The 2024 edition of International South Asian Film Festival (iSAFF) promises expanded programming at four Surrey venues over five days, Sept. 25-29.
"Crossroads" is the theme of this year's festival, billed as "a celebration of innovative and intersectional South Asian cinema and artists."
Showcased are features, shorts, music videos, episodic series, content creators and industry events that aim to highlight "the rich and diverse tapestry of South Asian storytelling, and its growing importance on the global stage."
Posted on isaff.ca, the festival schedule details gatherings at Surrey City Hall, Landmark Cinemas Guildford, Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel and Skye Avenue Kitchen & Lounge (at Central City Shopping Centre).
iSAFF 2024 boasts 19 world-premieres, eight North American premieres and 23 Canadian premieres.
"This year is incredibly exciting for us,” Pulkit Datta, iSAFF’s artistic director, said in a news release. “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.”
With a "Purple Carpet Gala" at city hall, the festival opens Thursday, Sept. 26 with the feature film Boong, which world-premiered at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) early in September. Lakshmipriya Devi makes her directorial debut with an acclaimed film inspired by some of her own life experiences. The story: "A schoolboy, Boong, navigates racial tensions and border challenges in Manipur, driven by resilience and determination to reunite his divided family."
iSAFF will close with Amar Wala’s Shook, starring Saamer Usmani and Amy Forsyth. The plot: "Fresh out of grad-school, fledgling writer Ashish (Usmani) finds that life as an adult isn’t quite what he expected."
Other festival highlights include Usman Riaz’s The Glassworker, an animated feature from Pakistan, and the dark comedy We Strangers, directed by Anu Valia.
“We’ve made incredible strides in the past decade," said Mannu Sandhu, iSAFF producer. "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 lineup.
"We’ve also significantly expanded our year-round programming through collaborations with major industry players," Sandhu added. "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.”
