West is West

In appreciation of your tumultuous support for our curtain-raiser for 2011 season, "The Waiting City", Hidden Gems would like to offer a double pass to you for advance screening of British Comedy named "West Is West" to premier at Cineplex Eau Clair Theatre on Thursday, March 17th at 7 pm. There is limited sitting, so your RSVP is mandatory. Please, arrive 20-30 minutes early as it would be first come, first served.

For more information on this film visit imdb.

Please RSVP via email or phone:

email: hiddengemsff@shaw.ca

Phone: (403) 457 - 3036

"The Waiting City" Fabulously Received

Sundays screening of "The Waiting City," proved to be fabulously received.


"Brought to Calgary by Niru Bhatia of Hidden Gems Film Festival, The Waiting City was a poignant film with a simple yet universal story about compelling desire for parenthood. Great Cinematography, compassionate portrayal of Calcutta's chaotic everyday living and believable couple played by Radha Mitchell and Joel Edgerton was definitely an experience not to be missed. Thanks Niru for bringing us such sumptuous feast everytime." 
- Renu Mahajan-


For more comments and reviews visit our facebook group:
 Hidden Gems Film Festival


The film depicted an Australian couple who travel to India to finalize their International Adoption of a young little girl. Amidst the adoption process and deep desire to raise a child this film brings to life the strains and struggles that couples can experience when dealing with sensitive subject of being childless. As a general progression of life, one often expects couples to grow and have a home with children, however often we do not realize the obstacles some couples may face. These challenges can cause tension in marital relationships that as an outsider we may be not be aware of, often leading to loss of faith, loss of self, or loss of love for one another. It can on the other hand also strengthen relationships if couples allow themselves the space to manage such emotions through the support of friends and family around them. Hope, faith, and belief play a huge role in managing these challenges, and other challenges in life. Many emotions are brought to life in this film regarding love, marriage, parenthood, and faith. India can viewed as chaotic and serene, often referred to as the perfect balance between the spiritual world, and the material world. India is one place that in the midst of the total chaos one can gain complete inner peace through spirituality if you are lucky enough to let yourself awaken to it.  The backdrop of India in this film beautifully illustrates the power of faith and our own beliefs whatever they may be. 


A special thanks goes out to everyone who pulled out their wallets while satisfying there taste buds with some tantalizing chai to support the Smile Foundation in India. The Smile Foundation supports genuine grassroots' initiatives targeted at providing education and health to underprivileged children. In the process, becoming the first ever grantmaker and changing the face of thousands of lives. For more information in the Smile Foundation India please visit their website: 
Smile Foundation India.


Thanks to all the patrons that came out to view the film and to all those that took a moment to vote after the film. Below are the results of your votes:

• 11.3% Liked It
• 45% Loved It
• 43.7%  Wow!!!

Kudos to the volunteers who orchestrated the event with glamour and grace, and congratulations to Ramzan Hirji winner of "dinner for two" at Mango Shiva courtesy of Mango Shiva.


Stay tuned for information on more "gems" coming your way soon. Don't miss out, make sure you join the Hidden Gems Film Festival Facebook group, and subscribe to the Hidden Gems blog to stay updated! Don't forget to visit our website also at: http://www.hiddengemsfilmfestival.com

Hidden Gems latest buzz around town!

Hidden Gems is getting alot of buzz around town with the upcoming screening of "The Waiting City,"at 4:00 pm this Sunday February 20th at the Plaza Theatre. 


Check out some of the noteworthy buzz below:

• Listen to Hidden Gems Festival Executive Director Niru Bhatia interviewed by CKUA's Kathleen Renne.
• Read the Five Facts about The Waiting City in the Calgary Herald.
• View Calgary Sun's article: East meets West in Film Fest.
• Catch Niru once again tonight on Global Calgary News at 6:00pm!

Lauren Babuik Interviews Niru Bhatia and Hidden Gems returns to The Plaza Theatre with “The Waiting City”

Posted on 13 February 2011 by Calgary Beacon

By Lauren Babuik, reporter
http://www.calgarybeacon.com/2011/02/niru-bhatia-and-hidden-gems-returns-to-the-plaza-theatre-with-“the-waiting-city”/#more-41397

Niru Bhatia and the Hidden Gems Film Organization are set to screen Australian film “The Waiting City” at the Plaza in Kensington Feb. 20 at 4 pm. The film is brought to you by the same group behind the Hidden Gems Indian Film Festival of October. 

