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City to host its first Bengali Film Festival

Shariqua Ahmed
BBC News, Peterborough
Annamika Gosh Group of ladies - dressed in indian colourful outfits standing around a candle and trays of flowers Annamika Gosh
Durga Pooja, a festival which pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga, will be marked by the Hindu Bengali community in Peterborough

A city's Bengali community said it was "excited" to host its first film festival.

Peterborough's Sanskriti Club s the city's migrant Bengali community, which includes people from India and Bangladesh.

The group, along with Gateway Films, a community-focused arts and films group, is hosting the film event on Sunday at the Key Theatre.

Annamika Gosh, who founded the Sanskriti Club, said, she "takes pride" in organising these community events that "highlight the culture and heritage of Bengal".

Gateway Films An orange and red poster for the film festival- with Benglai festival written in Yellow with three images of the films to be showcased Gateway Films
The Bengali Film Festival is being held on Sunday at the Key Theatre in Peterborough

Peterborough has a growing young Bengali population, Ms Gosh said, adding that many come for "short-term" work in the city but sometimes "struggle to adjust to the new cultures".

She said: "We identify the needs of this community. Especially women struggle to find things they want to do.

"That's how this club was formed and we have been holding cultural events as well as health and wellbeing sessions.

"We mark our religious festivals with real effort and celebrations to keep our younger generations connected to their roots."

Annamika Gosh Annamika in a red saree smiling for the cameraAnnamika Gosh
Annamika Gosh has been running the Sanskrit club since 2021

Bengal has played a "significant" part in the Indian cinema and has produced famous "singers, actors and film-makers" over the years, Ms Gosh recalled.

She said the film festival was an opportunity to give people a gateway into the "rich talent that originates from the region".

Ms Gosh, from Kolkata, in India, said: "Three popular films will be showcased on Sunday.

"One is a family-focused one, one is about women liberation and another is a detective movie.

"I was keen to showcase some of our homegrown talent and I know people are looking forward to it."

Emily Steele, from Gateway Films, said the organisation worked with Peterborough's diverse communities and initiates new screening programmes, and was approached by the Sanskriti Club.

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