NEW YORK: The NBA Monday announced the launch of “NBA Films for Fans”, a global initiative that will engage filmmakers from 11 countries to develop 24 short documentary films celebrating the NBA and basketball from each of their respective cultural perspectives.
Seven of the participating filmmakers from India, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Senegal, UK and the U.S. will screen their films at an exclusive red-carpet event on Thursday, February 16 at Soundwell in Salt Lake City, Utah as part of NBA All-Star 2023.
Providing a platform to showcase local talent on a global scale, the NBA has commissioned three films from India. ‘Yaari’, a film that focuses on five girls who prioritize team bonding above personal growth to be successful, is one of the selected films that will premiere at the event. The other submissions from India include ‘Tu Bas Khel’ and ‘Redemption’, both local heart-warming stories that aptly depict the transformative powers of basketball.
Following the premiere event, the seven films will be screened throughout the weekend at NBA Crossover, an immersive fan experience taking place at Salt Palace Convention Center from Feb. 17-19, before all 24 films will be made available exclusively within the new global NBA App later this season.
The films, officially commissioned by the NBA, will provide fans with a deeper outlook into the milestones and moments that shape the league’s global influence from the perspective of these creators with diverse backgrounds. The filmmakers were given unlimited access to the NBA’s video archives and will receive promotional support from the league throughout the remainder of the 2022-23 season.
“We are excited to work with this diverse group of creative filmmakers who share a passion for the league and are willing to bring their unique basketball stories to the new NBA App,” said NBA senior vice president, head of Social, Digital & Original Content Andrew Yaffe. “Films for Fans is a program that celebrates up-and-coming filmmakers who love the game and collectively unite the international basketball community.”
As part of the initiative and in celebration of Salt Lake City’s rich history as a filmmaking hub, the Utah Jazz produced a short film about the intersection of basketball and the local community that will be among the seven films to debut at the premiere event.
Participating filmmakers:
*Pavneet Gakhal & Amol Gakhal (India): Yaari
Gaurav Lulla & Amol Gakhal (India): Tu Bas Khel
Mahavir Rawat (India): Redemption
Damiana Acuña (Mexico): Campos de Oro
Batandwa Alperstein (South Africa): I Am
*A Utah Jazz Production in partnership with the BYU Adlab (U.S.): Champagne Stain
Amaury Barrera (Mexico): The Air Belongs to Those Who Dream
*João Gabriel Caffarelli (Brazil): “Salve, Guys!”
Romeo Candido (Canada): The Highest Form
Lucius DeChausay (Canada): Regular
Santiago Fábregas (Mexico): Mexican Dream
Rodrigo Perez Galicia (Mexico): Alley Oops
*Daniel Arroniz & Sam Neter/Hoopsfix (United Kingdom): Got Next
Carlo Ledesma (Philippines): The Mountain Ballers
*Abdoulaye Ndao & Mohamed Diokhané Sy (Senegal): Renaissance
Adesua Okosun (Nigeria): Contact
Jaime Peña (Mexico): Barefoot Champions of the Mountain
Lachlan Ross (Australia): Somethin’s Cookin in the Capital
Sebastian Sariñana (Mexico): Contra
Raphael Silva (Brazil): Fundamental Rules
Diego Huacuja T. (Mexico): Chronicles of an Orange Ball
Eduardo Valenzuela (Mexico): Two Choices
Vaner Vendramini (Brazil): In the Hands of God
*Tier Zero (Canada): Bounce
*Films that will debut at the premiere event in Salt Lake City
Yaari
‘Yaari’ is a captivating film that reflects the dedication and compassion among five girls who prioritize team bonding above personal growth to be successful. Sacrifice and compromise from them all are required to make each other the best versions of themselves. The film has been directed and produced by Pavneet Gakhal and Amol Gakhal respectively, both ardent fans of basketball and the NBA.
Tu Bas Khel
Directed by Gaurav Lulla and produced by Amol Gakhal, ‘Tu Bas Khel’ captures the heart-warming journey of two youngsters who belong to opposite spectrums of society but are brought together circumstantially to explore the sheer joy that basketball brings to their lives.
Redemption
Directed by Mahavir Singh Rawat, ‘Redemption’ depicts the deep seeded love for basketball which has the ability to transform lives even without making a career out of it. The film portrays how the first crank of the net when the ball goes in is sheer joy and there is no greater feeling of contentment than imparting the experience, knowledge, love and passion of the sport further to the ones seeking it.
