ReelN Ltd and entertainment portal Filme Shilmy joined forces to launch a brand new and bespoke live audience talk show, The Filme Shilmy Show, which was sponsored by State Bank of India UK (SBI) in partnership with ROQ RAW Radio, Nashtaa Café and Popcorn Pixel.

The first edition took place at East London’s Rich Mix cinema on Friday 22nd September, headlined as “A Spotlight On British-Asian Filmmakers”. Attendees on the night included filmmakers, actors and influencers, who came together to celebrate this unique model of a show. The key talent included three award-winning and acclaimed filmmakers Pravesh Kumar MBE, Nathalia Syam and Dr Parvinder Shergill. Popular film journalist and presenter Anuj Radia, the founder of Filme Shilmy, moderated the in-depth discussion. As well as reflecting on their individual journeys, the conversation also touched on vast industry-related subjects.

The three panellists have been champions of making cinema that is rooted and reflective of ethnic lives within the Western world, as well as touching on other pertinent, industry-related subjects. Pravesh, the head of Rifco Theatre Company, touches on topics like ambition and mental health in his BFI-supported feature debut, Little English. Nathalia also made her feature debut with the award-winning Footprints On Water, which has successfully toured international film festivals and highlights the issue of illegal immigration in Birmingham. It is a rare film which showcases the integration of the Malayali and Bihari communities within the United Kingdom. Parvinder, who is both the co-producer and lead actress in the ITVX short film Kaur, endeavours to destigmatise Sikh women wearing turbans. It is currently being developed into a feature-length picture and shortlisted at this year’s Asian Media Awards.

Anuj Radia, the show’s presenter and the Founder of Filme Shilmy says: “As far as we’re aware, there has not been a consistent talk show which celebrates and promotes South-Asian talent by a host of that heritage. With this venture, we would like to encourage more independent and established creative talents to help bridge this gap and make the cross-cultural representation an authentic one. It is high time that independent content creators and storytellers themselves become the mainstream front of Entertainment.”

Aman Dhillon, Managing Founder of ReelN Ltd also says: “After Anuj has become a well-known and sought-after journalist it seems fitting to now develop the platform as a show with a live audience. The company continues to support new, emerging talent, and new releases and this new show concept enables audiences a unique opportunity and immersive experience with talent and gives talent a platform which is often not available.”

Pravesh Kumar MBE also highlights the importance of unison and represntation: “It is vital that we tell our stories from our own authentic lens. South Asian diaspora is one of the largest in the world, but still we are invisible on screens and stages. If we stand together, we have more power and our collective voice can be louder.”

Nathalia Syam adds: “I looked forward to being one of the the panel members at The Filme Shilmy Show, the first south-Asian talk show to discuss British-Asian creatives working in the film industry. It’s important to have conversations around each other’s journeys, and discuss the various challenges and solutions experienced along the way. It’s also important to represent the voices that otherwise often gets missed out of the bigger picture.”

After creating Kaur, Dr Parvinder Shergill is hopeful that the film will create more opportunities for such stories to emerge in cinema. She mentions: “Our authenticity and our voice deserves the respect to be heard and we should have the honour to be seen. We are here and we are not going anywhere. Kaur is the hope for more British Asian stories to be told and the empowerment to give women the platform they are entitled to.”

Arguably the first of its kind, the trailblazing concept has been established to provide an opportunity for South Asian talents, whether they are UK-based or international, independent and/or reputable, to promote and reflect on their journeys as storytellers and content creators. After a successful inauguration this year, the makers aspire to invite more British Asian and South Asian overseas talent in 2024.