12th DC South Asian Film Festival to kick off on Dec. 1

DCSAFF will continue in a virtual format from Dec. 4 to 10

It is that time of year again to celebrate the cinematic arts! The DC South Asian Arts Council Inc. every year enthralls cinephiles and arts lovers with the annual DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF). After a long wait from last year, DCSAFF is back and better than ever with the newest festival taking place from December 1 to 3 in person and from the 4^th-10^th virtually.

Get ready to be amazed with a wide range of independent cinema showcasing works by new and emerging talent, as well as established filmmakers and actors. Some of the names whose works will be showcased and who are attending the festival include Adil Hussain, Rizwan Manji, and Manjari Fadnis among many others.

READ: DC South Asian Film Festival 2022 kicks off November 3 (October 31, 2022)

The festival will begin with an exciting conversation with filmmaker Jamil Dehlavi on December 1. On the 2^ndday, December 2^nd, audiences will have the opportunity to attend a master class on filmmaking and acting with acclaimed filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat, whose own film will be screened later that evening as the opening night film from Pakistan, Kamli. Another panel will also take place that day, focused on South Asians in the mainstream media, which will then be followed by the opening night red carpet event. Throughout the day, audiences can watch several different films and shorts that are bound to entertain, enlighten and make you think.

On the final day of the in-person festival, December 3^rd, the centerpiece film, Feresheth, from Bangladesh, will be screened. This day will also see the premiere of the web series Fara from Pakistan as well as the closing night film Footprints on Water from the UK. Like the previous day, throughout, there will be a myriad of short films and feature-length films being screened, with a variety of talents from all over the South Asian community.

READ: DCSAFF 2019: Shabana Azmi gets lifetime achievement award(September 24, 2019)

The additional icing on the cake is that some of these films feature local artists who have gone beyond the boundaries of entertaining DC audiences into captivating film lovers all over the globe. Some local artists whose films will be showcased include director Suneeta Misra (The Old Man and His Boy), actress Sangeeta Agrawal (Amar Colony) and director Prerna Saraff Chauhan (Bi The Way).

From December 4^th-10^th, the festival will continue in a virtual format, continuing the successful run of quality cinema, some of which will be premiering for the first time at the festival.

Book your tickets today and don’t miss this unique opportunity to support international and local artists with unique voices, see films that are otherwise difficult to find, and appreciate novel concepts that don’t make their way into mainstream cinema.

The events and screenings will happen in the DC area. For tickets and more information please visit: https://dcsaff2023.eventive.org/schedule.

DC South Asian Film Festival 2019 from September 20 to 22 (September 12, 2019)

Indian American Namrata Singh Gujral wins “Best Director” award at DCSAFF (September 13, 2018)

DCSAFF 2017: Zeenat Aman gets lifetime achievement award, “Lipstick Under My Burkha” gets best film award (September 14, 2017)

Eclectic lineup of independent films at 6th DCSAFF (September 11, 2017)

Highlights of DCSAFF 2016 (September 19, 2016 )

Variety of films from South Asia to feature at DCSAFF (April 27, 2013)

“Half Widow”: A very touching and superbly acted film (October 13, 2018)

“Lashtam Pashtam”: Exploring an India-Pakistan friendship (September 18, 2018)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan conferred with inaugural Meryl Streep Award of Excellence (September 10, 2018 )

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan receives inaugural Meryl Streep award (September 9, 2018)

7th DC South Asian Film Festival showcasing independent cinema opens (September 8, 2018)