For one week, Seattle’s cinema scene illustrated the rich tapestry that is Southasian* storytelling by hosting the 19th edition of the Tasveer Film Festival. This week-long festival stands out for its focus on inclusivity with 52 of the 110 films done by women, trans, and non-binary filmmakers.
The film festival is the brainchild of Tasveer, a Seattle-based Southasian non-profit organisation that has used the arts to highlight social justice issues.
Tasveer was the first fiscal sponsor for the Sapan News before the Sapan Foundation was incorporated as a nonprofit.
This year, the festival which began on 15 October and concluded last Sunday, showcased films from 15 countries across the Southasian diaspora, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Europe, India, Pakistan, UK and the USA.
“We curate films from all South Asian countries and their Diaspora, and we are dedicated to uplifting independent South Asian filmmakers and Diaspora storytelling,” Rita Meher, Executive Director and Founder of the Tasveer Film Market said in a statement.
The Tasveer Film Market, launched by Tasveer, held its inaugural gathering in tandem with the film festival. The market’s purpose is to redevelop the financial and distribution models for Southasian filmmakers in North America by expanding their reach and fostering collaboration within the film industry. There are also plans to host networking and production events.
One of the most complex parts of filmmaking is finding financial backing. For the fourth consecutive year, the Tasveer Film Fund has supported Southasian filmmakers through the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity. Under this partnership, TFF invites writers/ directors to submit short scripts exploring various themes of the diaspora/immigrant, LGBTQIA+, and Southasian narratives. Nine pitches are evaluated, and the top three candidates are awarded $25,000 each to produce their short film.
According to Shailaja Rao, board president of Tasveer, associate director of the film festival, and a founder member of Sapan, their curation is deliberate.
“Year after year, we work with great conviction to present nuanced narratives often facing censorship and suppression in South Asia. Storytellers in the region frequently navigate challenging social, cultural, legal, and political landscapes that can hinder their ability to express themselves freely,” she said in a statement.
The films covered a wide range of topics and social concerns, from caste issues to the trauma of refugees, the fight for women’s rights, the struggle against femicide, and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ community.
Like most film festivals, there was a competition. Industry professionals and audience members voted for the best movies in two specific categories.
The juried competition winners include ‘All We Imagine As Light’ by Payal Kapadia – Best Feature Narrative; ‘ Holy Curse’ by Snigdha Kapoor – Best Short Narrative; ‘Bhangaar’ by Sumira Roy – Best Feature Documentary. ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: Now and Then’ won the jury award for Best Feature Documentary, and the short ‘Loop Line’ by Renuka Shahane for best animated film. ‘Loop Line’ also won the Audience Choice for Best Animation.
Other Tasveer ‘Audience Choice Awards’ went to ‘A Nice Indian Boy’ by Roshan Sethi for Best Narrative Feature. The LGBTQIA+ story features a son bringing his partner home to meet his conservative Indian parents. This was also the festival’s closing film.
‘Pink’ by Yassa Khan won Best Narrative Short; ‘A Dream Called Khushi’ by Rishabh Jain won Best Documentary Short. The Audience Choice Best Actor award went to Faizan Sheikh from ‘Stalled’; Best Director: Pooja Kaul for ‘The Umesh Chronicles’; Best LGBTQI Film: ‘Katlaa Curry’ by Rohit Prajapati; Best Social Justice Film: ‘A Lullaby for Yellow Roses’ by Rahul Roye; and Best Children’s Film: ‘Gold Medal’ by Ujjwal Patel.
Southasian filmmakers are increasingly using their work to confront social issues. By weaving these themes into their art, they challenge stereotypes, raise awareness and understanding locally and globally.
Regina Johnson is the Sapan News coordinating editor. She has extensively reported on America’s energy policy at S&P Global, Washington, D.C. She has also covered the financial advisory market and written human interest stories about parenting, education, and women in business. Her stories were published in LATINA Style Magazine, Advisors Magazine, Inkstick Media, and Thrive Magazine