MUMBAI: The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has announced that writer director Dilip Mehta‘s Cooking With Stella will be screened as the opening night film of its eighth annual festival on 20 April.

Mehta makes his feature film directorial debut with this film, a warm-hearted comedy about scheming cook Stella (Seema Biswas) who uses her long-term service as the personal chef to the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi to run an elaborate grey market import business.

Leading lady Lisa Ray reunites with Mehta and producer and co-writer Deepa Mehta after Hollywood/Bollywood and the 2007 Academy Award nominated film Water both of which were directed by Deepa Mehta.

Says Screen Actors Guild National Executive Director David White, "We are thrilled to support the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles in its efforts to expand the relationship between Hollywood and the Indian film community and it is our distinct honour to celebrate the artistic and social contributions of our member Lisa Ray."

Lisa Ray, Dilip and Deepa Mehta will be in attendance at the film‘s Los Angeles premiere.

The festival runs from 20 to 25 April.