A Message from SAFF Canada Executive Director Pat Bayes

SAFF Canada 2012, the South Asian Film Festival, proudly features the very best feature and short films, documentaries, animation, filmmakers, writers and actors of South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives and Afghanistan. We are bringing together the Best of the Best for a one-of-a kind annual Canadian event, right here in BC.

To do this, Festival Founder and Artistic Director Hannah Fisher is using her years of experience running the VIFF (Vancouver), as well as work with numerous international events including the Floating Film Festival, the Bangkok International Film Festival, the End of Decade Conference for Women,(Nairobi, Kenya), the Dubai International Film Festival, the World Film Festival, Montreal, the Kolkata International Film Festival, the Kerala Film Festival, and the Off Plus Camera Festival of Independent Cinema, in Krakow, Poland. Hannah’s long standing passion continues to be South Asian cinema, and over the years she has built strong and enduring relationships throughout the region.

In its inaugural year October 31 through December 4 2012, we will screen several films throughout Vancouver, Surrey and Abbotsford – the Fraser Valley.

Film as a universal form of storytelling, reaches out to a cross-generational audience and enriches us all. It connects us to the Global Village and makes us part of the Global Family.

SAFF reflects, honours and engages the vibrant diversity of the South Asian communities of BC and Washington State. These Diasporas are a vital part of the fabric of community life.

SAFF reaches out to the Community-at-Large to share that diversity. Our Festival Motto is ENTERTAIN, ENGAGE, EMBRACE, EDUCATE and INSPIRE.

By reaching out to all post-secondary schools with film, South Asian arts and related programs in BC and Seattle/Washington state and local school boards, we respect that mandate.

The Festival offers Public Forums, Master Classes and Workshops. The latter two will be offered to BC and Washington state film students and industry professionals and will also be linked to on-line webinars.

The Festival is a family-friendly event, offering reasonably priced Family Ticket Packages and tickets for seniors, students and the general public.

We invite you to be part of this exciting and inspiring celebration!

Sincerely,
Pat Bayes, Executive Director, SAFF Canada