched in Los Angeles on 24 March 2007 with a special screening of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Eklavya—The Royal Guard, followed by a Q&A with the director. The event was attended by 300 people at the new Billy Wilder Theatre, says the release.

Says UCLA dean Robert Rosen, “Indian Splendor will have broad based community participation from the Indian diaspora in LA, people from the film industry, educators, government who have interest in the issues of policy.”

“What may follow is increased ability to market films in America, a movement towards co production activities between the two industries or it may take the form of other cultural centers picking up Indian films,” he adds.