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32-499: Year-round programming included a Classic Asian Film Series. In Partnership with Pittsburgh Filmmakers , Silk Screen presented a classic Asian film each month, which was screened each Sunday of the month at Regent Square (Pittsburgh) Theater. New programming included an interview series, " Behind the Silk Screen ", through which Silk Screen interviewed board members, artists, and community members about how they shape both Silk Screen and

64-816: A filmmaking equipment access cooperative founded by curator Sally Dixon in 1971. The co-op remained a pillar of the organization throughout its life, supporting projects that grew to include a NASAD -accredited film school , the Three Rivers Film Festival , and three repertory theaters —most prominently the Harris Theater , which remains in operation under the management of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust . Artist alumni of Pittsburgh Filmmakers include Peggy Ahwesh , Tony Buba , Greg Mottola , and Victoria Pedretti . Starting in 1969, Chuck Glassmire hosted an experimental film series at

96-442: A sound stage , a gallery for photo exhibitions, and an additional 60-seat theater. In 2003, a number of the institutional connections that had existed since Pittsburgh Filmmakers' founding were severed. The Carnegie Museum of Art closed its film department, and Point Park College became the first of the organization's partner schools to start its own competing in-house film degree program. In 2006, Pittsburgh Filmmakers merged with

128-408: A father-son story whose universal themes are further enriched by its picturesque setting". On Metacritic , another review aggregator, the film has a score of 80 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Leslie Felperin of The Guardian gave the film a rating of 4 stars out of 5 and said that, "Shubhashish Bhutiani’s dreamy comedy drama about a businessman embarking on

160-434: A final journey with his father is smart, spellbinding and achingly relatable". David Parkinson of Empire gave the film a rating of 4 stars out of 5 and said that, "Filmed on a modest budget with a subtle sense of place and pace, this highly impressive debut considers mortality with a wry compassion that's rare for such a young director". Rajeev Masand gave the film a rating of 4 stars out of 5 saying that, "Mukti Bhawan

192-534: A former X-rated movie house at 809 Liberty Ave. in the downtown Cultural District . In early 1998, Filmmakers also purchased the Regent Square Theater, at 1035 South Braddock Ave. The film school received accreditation in 1999, and spurred the introduction of DV video equipment for student use. In 2001, at the organization's point of maximum development, a renovation of the second floor of 477 Melwood added more offices and classrooms, digital editing suites,

224-552: A photographer and curator at Anthology Film Archives in New York , supported the addition of still photography to the organization's mandate. In 1974, when lack of space became an issue, the University of Pittsburgh offered Filmmakers an empty building at 205 Oakland Ave., in the heart of the Oakland university district, for use as an equipment facility. Subsequent executive directors of

256-453: A sense of community in the hotel, and a companion in the 75-year old Vimla. As the days go by and Daya shows no sign of dying, Rajiv is faced with the dilemma of whether to remain there with his father or fulfill his duty back home. Mukti Bhawan had its world premiere on September 2, 2016 at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival while in India its release date was April 7, 2017. The film

288-535: A space in the basement of the Selma Burke Arts Center at 6118 Penn Circle South in East Liberty . They set up darkrooms and filmmaking facilities, and began to offer workshops in the use of equipment. In 1971, the group formally incorporated under the name Pittsburgh Filmmakers, with Bob Costa (1971) as its first executive director, followed by Phil Curry (1971-1973) and Robert Haller (1973-1979). Haller,

320-456: Is as much a celebration of life – complete with all its complexities and paradoxes – as it is a meditation on the harsh realities of getting old and dying. It is both poignant and uplifting. Beautifully shot and although languidly paced, Bhutiani delivers an evocative drama that has surely got to be one of the best films you’ll see this year." Raja Sen of NDTV gave the film a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 and concluded his review by saying that, "In

352-743: Is by far our best gala yet". The 2017 Silk Screen Gala was also named “Best Event on the Rise” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 2018 festival was held between September 21, 2018 and September 30, 2018; The 2018 Gala was held on September 21, 2018. This was the final festival before the organization shut down. Silk Screen's reach extends to the music industry as well. The non-profit produced an Asian fusion jazz ensemble called Silk Sound in 2014. The band's distinct sound combines traditional Asian classical music with modern American jazz to create gorgeous, unique harmonies. The group's debut album, Sun Gate,

