South Asian Film Festival

Hosted in partnership with DC South Asian Arts Council Inc, a non profit 501 (c) (3) organization and the Washington DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF) which is one of the most celebrated screen events on the Washington, D.C. cultural calendar. The festival takes place annually in the heart of America’s capital, showcasing the best in alternative cinema from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, and Tibet.

Short Films

Nafs Said 
directed by Huma Hussain
runtime: 13 minutes
A story about an Indian-Muslim housewife, Maryam, whose mundane life is abruptly interrupted by an opportunity to explore her desires.

Baahar
directed by Prakshi Malik
runtime: 14 minutes
Disaster brews when Seher gets accepted to a boarding school-a dream come true-on the evening of a big family dinner.

Crazy for Bollywood
directed by Imran J. Khan
runtime: 6 minutes
Raj introduces his parents to his unique girlfriend, Priyanka: a woman who believes life is a Bollywood movie and she is the heroine.

One Small Visit
directed by Jo Chim
runtime: 30 minutes
The incredible true story of an immigrant Indian family who unexpectedly passes through the tiny Midwest hometown of Neil Armstrong in the wake of the '69 moon landing and the civil rights movement and ends up on the doorstep of the Armstrong home.

Stay With Me A Little While
directed by Sheheryar Sardar
runtime: 14 minutes
Farhan and Aadhya have been together for years, but a mental health crisis brings their relationship to the brink.

Maa
directed by Nidheya Suresh
runtime: 8 minutes
A young gay woman’s carefully curated life is threatened when her estranged mother comes to visit.

Beast 
directed by Urvashi Pathania 
runtime: 9 minutes
A non-binary South Asian teen uses bharatanatyam dance to explore their gender expression

The Name
directed by Aaron Strand 
runtime: 7 minutes
 

Total program runtime: approximately 93 minutes

Panel Discussion:

The Mindy Kaling Effect: Increased South Asian diasporic themes and representation in theater and film in the US

Featuring:

• Dr. Madhavi Reddi, Assistant Professor, York College 
• Jessica Jain - Actor/Writer
• Manoj Singh - Director DC South Asian Arts Council Inc

Moderated by: Shruthi Mukund

About the Panelists:
Dr. Madhavi Reddi, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of mass communication at York College of Pennsylvania. Her scholarship and teaching surrounds race, media, and culture - particularly examining questions of identity and representation of South Asian Americans in media and politics. Her work has been published in academic journals such as New Media and Society and public platforms such as Lawfare and Tech Policy Press. Madhavi is also a multimedia artist - she is a filmmaker, photographer, and Bharatanatyam dancer. Having screened her films at venues such as the DC South Asian Film Festival and performed Bharatanatyam at venues such as the Kennedy Center and Embassy of India, she brings to her scholarship the real world experience of creating and presenting creative work that speaks to questions of identity and representation.

Jessica Jain: Favorite Credits include: Blue Bloods, Pitch Perfect, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, The Lunchbox, The Who and The What, For Steve Wozniak on His 67th Birthday, The Last Word, The Metal Children, Pride and Prejudice, and Godspell. Proud graduate of the Louisiana State M.F.A. acting program. Great lover of her dog Clifford (and all dogs), Eddie, Charles, Tom, and The Jains. Arundhathi in Olney Theatre’s production of A Nice Indian Boy!

Manoj Singh is Director at the D.C. South Asian Arts Council Inc, a Not for Profit 501 (c)(3) Organization, whose mission is to produce and host meaningful programs, provide South Asian artists a platform to entertain, educate, and inspire international audiences. DCSAACI is well known for the annual DC South Asian Film Festival, Literary Festival, and starting this year is the Music Festival.  They have hosted online discussion about important social issues like Women Empowerment, LGBTQ acceptance, hate crimes against minorities in America. He has acted in local plays, short films, hosted theater, book discussions of well known personalities. He studied acting, script writing, film production at Writers Center Bethesda, Montgomery College and New York. In the past Manoj managed IT and infrastructure projects for the government and commercial clients and now has decided to pursue his passion, spend more time giving back to society, and do more social work.