Two years of work is paying off for the founders of Vancouver’s first South Asian Film Festival, which is set to launch June 26 at the VanCity Theatre.
Founders Patricia Isaac and Agam Darshi are launching the festival to break stereotypes, push boundaries and promote storytelling.
“We thought that we’d be able to organize it in six months but it ended up taking two years,” Isaac told Business in Vancouver June 23.
She believes the unprecedented global success of films such as Slumdog Millionaire and Bend it Like Beckham have introduced South Asian talent and culture to a broad demographic.
There will be a VIP reception June 25 but everything else takes place June 2, including:
One highlight will be the 2010 Academy Award-nominated short film Kavi by director Gregg Helvey.
Both the Vancouver International Film Festival in early fall and the Vancouver Asian Film Festival in November have grown significantly in the past decade. Vancouver film buffs have also enjoyed the Brazilian Film Festival in Vancouver for the past two years although there is no word on whether another will take place this year.
There are plans for a Vancouver Latin American Film Festival September 2 through 12.