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SAFF Canada 2012 South Asian Film Festival Background

SAFF Canada takes place in Vancouver, Surrey and Abbotsford – the Fraser Valley from October 31 to November 4, 2012. For the first time in Canada, SAFF presents a collection of recent Feature, Documentary and Animated films from the South Asian family of nations: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives.

SAFF Canada Co-Founder and Artistic Director Hannah Fisher is a former Executive Director of the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). She has contributed to many major international festivals, including the Dubai International Film Festival, the OFF PLUS CAMERA Festival of Independent Cinema, Krakow, Poland, and the Kolkata International Film Festival. Hannah utilizes her many years of experience, relationships, contacts and passion for South Asia, in the development of SAFF Canada.

The Festival provides a platform for superb cinematic programs from South Asia, and opportunities for professional networking between Canadian and South Asian film artists, via the collaboration of BC Film + Media, the BC Film Commission, the Canadian-BC Film and TV Production Association, the Directors Guild of Canada-BC and Telefilm Canada.

SAFF Canada honours and reflects the diversity of cultures, and the passion for Cinema that is such a potent force throughout all of South Asia. SAFF Canada engages the dynamic cross-generational South Asian communities of British Colombia and Washington State. Our goal: to share stories, to build social and cultural bridges with the non-South Asian community and all who love cinema and share an interest in the World-at-Large.

ENTERTAIN, ENGAGE, EMBRACE, EDUCATE, INSPIRE is Our Mission and Our Passion.

Important Elements of the SAFF Canada South Asian Film Festival Include:

  • Daily Screenings in multiple locations of Feature Films, Documentaries, Shorts, and Animation from all participating South Asian Countries. Master Classes and Public Forums with South Asian Artists and their Canadian counterparts, encourage dialogue, discussions and debate.
  • Partnerships with Simon Fraser University, Surrey and SFU Praxis, IIT Madras, the Indian Documentary Foundation (London and Mumbai), NETPAC- the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (Sri Lanka), the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), the Ladakh International Film Festival (LIFF), Whistling Woods International (Mumbai), and the UFV Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies, amongst others.
  • A Strong Commitment to Education
    • Special weekday programming for Grade 12 students in the Lower Mainland providing a window into the lives of young people throughout South Asia.
    • An extensive and varied program for post –secondary Film and South Asian Studies students throughout British Colombia and Washington State including Master Classes, and Round Table discussions. Podcasts, Webcasts and Webinars are being used to reach as many students as possible.
    • These programs will also be offered to Film Students throughout South Asia.
  • The SAFF Canada Memories Project invites film students from British Columbia and Washington State to create short 15 minute films capturing people’s “First Memories of South Asian Cinema”. The three most compelling films each receive a $2,500 cash SAFF Memories Project Award.
  • The SAFF Spirit of the Muse Award is presented each year to a South Asian or Canadian South Asian filmmaker who has mentored, guided and inspired young filmmakers, and whose work has inspired, enriched, provoked, challenged and delighted the global film loving community.
  • Conversations With SAFF Legends honors South Asian Film Artists and their counterparts, whose body of work in itself leaves a lasting legacy for all generations.

    • SAFF Canada South Asian Film Festival Society proudly welcomes our Board of Directors: Former BC Premier the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, Founder and former CEO of the Dubai International Film Festival Neil Stephenson, film and television producer Mel D’Souza, internationally respected television journalist Jas Johal, documentary filmmaker Rashmi Lamba and UFV Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies Executive Director Satwinder Bains.

    We currently have over $1.4 million in Festival Media Sponsorship. This includes TV, Radio and Print, Billboard and Transit Shelter Ads and Social Media coverage in both South Asian and Non-South Asian key demographic markets throughout BC and Washington State. We are working with the Canadian Consulate in Seattle to promote the Festival there.

    The Pre-Festival cross-generational promotional audience exceeds 5 million people in BC and Washington State. Festival screenings, receptions, Master Classes, Webinars, Public Forums, Round Tables and other events target an audience of over 30,000.

    We Invite You to Join Us for Our 5-Day Celebration of South Asian Cinema.

    For Further Information Please Contact Pat Bayes