Belfast Film Festival kicks off a new five-year ‘cultural diversity in film’ project this year, and as part of this is set to host one of cinema’s biggest names, Aamir Khan.  Belfast Film Festival is very excited to welcome Aamir Khan on his first ever visit to Ireland to attend the festival.

During the 19th Belfast Film Festival, Aamir Khan will participate in an ‘In Conversation’ event in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. This event on Tuesday 16th April will celebrate Aamir Khan’s body of film work and pay tribute to his humanitarian activities.

The evening will be hosted by Nasreen Munni Kabir, author of 17 books on Hindi cinema, Nasreen has made over 80 TV programmes on Indian film for Channel 4 and continues to curate C4’s annual Indian film season.

Mark Cousins, Chair of the Belfast Film Festival said of Aamir Khan’s visit: “Many of us fell in love with film because of big-hearted movies like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and Tom Hanks’ ‘Big’.  That’s the sort of film that Aamir Khan makes.  His epic entertainments have the spirit of Frank Capra movies; he draws on the best of Hindi film.  He uses his stardom as boldly as Jane Fonda.  We are honoured that he will come to the Belfast Film Festival.  If you haven’t seen Aamir Khan’s films, treat yourself!”  Mark has mentioned a special thanks to Nasreen Munni Kabir for her efforts.

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Michele Devlin, Director of the Belfast Film Festival said: “The Belfast Film Festival’s tribute to Aamir Khan is the start of a bold new five-year exploration of cultural diversity in film, which will include Chinese, Polish and many other cultures. As part of this work we are delighted to announce a new collaboration with the New York Indian Film Festival”.

Indian cinema – its stardom, storytelling, history, themes and popularity is a great starting point for this project, and hosting the wonderful Aamir Khan is a perfect beginning.”

Speaking ahead of the festival was Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland. He said: “Belfast Film Festival brings the very best in world cinema to Northern Ireland and acts an important platform for local writers, filmmakers, and the arts community.

British Council Northern Ireland is working with local partners to further develop links with India in film and the wider arts.  BCNT said that it was an honor to support a programme which brings one of the most popular and influential actors and directors of Indian cinema to Northern Ireland.”

Film fans, lovers of Indian Cinema, and those who are film curious will be able to see some of Aamir Khan’s most popular films throughout the festival at the Movie House, Dublin Road (3 Idiots, Dhobi Ghat/Mumbai Diaries – directed by Aamir Khan’s wife, the filmmaker Kiran Rao – Dangal, Taare Zameen Par).

Tickets can be purchased at: www.belfastfilmfestival.org from Thursday 28th February at 10am. With over 100 events including over 40 premieres, the full program will launch on Wednesday 13th March.