MUMBAI: The UK Film Council will bring the best of British film to Indian screens next year, with its UK-India film distribution initiative. The ‘From Blighty with Love Festival’ will showcase recent independent UK films in cinemas across three southern Indian cities from 26 February to 11 March 2010.

From Blighty with Love was announced at the Mumbai Film Festival, which runs from 29 October to 5 November 2009.

From Blighty With Love will be the first time that independent specialised British films have been opened up to the English speaking audience in India, and it will feature the simultaneous screening of each film on multiple screens in 2K digital cinemas across Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune. The entertainment experience will be enhanced by ‘virtual’ in-conversation events with key talent from each film, such as directors and cast, using the latest Skype technology.

UK Film Council senior executive for export development Sarah McKenzie said, "From Blighty with Love is an exciting example of the UK Film Council’s drive to open up UK film to international markets and audiences. It will showcase some of the best UK independent features of the last 18 months none of which have ever been seen on the big screen before in India. There is a large English-speaking population in India enthusiastic to experience British independent cinema, particularly since the huge global success of Slumdog Millionaire."

"From classy literary adaptations such as Stephen Elliot’s Easy Virtue and Julian Jarrold’s Brideshead Revisited, to international hits such as James Marsh’s Oscar-winning Man On Wire and Armando Iannucci’s satirical comedy In the Loop, we are confident that Indian audiences will be both entertained and enlightened by the diversity of British talent showcased throughout the season," she added.

The season will also include films from renowned British filmmaking talent such as Michael Winterbottom, Sally Potter and Danny Boyle.