Premiere Of Ivan Ayr's Debut Feature SONI Gets A Standing Ovation At The Festival

Director Ivan Ayr's debut feature Soni had its World Premiere at recently concluded 75th Venice International Film Festival where it received a standing ovation at the festival, with a long and engaging Q & A post the screening.

The film Soni stars newcomers, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan and Saloni Batra in the lead roles

Soni is produced by Kimsi Singh and Kartikeya Narayan Singh whose previous credits include the 2015 Cannes Un Certain Regard Selection Chauthi Koot

The film was under the Orizzonti Competition at 75th Venice International Film Festival

Soni was a part of the 'Work in Progress' section at the NFDC Film Bazaar 2017 where it had won two awards, the Facebook Award for Best 'Work-In-Progress' Project and Prasad DI Award for the Best Film in the 'Film Bazaar Recommends' section.

It was among the 5 films to be selected for the 'Work in Progress' Lab at NFDC Film Bazaar 2017 for post-production support where it was mentored by the renowned French editor Jacques Comets (Wajib - Locarno 2017 Don Quixote Award Winner) and veteran Festival Director Marco Mueller (Venice Film Festival and International Film Festival of Rome).

The film is about Soni, a young and fiery policewoman in Delhi and Kalpana, her superintendent who are dealing with a growing crisis of violent crimes against women. Their mission and alliance are further strained by COMPLICATIONS arising in Soni's personal and professional life.

Thrilled about his debut feature making its World Premiere at one of the most celebrated film festivals in the world receiving an outstanding performance, director Ivan Ayr, says, "It was quite surreal to be greeted at the Sala Darsena, the birthplace of some of the most groundbreaking work in cinema. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced. My heart was racing. That moment will stay with me forever."

Equally overjoyed with the response the debutant producer, Kimsi says "The way the festival welcomed our delegation as we entered the cinema hall, instantly made all the hard work and all those sleepless nights worth it. It was beautiful and emotional."