This time around, the group presents an outsider’s look into India, with director Claire McCarthy centered on a young couple’s journey to Calcutta to adopt a baby, only to find that the adoption has not yet been finalized. It is in Calcutta where the marriage of the couple is tested. 

The film is not yet released in Canada or the United States, and is a one-night only event, making this screening a rare experience that should be taken advantage of. Bhatia says that this film differs from previous screenings in that instead of showing India as Indians see it, the country is interpreted as foreigners see it.

“The director is Australian, the lead actors are Australian, and the story is so timely, how people are adopting children from other countries and what happens when you do that,” said Bhatia, “It is very colourful, it offers all the sights that you can see in Calcutta; there are festivals, there are weddings.”

The inspiration for her first full-length feature film came when McCarthy ventured to India with her sister to volunteer in Mother Theresa’s orphanage in Calcutta, and saw firsthand the adoption process of Indian children by foreigners.

According to Bhatia, McCarthy utilized surprise and spontaneity in “The Waiting City”, in order to present raw insight.

“What is nice about this is normally the actors rehearse and do all those things. They didn’t have that much time, she knew where the festivals were happening, where the weddings were happening and she just dropped them in that situation. 

So their reactions are very spontaneous and very believable. Instead of a polished, rehearsed film this is a spontaneous film,” described Bhatia, adding that, “it is so different from what you are used to.”

Tickets for “The Waiting City” cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door. There is a group discount of 10% for the purchase of 20-30 tickets and 20% for 31 or more. There is also a student discount of $2.

Filmgoers also have the opportunity to purchase a Hidden Gems membership for $25, which entitles them to see the first 3 films for free, as well as a discount on the annual festival pass.

For tickets call Niru Bhatia (403) 457-3036 or email: hiddengemsff@shaw.ca

To view the trailer for “The Waiting City”, please visit www.hiddengemsfilmfestival.com

Also upcoming: In May, Hidden Gems celebrates the 150th birthday of India’s Noble laureate Sri Rabindranath Tagore, a poet, author and composer. In the honor of this occasion, Hidden Gems will be screening two unreleased films based on his stories. 

For more information, please visit www.hiddengemsfilmfestival.com

The Waiting City

This year, Hidden Gems Film Festival will debut an Australian movie with an Indian theme "The Waiting City".

Synopsis: An outwardly happy Australian couple journey to Calcutta to collect their adopted baby. But on arrival find that the arrangements have yet to be finalized. Soon, the intoxicating mystic power of the Indian city pulls them in separate and unexpected directions, and the vulnerability of their marriage begins to reveal itself. 

A wonderful Australian movie, shot entirely in India. It offers an outsider's view of India. Only one show on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. at Plaza, 1133 Kensington Road, N.W. Calgary. This film is rated 14A.

Book your advance tickets for $10, or $12 at the door.

Students & Seniors $2 off (ID required for discounted rates).

Call Hidden Gems Film Festival: (403) 457 - 3036 for more details.

Got the winter blues? Get your Tickets and lets go to the movies!

Fall is usually the season for Film Festivals. It is also the pre-Oscar rush at the theatres. Hence, everyone jostles for time and place at the venues. Hidden Gems has an additional factor that takes precedence over all else, i.e. Indian Festival season. It seems all the festivities are lined up one after the other. It starts with Navratri, Dassera, Durga puja, Kali puja & those early Diwali functions. Even a couple of screenings at the weekends seem to interfere with one festival or other.

But nothing much is happening in January or February except for those impending threats of an unexpected snowstorm.This year, Hidden Gems Film Festival will debut an Australian movie with an Indian theme, on Feb. 20th 2011 at 4pm, about a couple, who wrap everything up and leave for Kolkata to adopt a girl. This movie is in English-no subtitles !

2011 is going to be a stellar year for Hidden Gems. In May, we celebrate 150th Birthday of India's Noble laureate Sri Rabindranath Tagore. He was not only an imaginative poet, but also composed music for his poems, thereby starting a new genre in music called Robindra Sangeet. He was a prolific author of dramas, stories, novella etc. There are numerous movies based on his stories, we plan to show two, not yet released movies, based on his evergreen stories, on May 8, 2011. The third annual Hidden Gems Festival would follow, probably the two weekends of October 7-9, & 14-16.

To initiate this extended programme, we have a fabulous offer:

You can register as Hidden Gems Film Society Member for 2011 for $25, which entitles you to free tickets for the first 3 shows, value $36, on Feb. 20 & two shows on May 8 plus discount on the annual Festival Pass. The exact amount of discount to be determined when the line-up is finalized.