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Several NYC-based journalists have asked if there are desi viewing parties for the Oscars - and we presume journalists in other cities will want to know about versions in their area. Below is a list of the events that SAJAforum knows about. If you know of any Slumdog-related events in the U.S. or Canada, please add them in the comments section.
NYC:
- Indo-American Arts Council & Children's Hope Party & Benefit
- Columbia University's largest South Asian group, Club Zamana, and LGBT communities unite for party to celebrate Slumdog & Milk
DC:
- Saturday-night pre-Oscar party to benefit Hamara Foundation (which supports street children in Mumbai)
CHICAGO:
- Saturday-night pre-Oscar party at Vermilion Restaurant (as on WGN TV national segment 6pm CST), street food, live Bollywood dancers, DJ
LA:
- Post-Oscar official Slumdog/Fox Searchlight party (journalists coverage opportunity only)
And don't forget SAJA's live, two-hour call-in show that begins as soon as the Best Picture Oscar is announced: Sunday night, 11:30 pm-1:30 am NYC time
Indo-American Arts Council Presents:
OSCAR PARTY 2009
FOCUS: SLUMDOG MILLIONIARE (PREMIERED AT 2008 MIAAC FILM FEST)
Children's Hope India - http://www.
organization working to bring health, education and a better life to children in the slums. Children s Hope India is proud to join the IAAC in celebrating the success of Slumdog Millionaire and looks to your support in continuing its mission.
*Sunday, February 22nd
7pm @
Latitude Bar and Grill*
*8th Avenue between 47th and 48th streets
2nd Floor**$15 donation to the IAAC at the door*
*Enjoy Happy Hour All Night! Red Carpet!
Raffle Prizes including Slumdog Millionaire Soundtracks, Slumdog posters!
Silent Auction items including Autographed Slumdog Millionaire Poster,
Slumdog music box, Slumdog books, Slumdog screenplay!*
Seating on a First Come, First Serve basis.*Please RSVP to Amanda Kate Joshi* - AmandaIAAC@gmail.com
*"Slumdog Millionaire" Filmmakers and Distributors Refute Recent Allegations*
*Filmmakers Statement:*
From the moment that we hired them and long before the press became
interested in this story, we have paid painstaking and considered attention
to how Azhar and Rubina s involvement in the film could be of lasting
benefit to them over and above the payment they received for their work.The children had never attended school, and in consultation with their
parents we agreed that this would be our priority. Since June 2008 and at
our expense, both kids have been attending school and they are flourishing
under the tutelage of their dedicated and committed teachers. Financial
resources have been made available for their education until they are 18. We
were delighted to see them progressing well when we visited their school and
met with their teachers last week.In addition to their educational requirements, a fund is in place to meet
their basic living costs, health care and any other emergencies.
Furthermore, as an incentive for them to continue to attend school a
substantial lump sum will be released to each child when they complete their
studies. Taking into account all of the children s circumstances we believe
that this is the right course of action.Since putting in place these arrangements more than 12 months ago we have
never sought to publicize them, and we are doing so now only in response to
the questions raised recently in the press. We trust that the matter can now
be put to bed, and we would request that the media respect the children s
privacy at this formative time in their lives.*
- Danny Boyle and Christian Colson**Distributors Statement:
*The welfare of Azhar and Rubina has always been a top priority for
everyone involved with Slumdog Millionaire. A plan has been in place for
over 12 months to ensure that their experience working on Slumdog
Millionaire would be of long term benefit. For 30 days work, the children
were paid three times the average local annual adult salary. Last year after
completing filming, they were enrolled in school for the first time and a
fund was established for their future welfare, which they will receive if
they are still in school when they turn 18. Due to the exposure and
potential jeopardy created by the unwarranted press attention, we are
looking into additional measures to protect Azhar and Rubina and their
families. We are extremely proud of this film, and proud of the way our
child actors have been treated.*
- Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox Star Studios, Pathe International**The Indo-American Arts Council* (IAAC) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit arts
organization passionately dedicated to promoting, showcasing and building an
awareness of Indian artists in the performing arts, visual arts, and
literary arts. All donations to the IAAC are tax deductible to the fullest
extent allowable by law.
Information: Indo-American Arts Council Inc, 146West 29th St, Suite 7R3,
New York, NY 10001.
Phone: 212 594 3685 Email: admin@iaac.us Web: www.iaac.us
o o o o o
MEDIA ADVISORY
ATTENTION NEWS, ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFESTYLE & FEATURES EDITORS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 18, 2009
CONTACT : Zach Lundin,Communications Dir., zgl1@columbia.edu,
206-713-4409 | Aries Dela Cruz, Vice Pres., ad2397@columbia.edu,
347-683-3020
COLUMBIA UNIV. INDIAN AND LGBT COMMUNITIES UNITE TO CELEBRATE SLUMDOG
& MILK NOMINATIONS
WHAT: Columbia Queer Alliance, the world's first and longest-running
LGBT collegiate organization and Club Zamana, Columbia University's
largest South Asian organization have joined forces to celebrate the
exciting and historic nominations of Slumdog Millionaire and Milk.
