iSAFF 2025 celebrates 15 years of south asian storytelling and community

This year’s iSAFF celebrated a significant milestone as the festival marked its 15th edition, bringing Canada’s premier showcase of South Asian cinema to Surrey, British Columbia, from September 24 to 28, 2025.

Under the theme ‘Legacy,’ the festival paid tribute to the past, championed fresh voices, and highlighted the power of South Asian storytelling on the global stage. Over five dynamic days, iSAFF presented feature films, short films, music videos, episodic content, and industry events, creating a vibrant program that spanned cultures, geographies, and ideas. The festival opened with Uttera Singh’s ‘Pinch’ and closed with Annapurna Sriram’s ‘F*cktoys,’ selections that reflected its commitment to bold, boundarypushing storytelling.

A standout moment was the presentation of the inaugural Deepa Mehta Legacy Award to the acclaimed filmmaker for her transformative contributions to South Asian cinema. The festival also honored Onir with the Icon Award, Supinder Wraich with the Leadership Award, Shubham Chhabra with the Emerging Artist Award, and Sarb Nagra with the Director Spotlight Award. Beyond screenings, iSAFF 2025 hosted industry panels, workshops, and cultural discussions. A memorable highlight was a 10thanniversary reading of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Episode 3 featuring an all-South Asian cast, blending pop culture with representation in fresh, playful ways.

The ‘Fashion in Film’ event, held on September 27, explored how costume, identity, and diaspora narratives converge on screen.

As the festival concluded, it was clear that iSAFF’s legacy extends beyond an anniversary. It remains a vibrant platform where community, culture, and creativity come together, reaffirming Surrey’s role as a global cultural hub and highlighting the vital cont=ribution of South Asian voices in shaping stories that matter.