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384-781: The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (PCA), following votes by the organizations' respective membership and boards; the combined organization took the new name Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (PF/PCA) and used the PCA's Marshall Mansion building in Shadyside as its headquarters. In 2010, PF/PCA attempted further merger discussions with the Pittsburgh Glass Center , but negotiations failed by May 2011. In 2015, Humphrey resigned as executive director. The last executive directors of

416-549: The 2014 hail from India, Japan, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Iran and more. The 2015 Festival took place July 10–19, 2015. It was the most successful to date, boasting record attendance numbers. Theeb , a collaborative effort from the UAE, Jordan and Qatar, opened the festival. The Centerpiece Presentation was Dukhtar , an affecting drama about a mother's love, which pulled in record single-screening audience record for

448-713: The Crumbling Wall coffeehouse at 4515 Forbes Ave. The screenings drew a regular audience from the Carnegie Museum of Art across the street, where Dixon was in the process of launching the museum's Film Section (later Department of Film and Video), one of the first of its kind in the country. In 1970, Dixon raised funding for an expanded screening program, bringing visiting artists to town for in-person exhibitions and providing 16mm filmmaking equipment so that they could also work on new films while in residence. At first called "Pittsburgh Independent Film-Makers," her group secured

480-571: The Indian Film, A Death in the Gunj , which is the feature debut for award-winning actress, Konkona Sen Sharma , as both writer and director of this Indian dramatic thriller. The Closing Night Film was the Indian film, Hotel Salvation , which took home India's National Film Award - Special Jury Award/Special Mention (Feature Film) in 2017. Of the 2017 Gala, held on September 17, founder Harish Saluja said, “This

512-504: The arts. Silk Screen hosted a variety of cultural events throughout the year including dance performances, film screenings and concerts. The 9th annual Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival began Friday, April 25, 2014 with a gala party, and ran for 10 days. The festival showcased 25 feature films and two short films during 47 screening events taking place at Regent Square Theater, Carnegie Museum of Natural History , The Andy Warhol Museum and Waterworks Cinemas. Films and filmmakers from

544-436: The cloyingness and replaces it with a moving matter-of-fact acceptance of the final destination: this is a director to watch out for." Nihit Bhave of The Times of India gave the film a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that, "Bhutiani has assembled a stellar cast of theatre greats and indie-film favourites. Behl and Hussain are endearing as the father-son duo, frustrated by and fond of each other simultaneously. The plot

576-519: The corner at 3712 Forbes Ave., and the screening program at the Fulton Theater Annex in the Fulton Building at 101 Sixth St. The organization's longest-serving executive director, Charlie Humphrey (1992-2015), began his tenure with a campaign to modernize and unify the facilities in one location. In the summer of 1995, Pittsburgh Filmmakers opened the doors at 477 Melwood Ave., its home for

608-548: The culture around it. Silk Screen also held a children's event to celebrate the Chinese New Year . The festival showed feature-length films and short films . In 2005 Harish Saluja founded Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization, which celebrates diversity & multiculturalism. Saluja is a filmmaker and artist residing in Pittsburgh , United States . He graduated with a degree from IIT, Kharagpur and spent

640-759: The festival expanded to reach a total of 7 different venues including Frick Fine Arts, CMU McConomy Auditorium, Carnegie Museum of Art, and Cranberry Cinemas. The festival opened with the Kurdish film El Clasico , which was awarded Best Fiction Feature at the Dubai International Film Festival. Nawara , an Egyptian film set against the backdrop of the 2011 Revolution, highlighted this year's Centerpiece Presentation on Thursday, September 22 at Regent Square Theater. The festival concluded on Sunday, September 25 at Melwood Screening Room in Oakland. The Closing Night Film

672-517: The festival. Closing out the Festival was the crowd-pleasing Miss India America , directed by Ravi Kapoor , who flew in from Los Angeles to speak with the audience following the film. The 2016 festival began on September 16, 2016 and concluded 10 days later on the September 25, 2016. The festival showcased a total of 31 of the newest and most acclaimed feature-length, as well as 7 short films. This year,

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704-461: The following four years working as an engineer in a mining company., before moving to the United States in 1971. He was hired at a publishing company – of which he eventually became co-owner. He then began working in film as a filmmaker. In 2005, Saluja created Silk Screen, an Asian arts and culture non-profit, with a mission to promote diversity and cross-cultural understanding through immersion in