Students will be encouraged to dress up as they watch the 81st Annual
Academy Awards live, hosted by Hugh Jackman.
WHO: Columbia Queer Alliance and Club Zamana
WHEN: 8PM, Feb. 22
WHERE: Columbia University, Alfred Lerner Hall, Roone Alredge Cinema.
114th Street and Broadway.
Photo opportunities and interviews available. For VIP/Press reserved
seating, please contact Aries Dela Cruz - ad2397@columbia.edu
o o o o o
WASHINGTON DC
For more info on this, or to cover the event for your media outlet, please
contact organizers directly:Pushpa Koneri
pushpakoneri@gmail.com
(402) 933-0647
Pre-Oscar party to support Slumdog Millionaire.
Proceeds to benefit Hamara Foundation, an outreach organization for street children in Mumbai.
Saturday, February 21
Panache Restaurant and Lounge
1725 DeSales Street NW
Washington D.C. 20036
Doors open at 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 with an email to the guest list at
rsvp@dmvabcd.com. Without RSVP, prices are subject to increase at the door.
Details
*Slumdog Millionaire* fans hoping the sleeper hit will sweep the Academy
Awards can celebrate Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches love story at a
pre-Oscarparty, Saturday, Feb. 21, 10 p.m. at Panache Restaurant and
Lounge in
Washington D.C.
The *Slumdog* pre-party is for fans of the movie from all over the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to celebrate *Slumdog's* 10 Oscarnominations.
Panache will feature a specialty "Millionaire" cocktail for the evening.
DJ Ali Ji will spin music from the movie—including the upbeat finale "Jai
Ho" and M.I.A.'s smash hit "Paper Planes"—along with popular Top 40, hip
hop, and Bollywood tracks, as part of its movie's success in fusing a
British director's vision with the music of renown Indian composer A.R.
Rahman.
The pre-Oscar party have drawings for *Slumdog* CDs, movie posters, and
other memorabilia.
Proceeds from the *Slumdog *pre-Oscar party will benefit the Hamara
Foundation <http://www.mscen.org/
organization that helps street children in Mumbai, India. Hamara Foundation
provides need-based services for their growth and development and creates
public awareness about the problems and needs of street children. More
information on Hamara is available at
http://www.mscen.org/
Doors open at 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 with an email to the guest list at
rsvp@dmvabcd.com. Without RSVP, prices are subject to increase at the door.
More information about the *Slumdog *pre-Oscar party is available at
http://dmvabcd.blogspot.com.
Panache is located at 1725 DeSales St. NW, Washington D.C. 20036. The
website is available at http://www.panacherestaurant.
o o o o o
LOS ANGELES
FYI... if you write to the folks below, tell 'em SAJA sent you.
*NEWS & PHOTO MEDIA ALERT*
*Come Celebrate With *
*A "Millionaire" And A "Wrestler"*
*PHENOMENON Entertainment,*
* Featuring the First Dibs Lounge, Presents*
*The Official Oscar After Party For Fox Searchlight's*
*"Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Wrestler"*
*WHO: Dev Patel*, * Freida Pinto*, *Danny Boyle*, *Anil Kapoor* *Mickey
Rourke*, * Marisa Tomei*, *Evan Rachel Wood*, *Darren Aronofsky* and
the rest of the *Slumdog Millionaire* cast and the cast of *The
Wrestler* will be on hand to celebrate the 81st Academy Awards.
Additional celebrities invited TBA.
*WHAT:* *PHENOMENON Entertainment, featuring the First Dibs Lounge,
*presents the official after party for the Fox Searchlight films
*Slumdog Millionaire* and *The Wrestler*. Nominated for 10 Academy
Awards, *Slumdog Millionaire* has been the golden child of the awards
season winning coveted awards, including Best Picture at the Golden Globes
and Best Ensemble Cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Among his many
awards and accolades for his role in *The Wrestler*, Mickey Rourke
received the Best Actor Golden Globe award and has an Oscar nomination for
this category as well.
*WHERE:* *ONE Sunset*
8730 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA. 90069
*WHEN:* *Sunday, February 22, 2009*
*8pm - Press Check-In for After Party*
*9pm – Red Carpet Opens for After Party*
*Media Contacts:*
Tej Herring
*tej@th-pr.com* <tej@th-pr.com>
Phil Jun
*ypjpr@yahoo.com* <ypjpr@yahoo.com>
o o o o o
If you know of any Slumdog-related events around the U.S. or Canada, please add them in the comments section.
Listen to previous SAJA webcasts about "Slumdog Millionaire":
- Listen to webcast with Danny Boyle, director of "Slumdog Millionaire"
- Listen to webcast with A.R. Rahman, music maestro
- Listen to webcast with Vikas Swarup, whose novel "Q&A" became "Slumdog Millionaire"
Read SAJAforum's coverage:
