[Surrey, British Columbia, Canada] – The International South Asian Film Festival (iSAFF) is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated 2024 edition running from September 25th to 29th. Promising to captivate film enthusiasts with the theme “Crossroads”, this year will be a celebration of innovative and intersectional South Asian cinema and artists.
The festival will offer expanded programming this year, which includes features, shorts, music videos, episodic series, content creators, and industry events that highlight the rich and diverse tapestry of South Asian storytelling, and its growing importance on the global stage.
“We’ve made incredible strides in the past decade, every year we strive to support diverse voices in storytelling with different themes and perspectives and provide a platform for new talent while ensuring the best films make the line-up. We’ve also significantly expanded our year-round programming through collaborations with major industry players. With this year’s expansion, we’re able to offer more innovative programming, attract a greater range of talent, and strengthen our relationship with our home, City of Surrey.” says Mannu Sandhu, iSAFF Festival Producer.
iSAFF 2024 will feature 19 World Premieres, 8 North American Premieres, and 23 Canadian Premieres. The festival will open with the feature film Boong, right after its World Premiere at TIFF in early September. Lakshmipriya Devi makes her directorial debut with this stirring film inspired by some of her own life experiences. Boong is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment, Alan McAlex of Suitable Pictures, and Vikesh Bhutani and Shujaat Saudagar of Chalkboard Entertainment.
The opening night film will be followed by the Purple Carpet Gala, a glamorous celebration of all the artists at the festival and the industry partners and sponsors.
iSAFF will close with Amar Wala’s Shook, starring Saamer Usmani (Succession, Inventing Anna, Three Body Problem) and Amy Forsyth (CODA), another promising debut feature from TIFF.
“This year is incredibly exciting for us,” says Pulkit Datta, iSAFF’s Artistic Director. “It’s a time of growth and innovation, where we’re fine-tuning our curation under the ‘Crossroads’ theme. We’re exploring the intersections of South Asian stories and talent with diverse backgrounds and industries. Our goal is not just to screen films but to nurture careers and enrich the local industry, offering our filmmakers opportunities beyond the festival.”
Other highlights from the 2024 program include:
- Usman Riaz’s The Glassworker, the first animated feature from Pakistan.
- Dark comedy We Strangers, directed by Anu Valia (Dropout, Jake and Amir)
- A dynamic range of South Asian and North American acting talent, including Sakina
Jaffrey, Kausar Mohammed, Parvesh Cheena, Bernard White, Laith Nakli, Rajshri Deshpande, Ahmed Ali Akbar, Amna Ilyas, Saamer Usmani, and Rebecca Ablack, starring in a mix of short and feature films.
- An exciting partnership with the South Asian Film Festival of America (SAFFA), presented by Product of Culture, who have curated and are co-presenting a block of short films titled “It’s A Bold World.” This selection highlights South Asian queer and female characters who challenge and redefine stereotypes.
- The lineup also includes 53 short films and 5 episodic series from South Asia and its diaspora, showcasing a mix of genres and topics.
The festival’s innovative industry program includes:
- iSAFF’s Pathbreaking Actors series returns with an in-depth talk with Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel) and Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi, How I Met Your Father).
- A spotlight on social media content creators and influencers, who are at the forefront of dynamic, boundary-pushing storytelling and social commentary.
- An interactive workshop on distribution and impact, with case studies, designed to help filmmakers discover bold, unconventional ways to connect with their audiences.
- An exclusive event where the creative minds behind CBC’s hit TV series Allegiance share the process of making their show.
- An event on filmmaking in Canada, spotlighting funding, incentives, and resources, with top industry representatives sharing their expertise.
- A first of its kind event spotlighting the role fashion plays in cinema, including a discussion with costume designers, stylists, and a trunk show.
View the iSAFF features lineup below:
AGENT OF HAPPINESS
Bhutan/Hungary, documentary feature
British Columbia Premiere
Dir – Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó
Amber, a happiness agent, travels the Bhutanese Himalayas surveying people’s happiness. On his remote mountain journey, he searches for fulfillment.
BOONG
India, scripted feature
British Columbia Premiere
Dir – Lakshmipriya Devi
For 8 year old Boong, bringing his father back would be the most special gift for his mother. But his search culminates into an unexpected gift – a new beginning.
DEAR JASSI
India, scripted feature
British Columbia Premiere
Dir – Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
In 1996 Punjab, India, Canadian-born Indian girl Jassi falls in love with Mithu, a rickshaw driver.
Their attraction is pure and unconditional, but is it strong enough to fight the dictates imposed by Jassi’s family and Punjabi society?
THE GLASSWORKER
Pakistan/Spain/US, scripted feature
North American Premiere
Dir – Usman Riaz
An across the tracks love story in a war-torn divided country.
GUNJAL
Pakistan, scripted feature Canadian Premiere
Dir – Shoaib Sultan
Journalist Shahbaz Bhatti uncovers child labor’s ugly truth while seeking justice for a murdered activist in 1990s Pakistan, transforming from journalist to advocate.
PRIVACY
India/USA, scripted feature Canadian Premiere
Dir – Sudeep Kanwal
A distressed Mumbai surveillance center operator ignores protocol and begins to investigate crimes happening on her watch.
RAY OF HOPE
Canada/Sri Lanka, documentary feature
British Columbia Premiere
Dir – Ryan Singh and Nikila Cole
Ray of Hope is a personal journey of an Eelam Tamil Canadian woman who survived the Sri Lankan armed conflict, advocating for others with interspersed stories of healing and triumphs.
SHOOK
Canada, scripted feature
British Columbia Premiere
Dir – Amar Wala
Fresh out of grad-school, fledgling writer Ashish (Saamer Usmani) finds that life as an adult isn’t quite what he expected.
WE STRANGERS
USA, scripted feature
Canadian Premiere
Dir – Anu Valia
Rayelle Martin, a commercial cleaning woman in Gary, Indiana, stumbles into a new job cleaning the homes of several rich, suburban families. While working, she tells one small lie that spins out of control.
iSAFF 2024 will take place from September 25th to 29th. The Purple Carpet Gala is to be held on September 26th at the Surrey City Hall.
Tickets and passes for iSAFF 2024 are available for purchase at www.isaff.ca
For the latest updates and program details, follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/isaffcanada/
