*FOR FRASER AND SURREY PASS HOLDERS ONLY* Co-hosted by the Geena Davis Bentonville Film Foundation and Kickstart Entertainment, comes the first ever iSAFF Filmmaker Welcome Retreat. This gathering will feature light bites and refreshments and intimate networking with industry leaders and fellow filmmakers. The evening will conclude with a spotlight fireside chat with the soon to be announced 2024 iSAFF Icon Award recipient, who is an Emmy-winning actor! This event is made possible with additional support from Product of Culture and the British Columbia India Business Network. You will be able to pick up your Filmmaker Pass in person at this venue from 2 - 5pm PST.

OPENING NIGHT FEATURE: BOONG is a profoundly touching and sometimes humorous tale of a young schoolboy's quest to reunite his fractured family. Against the backdrop of ethnic and racial tensions in Manipur, the film portrays the resilience of the perceptive Boong as he navigates the complexities of friendship, longs for familial warmth, and seeks to understand the world around him. Lakshmipriya Devi's debut feature is both vibrant and exquisitely crafted, serving as a poignant reminder that there can be some hope even in the darkest of times. ---- Pulkit Datta

The Party of the Year! Dress to impress in your best black tie and come celebrate the excellence in film from Canada and beyond. During the gala, iSAFF will present awards to outstanding filmmakers with the help of local sponsors, investors, and film industry leaders. The Purple Carpet Gala is always a night to remember! Please purchase your tickets directly through Surrey City Hall's website: https://tickets.surrey.ca/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent2732.html

Surrey and British Columbia Industry Leaders come together to share how to get your projects made in Canada. From funding, to production, to post. If you're looking for a path to get your films made, consider attending Making in Canada!

"Fashion in Film” will showcase the intersection of fashion and cinema through fashion curations, trunk shows, interactive panel discussions, short film screenings, and networking opportunities. Attendees will engage with leading costume designers, fashion experts, and filmmakers to explore how costume choices influence film narratives, inspire fashion trends, and revive traditional styles.

Stars from the sub-continent and diaspora come together for a dynamic discussion about their careers and artistic process. Panelists coming soon!

PRIVACY is a taut thriller from Sudeep Kanwal that keeps you on edge. It follows Roopali, a Mumbai surveillance operator, as she personally begins to investigate a case of robbery and murder. Kanwal’s gritty film twists and turns, leaving you guessing what this seemingly unassuming but unpredictable operator will do next. Privacy is a gripping ride that’ll keep you thoroughly engaged and slightly unsettled. Privacy will be preceded by the short film FLIGHT 182 [USA, Canada] directed by Rippin Sindher. ---- Pulkit Datta

An exciting partnership with the South Asian Film Festival of America (SAFFA), presented by Product of Culture, who have curated and are co-presenting a film block titled “It’s A Bold World.” This selection highlights South Asian queer and female characters who challenge and redefine stereotypes. ---- GEMINI [Dir. Aranaya Sharma | USA] · MAGGIE'S NOT OKAY [Dir. Vance Smith | USA] · NIGHT SHIFT [Dir. AJ Akhtar | Canada] · HEMA [Dir. Ritvik Dhavale | USA] · BUBBLES [Dir. Tishna Lodi | USA] · I'M DEAD RIGHT [Dir. J. Mehr Kaur | USA] · THE CLOWN [Dir. Kamil Chima | Pakistan] ----

This program contains subject matter that may not be suitable for all viewers. We request all minors be accompanied by an adult. Viewer discretion is advised. This program contains subject matter that may not be suitable for all viewers. We request all minors be accompanied by an adult. Viewer discretion is advised. It's better to be unusual and different. These shorts take us into the supernatural, mystical, scary, and thrilling worlds of their characters. Nothing is quite as it seems. ---- ASURA - THE DEMON WITHIN [Dir. Viren Shinde | USA] · IMPOSTER [Dir. Rafael Antonio Millán Zoghbi | Canada] · Alif Bay Pay (A B C) [Dir. Javaria Waseem | Pakistan] · CHHAYA [Dir. Sophiyaa Nayar | USA] · HIJACK [Dir. Yuvraj Kalsi | Canada] · IN NOMINE PATRIS [Dir. Don John | USA] · prObed [Dir. Umar Shiraz Jafri | USA] · A SIMPLE ASK [Dir. Nadya Naumaan | USA] · ARO'S WORLD [Dir. Vibha Kulkarni | USA] ----