Vancouver stars headline online benefit for COVID-19 relief efforts in India
On May 8, stars from Vancouver’s film and television industry will share stories about their work, passions, dreams, challenges, special causes, and favourite things as part of YVR Screen Scene For India, a star-studded online event in support of COVID-19 efforts in the beleaguered nation.
India is in the midst of a catastrophic second wave of the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 infections are reported each day. Overcrowded hospitals are running out of oxygen, beds, and anti-viral drugs. People are mourning. The suffering is needless, and the need for relief is great. (BBC News article: “Deadly second wave spreads from cities to small towns”: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56913047)
YVR Screen Scene For India intends to meet that need.
Hosted by YVR Screen Scene Podcast host Sabrina Rani Furminger, YVR Screen Scene For India brings together Vancouver stars for a joyous panel event akin to Inside the Actors Studio (but with a South Asian Canadian twist!). Featuring Agam Darshi (Funny Boy), Dhirendra (Lego Jurassic Park: The Legend of Isla Nublar), Praneet Akilla (Nancy Drew), Rekha Sharma (Battlestar Galactica), Sachin Sahel (The 100), and Sandy Sidhu (Nurses).
All money raised from YVR Screen Scene For India ticket sales will be donated to Indian and international organizations providing relief to the people who need it most, including Goonj (an organization that works with marginalized communities in rural and urban areas), Doctors Without Borders’ Emergency Response in India (which is setting up two 1000-bed units in a large field hospital in Mumbai), KhalsaAid International (who are flying oxygen concentrators into the country), and others to be confirmed.
“I’ve been deeply worried about my family in India, and steeped in a feeling of powerlessness,” says Furminger, who is South Asian and Ukrainian Canadian. “But I’m not powerless, and we as a film and television community aren’t powerless. We’re going to do what we do – share stories and speak from our hearts and invite people around the world to bear witness – and every penny raised is going to go directly to help people in India.”
“It’ll be joyful with purpose,” she adds.
YVR Screen Scene For India takes place on Saturday, May 8 at 2pm Vancouver time. Tickets are $20 USD and are available at https://www.yvrscreenscene.com/events/indiacovidrelief. Ticket sales will close at 12pm Vancouver time on May 8. An event link will be emailed to ticket holders closer to the event date.