736-489: The hope of dying there to attain salvation. His dutiful son, Rajiv, is left with no choice but to drop everything and make the journey with his stubborn father, leaving behind his wife and daughter. The two of them check into Mukti Bhawan, a hotel devoted to people hoping to spend their last days there. Rajiv finds himself having to take care of his father for the first time in his life. While Rajiv struggles to juggle his responsibilities back home, Daya starts to bloom as he finds

768-428: The lead roles. The film received four nominations at the 63rd Filmfare Awards , including Best Film (Critics) . Mukti Bhawan follows the story of a reluctant son who must take his father to the holy city of Varanasi, where his father believes he will breathe his last and attain salvation. When a 77-year-old man, Daya, wakes up from a strange nightmare, he knows his time is up and he must get to Varanasi immediately in

800-467: The next 23 years. The 44,000-square-foot (4,100 m ) space, formerly used as Carnegie Mellon University 's Tartan Labs , contained an equipment room, classrooms, darkrooms, offices, a cafe, a library, and the 130-seat Melwood Screening Room. That same year, the screening program moved temporarily to a Point Park College venue at 222 Craft Ave., and then found a permanent home at the Harris Theater,

832-435: The organization were Marilyn Levin (1979-1983), Bob Marinaccio (1983-1987), Jan Erlich-Moss (1987), Tony Buba (1988), Margaret Meyers (1988-1991), Kurt Saunders (1991-1992), Marcia Clark (1992), and Brady Lewis (1992). By 1992, the organization had grown to a staff of 18 full-time and 8 part-time employees, and was operating at three more locations—a classroom and editing facility at 218 Oakland Ave., administrative offices around

864-582: The organization while it retained the Pittsburgh Filmmakers name were Pete Mendes (2015-2016), Germaine Williams (2017-2018), and Dan Demicell (2018). In 2018, classes were cancelled and the 477 Melwood building was sold back to CMU. PF/PCA consolidated at the Marshall Mansion location and rebranded as the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media (PCA&M). In 2019, the Regent Square Theater

896-594: The way companionship and clarity can be found without looking. In the way an accountant works at learning to cook. In the way soap operas provide succour. Somewhere in the middle of this beautiful, meditative film comes the greatest lesson of all: that a perfect, poetic goodbye doesn't have to wait for the end.". Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave the film a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that, "There’s much to like about Mukti Bhawan. It brings to us themes which are either ignored or dealt with in our cinema with mawkishness and heavy sentimentality. Bhutiani removes

928-470: Was closed, all film operations were ended, and the school's accreditation was withdrawn. Hotel Salvation Hotel Salvation (known in India as Mukti Bhawan ) is a 2016 Indian film written and directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani and produced by Sanjay Bhutiani. The film is a comedy-drama about a son who is forced to set his job aside to accompany his elderly father to the holy city of Varanasi . It stars Adil Hussain and Lalit Behl in

960-750: Was initially a box office failure in India, where it only grossed ₹7.4 million ( $ 113,634 ) domestically. However, the film has been a box office success overseas, particularly in Japan, where it ran in theaters for 100 days and then 150 days. The film also grossed $ 80,862 in other overseas territories, including South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates. The film received universal critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes , it has an approval rating of 100% based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 7.53/10. The site's consensus reads: "Tender, perceptive, and beautifully filmed, Hotel Salvation tells

992-508: Was released in January 2015. Among other live performances, Silk Sound was the featured musical act at Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto 's inauguration celebration. Pittsburgh Filmmakers Pittsburgh Filmmakers was one of the oldest and largest media arts centers in the United States , operating from 1971 to 2019. The non-profit institution in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania began as

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1024-1012: Was the Indian film, Parched, which took home the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and the Impact Award at the Stockholm Film Festival. During the festival, the film Psycho Raman made its US premiere just months after making its world premiere at Cannes. The 2017 festival took place September 15–24, 2017. The festival showcased a total of 32 feature-length films, as well as 10 short films. The films screened at 6 venues including Carnegie Museum of Art , Cranberry Cinemas, Frick Fine Arts , Harris Theater , Melwood Screening Room, and Waterworks Cinema. 14 countries were represented this year, from cultural powerhouses India and Japan to nations with smaller film industries, like Nepal and Malaysia. The Festival opened with

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