The 10th edition of the South Asian Film Festival of Montréal (free and online this year) offers engaging and entertaining films that are a window into the world of South Asia and its diaspora. They compel audiences to realize how much there is in common among cultures. Daily post-film panel discussions will be more interesting than ever, with directors and producers from around the world; a great opportunity to build multicultural bridges and enhance intercultural understanding. Films are subtitled in both English and French. The only South Asian film festival in Québec, these award-winning films are not normally shown in commercial cinema houses.
The films are about South Asians in Canada, USA, UK, France, Portugal, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and South Africa, in languages as varied as Assamese, Bengali, English, French, Hindi, Khowar, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Portuguese, Punjabi, Tamil, Tibetan and Urdu.
Festival opening feature, BEHIND THE BHANGRA BOYS
For all SAFFM film descriptions, trailers & schedule, Click HERE
All screenings and panel discussions are free
Close on the heels of its successful participation in the record-breaking and trend-setting Coalition of South Asian Film Festivals, Kabir Centre for Arts & Culture, along with Festival Director Dushyant Yajnik and his tireless programming team,is pleased to announce the 10th edition of the South Asian Film Festival of Montréal (SAFFMontréal). In response to the pandemic necessitating innovative ways of carrying on its mission to serve the public, the Centre will present all films online. This platform will encourage inspiring, cross-cultural, live Q & A discussions between filmmakers and viewers after every screening, via Zoom. This year, playing to a worldwide audience, the Festival runs from November 19 to Sunday 29, admission to the entire festival is free.
Says Dushyant Yajnik, Director of SAFFMontréal about the scope of films the Festival offers, “We have selected fiction and documentary films that are about the human condition in all its wonder as well as complexity. They range from the mainstream cinema of South India and Pakistan, known as Lollywood, after the city of Lahore, to the offbeat films known as hatke films—‘a little different’ in Hindi. As a bonus in these Covid lockdown times, you will get a splendid visual and cultural tour of the Indian subcontinent from the comfort of your homes! From the films of the South Asian diaspora communities in different parts of the world one gets an appreciation of the joys and struggles of immigrants. These films are our effort to foster multiculturalism and harmony in Canada.”
This 10th edition of the Festival will present films about the lives of South Asians in Canada, USA, UK, France, Portugal, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and South Africa, in languages as varied as Assamese, Bengali, English, French, Hindi, Khowar, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Portuguese, Punjabi, Tamil, Tibetan and Urdu. All the films will be presented in their original version with English subtitles or French subtitles as chosen by the viewing public. Film themes are vastly varied, including: community networking through arts, racism, war, women’s rights, and human psychology among others. The South Asian Film Festival of Montréal also presents several delightful and comedic short films.
SAFFMontréal’s opening and closing nights will show superb Canadian films. Opening night will feature a short lyrical film Balakrishna, a portrayal of the indelible memories of the interaction between a young Canadian boy and an elephant brought over from India, followed by the feature documentary Behind the Bhangra Boys, a joyous look at culture, immigration, activism and community networking through the experience of Maritime Bhangra Group, a dancing team of five Sikh immigrants on Canada’s East Coast who dance to fundraise for charities. The closing night will feature Because We are Girls, the story of a conservative Indo-Canadian family in small-town B.C. coming to terms with a devastating secret.
According to Jean Chateauvert, Director of the Faculty of Arts, Université de Québec à Chicoutimi and collaborator of the annual SAFFMontréal in the Saguenay, “The Festival is an exceptional cultural event for the community and I hope to see many future editions presented in this region.” This year’s Festival is presented with the esteemed collaboration of Les Bibliothèques de Saguenay.
South Asian Film Festival of Montréal is committed to showcasing new and artistic work that promotes discussion and explores the world; aiming to entertain, inform and empower audiences. The Festival holds up a mirror to events happening outside our sphere by organizing daily, post-screening audience talkbacks with the filmmakers. Awards are given to the best short and feature length films both in documentary and fiction categories. New this year, Kabir Centre is excited to collaborate with the reputed Cinémathèque Québécoise in downtown Montréal to screen some of the festival films during the month of December 2020.
SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL (ONLINE)
Thurs. November 19 to Sun. November 29
Open to audiences worldwide
All films subtitled in English and French
Tickets: Admission is FREE, donations gratefully welcome
Registration for films is mandatory: www.saffm.centrekabir.com
For updates please follow: www.facebook.com/saffmtl
