As we get ready to embark on another major edition of the film festival, I want to take a moment to reflect on this amazing 13-year journey of the Tasveer South Asian Film Festival.
Every year, I always ask this question, “WHY”? Why am I doing this festival?” You may think I am asking this perhaps while being in a deep meditative state, but it is just my panic anxiety talking, and I want to hide and disappear. But every year I have come back with another edition of the festival because I have the most amazing support of the friends, family, and community.
The other reason is that when I went to the United State of Women conference in Los Angeles last May, one image during a presentation by a guest speaker really stood out for me. It said: “When you don’t see people like yourself, the message is YOU ARE INVISIBLE”. That is the reason why I am passionate about what I do. I don’t want that to happen.
All my effort and work here is to not be invisible. We want to tell our own stories. With every festival that we curate, I want to make sure we push the level of the festival every year and that we tell real, authentic, and hard-hitting stories. We want to go where we haven’t gone before and bring out unique, untold stories to the community.
You will see that in many of the stories this year like People Stories: Columbo to Karachi, The Honeygiver Among the Dogs, My Pure Land, and Salam: The First ****** Nobel Laurete, to name a few. This is first time we have shown these many Pakistani films in one festival in the history of Tasveer, many by female directors. I will let you check out the schedule, and I will see you at the Tasveer South Asian Film Festival.
Sincerely, Rita Meher
Festival Director
Everything You Need to Know About TSAFF 2018
What is the Tasveer South Asian Film Festival?
Tasveer South Asian Film Festival celebrates independent films and filmmakers from South Asia. Every year, Tasveer chooses a theme and a focus country around which to craft an exciting program of films, panels and events. We always make sure to choose films that engage with stories that reflect the social, economic and political justice realities of our time.
What is this year’s focus country?
This year’s focus country is Pakistan. Pakistan has been in the news lately with a change in leadership which has inspired a new sense of hope and excitement in Pakistan and the diaspora abroad. So our focus comes at the perfect time!
What is the theme?
Our theme this year is #KnowMe, and it invites filmmakers and audience members alike to challenge the narrow perceptions that stereotype South Asia and the diaspora. #KnowMe is an invitation to really know a person beyond the common narratives ascribed to them.
When is it?
TSAFF will take place from September 28th – October 7th. That’s a full ten days of films, panels, filmmaker discussions and events!
And where?
TSAFF will take place across five cities, Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, Bothell and Redmond. Take a look at our program guide of exact venues, including the Northwest Film Forum, Seattle University, University of Washington Bothell, The Seattle Art Museum and The Bellevue Art Museum.
How do I buy tickets?
TSAFF is a ticketed event. Find detailed ticket information online at www.tsaff.tasveer.org We have all sorts of options:
- All Access Pass: $250 to all films and events
- Weekend Access Pass: $125
- Individual screenings: $12
Who should we contact?
- Contact us with any questions at [email protected].
- You can also contact the festival publicist at [email protected]
- Reach us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @TasveerSeattle.
TSAFF Team:
Festival Director: Rita Meher
Programming Director: Laila Kazmi
Website Lead: Sumathi Raghavan
Website Coordinator: Jitendra Joshi, Nalini Kumar
Publicity Lead/ Tasveer Program Manager: Kamna Shastri
Symposium Lead: Samuel Ostroff, Sunila Kale (South Asia Center, UW Seattle), Alka Kurian, S. Charusheela (UW Bothell)
Sponsorship Coordinator: Khenrab Palden
Tasveer Volunteers/Festival Coordinators: Soumya Chauhan, Siddhi Ghai, Pooja Choksi Festival Coordinators; Saira Bano, Sheraz Malik, Anushey Nasar, Uzma Khan, Omar Vandal, Shahina Piyarali, Pooja Galgali, Shannon Kohli, Mohammad Ranjbar, Bharati Ravi, Seyyada Burney, Morgan Wells TasVR Lead: Soumita Bhattacharya Emcee: Smeeta Hirani Content Creator: Uma Kukathas Photographer: Abhishek Kulkarni
TASVEER Board of Directors:
Rita Meher, Co-founder/ Executive Director
Tasveer Farah Nousheen, Co-founder
Tasveer Shahina Piyarali, Board President
Alka Kurian, Secretary
Debadutta Dash, Treasurer
Sheraz Malik
Prachi Vora
Ananya Rabeya
Sumathi Raghavan
