NEW DELHI: Emmy-nominated America-based filmmaker Tirlok Malik has been honoured with the special Outstanding Achievement in Multicultural Arts in acting, filmmaking, and immigrant advocacy at the International Film Festival in Manhattan.

The Festival held recently showed films dealing with social issues. The festival has the most diverse selection of world class films and a focus on social issues and advocacy as part of the programming and goals.

Malik has made many films starting from Lonely In America, Khushiyaan, On Golden Years, and many more. They all deal with the effects of migration in America.

Malik, who has given a break to many new faces in his films in front or behind the camera, said, “I am happy to be a part of this festival and I feel honored for this awards.”

Malik also received an award for best film award for On Golden Years.

 Luis Pedron, co-founder of the festival, said the film On Golden Years deals with social issues of retirement that millions of first generation immigrants face in their lives.

Films from many countries, including Israel, Australia, Philippines, Sweden, Singapore, and the United States were shown at IFFM.

Malik accepted the award on the behalf of the team of On Golden Years and said, “It was team work making this film.”

The film is produced by Golden Movies. The idea of the story is inspired by the book Seeking Roots by Iggy Ignatius who is also the co-director of the film. The film stars among others Ranjit Chowdhry, Jyoti Singh, Reeves Lehmann, Shetal Shah, Noor Naghmi, Tirlok Malik, among others.

The film has been shot at the Indian retirement community Shantiniketan in Florida.

Meanwhile, Malik recently launched a website for streaming Indian-American movies www.nritvfilmclub.com. The website seeks to promote new talents as Malik wants to create what he calls ‘NRI-wood’ just like Hollywood and Bollywood.