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. For the first time in Canada, SAFF will showcase the best feature, documentary and animation films of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and Afghanistan.
SAFF Canada Co-Founder and Artistic Director Hannah Fisher ran VIFF (Vancouver International Film Festival) and contributes to many internationally respected film festivals around the world. Hannah is using her thirty-plus years of experience, relationships, contacts and passion for South Asian Cinema, to bring over some of the finest filmmakers and actors of the Region, for Public Forums and Master Classes. SAFF brings these filmmakers together with their South Asian-Canadian counterparts.
The South Asian community around the world has grown up, and is growing old with South Asian film. It is part of family life. SAFF Canada 2012 honours and reflects the diversity and passion that are part of the South Asian culture.
The Festival reaches out to this dynamic cross-generational community in BC and Washington State. SAFF Canada is committed to sharing our stories through film, and building social and cultural bridges with the non-South Asian community-at-large. Film brings us all together in a way that few things can.
- SAFF Canada is proud to partner with Simon Fraser University, Surrey and SFU Praxis, the Indian Documentary Foundation (London and Mumbai), NETPAC- the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (Sri Lanka) VIFF, SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival), LIFF (the Ladakh International Film Festival and the UFV Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies.
- SAFF engages students and faculty at all post-secondary schools across the Province and in Seattle/Washington State, who have Film and South Asian Studies programs.
- SAFF has invited over 7,500 Lower Mainland Grade 12 students and BC and Washington State Film students to weekday film screenings and Master Classes. Podcasts and webinars will also be available.
The SAFF Memories Project invites film students across BC and Washington State to create and submit their own 15 minute film from edited 2-3 minute video clips. Students will interview random and selected subjects, about their memories of watching their first South Asian film. The 3 Best Films will each win a $2,500 cash SAFF Memories Project Award.
SAFF invites visitors to our website from around the world to submit their own video clip or blog post about their memories of seeing their first South Asian Film.
The SAFF Spirit of the Muse Award is given annually to internationally renowned Canadian South Asian or South Asian filmmakers whose body of work has enriched the global community with their exploration of the human condition. Spirit of the Muse honours those whose films have engaged millions and who have mentored and inspired young filmmakers all over the World.
Conversations With SAFF Legends honours South Asian and Non-South Asian Filmmakers and Actors whose films have embraced the social, cultural and historical richness of the Region.
SAFF Canada South Asian Film Festival Society is proud to welcome former BC Premier the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, Founder and former CEO of the Dubai Film Festival Neil Stephenson, film 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, to our Board of Directors.
We currently have over $1.4 million in Media Sponsorship for the Festival. This includes TV, Radio and Print, Billboard and Social Medial coverage throughout BC and Washington State, where we are working with the Canadian Consulate in Seattle to promote the Festival.
The Pre-Festival general promotional audience exceeds 5 million people in BC and Washington State. Festival screenings, receptions, Master Classes, webinars and Public Forums target an audience of over 30,000.
ENTERTAIN, ENGAGE, EMBRACE, EDUCATE, INSPIRE is not just our Motto, it is our Passion.
We invite you to join us for our 5-Day Celebration of South Asian Cinema.
For Further Information Please Contact Pat Bayes
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