NEW YORK: The Fifth Annual - South Asian International Film Festival, SAIFF, will kick-off on October 22 and conclude on October 28. With a busy week of screenings, panel discussions and evening events this hallmark event in South Asian cinema is planning on having one of its most exciting years yet.

NEW YORK: Indiart 2008, New York: The Journey unveils for the very first time 26 new works by the biggest stars of the contemporary Indian art world. Presented by the International Institute of Fine Arts (IIFA) in concert with the New York Academy of Art and supported by Deutsche Bank, (private wealth division) as the first step toward a broader partnership and artistic exchange.

FREMONT: On March 19, a small team of ten aspiring young Bay Area Bharatanatyam dancers from the Shri Krupa Dance Foundation, between the ages of 11 and 18, boarded a plane at the San Francisco airport. Destination: Barcelona.

LOS ANGELES: On April 27, as part of his 14-day 2008 US tour, Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya, one of the world's greatest slide guitarist will perform at Herrick Chapel, Occidental College. The program takes listeners on a journey through the history of Indian classical music arriving finally at the 21st century.

LOS ANGELS: Get set for California to rock with three Gurdas Mann concerts. Enjoy this Baisakhi season with Gurdas Mann "The Bhangra King" that draws ultimate respect from all Punjabi music lovers.

RIVERSIDE: The Riverside International Film Festival is presenting the audience with a spicy array of Indian Films. Michael York is the recipient of RIFF 2008 - Life Time Achievement Award. He will be at the 'Opening Gala', on April 11, at 6.00pm to be held at the Plaza Courtyard, next to El Torito.

NEW YORK: Samina Mishra is the great granddaughter of Dr Zakir Husain. She's a famous filmmaker whose films delve into the many identities that Indian women have to contend with. NDTV program Documentary 24x7 has aired 'The House on Gulmohar Avenue', directed by Samina Mishra.

NEW YORK: Pan Desi, an English-language television network was officially launched March 22 on CoLours TV. Targeted at South Asians living in America the network is the first to be available to over 50 million people everyday during prime time.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.: Dish Network Corporation, a leading US satellite TV provider, hosted a well-attended dinner cruise in New York, to commemorate the launch of two leading Star India channels Star India Plus (Ch. 716) and Star India One (Ch. 718), as part of Dish Network's "Hindi Mega Pack" channel package.