Vancouver, BC—November 12, 2015 - The 5th Annual Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival (VISAFF) is is pleased to announce the countdown to its celebration of contemporary South Asian cinema from around the world, set for November 27–29 at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts housed in Vancouver's iconic Woodward's complex.
“We are extremely excited for this year’s 5th festival,” stated Jessie Lehail and Mannu Sandhu, Co-Producers of VISAFF 2015. Our programming is a diverse collection of new independent voices all linked by South Asian culture and shine a spotlight on contemporary themes and conversations important to our audiences.
This year’s theme includes global Bollywood filmmaking, but also champions local and global independent film creatives and is committed to bridging the gap with mainstream film. Films from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the global South Asian Diaspora will be showcased and will promote cross-cultural interactions and understanding.”
VISAFF 2015 focuses on the theme, Bollywood and beyond with a lineup that invites the celebration of stories that engage, educate and inspire by promoting free expression, cross- cultural interactions, understanding, and combating intolerance and stereotypes.
The festival’s program includes 20 feature-length and short films of all genres, with English dialogue or English subtitles, from the South Asian diaspora—including two Canadian feature-length premieres and numerous short film premieres. Organizers anticipate close to 3,500 audience and industry members over the three-day festival.
VISAFF’s opening film is the Canadian premiere of Anurag Kashyap’s dark psychological thriller, Ugly. Kashyap is an Indian filmmaker who is connected to critically acclaimed features like The Lunchbox, and The Gangs of Wasseypur, Parts 1 and 2.
The festival will host the Canadian Premiere, of acclaimed movie, Zubaan, a coming-of-age musical drama about a Punjabi boy whose ambitious circle around becoming a musician.
It will also showcase a Pakistani film, Dukhtar, in which a mother sets out to rescue her 10-year-old daughter from an arranged marriage. Other films include Dheeyan Marjania which covers female foeticide and Journey of a Dream, a feature length ‘rockumentary’ which combines heavy metal music, exile, Buddhism and Tibetan culture.
A workshop and film panel featuring the esteemed Anurag Kashyup will further connect directors, actors, producers, community organizations, sponsorship partners and South Asian cinephiles.
Focused on professional development the workshop and film panel will offer business networking, offering insight to current industry topics and the increasingly global diverse filmmaking, post production, digital entertainment and distribution landscape. An added

bonus creative breakfast will help to “bridge the gap” between mainstream and South Asian film communities. VISAFF is generously supported by leading sponsors, community and media partners. Outside of the festival, VISAFF engages in year-round film programming and cultural interactions that align with our mission.
