What is it to encounter amazing, the unexpected, that which has impacted you in a profound way that you never truly predicted? It is these moments in time we can look back to and remember the precise timeframe when and where such instances occurred, now having better realization of exactly how they’ve since influenced our paths. For this cinema fan and film critic of five years, one theatrical event held that sway over me–December 2015 and the Bollywood epic “Bajirao Mastani”. My introduction to South Asian film, specifically Indian in this case, it woke me up with a revelatory punch to exactly how incredible a new genre of filmmaking I never really understood was out there at such a high level of quality, passion, and artistry. It completely captured me, initiating a new odyssey into Indian and, over the next three plus years now, South Asian cinema that I remain a huge champion of.
Fast forward to February 2018. There came a new opportunity to experience South Asian works through the medium of independent film via my first invite to and attendance at Dallas-based PR guru at JINGO Media and festival Founder/Director Jitin Hingorani’s four day, fourth annual Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (short form: DFW SAFF). Fresh off of winning the prestigious Texas Governor’s Small Business Award for “The Most Innovative Small Business” in Texas for their 2017 festival, I knew I had a certain level of expectation going in, but had no concept that said personal projections would be utterly blown away. A totally immersive, highly organized, well-executed endeavor, what transpired over those four days was nothing short of incredible, not just due to the extraordinary line-up of affectingly brilliant films, and excellent after-parties, but the interactions/Q&A’s with actors, directors, producers, writers, fellow cinephiles, plus Hingorani’s excellent festival staff, it was an all-around first class, dare I say breathtaking, experience that to this day left an endearing impact on me as a person and as a critic. Lasting friendships were made, new connections gained, and only a more resonant appreciation and adoration for the South Asian film community.
So here we are now, in the present, on the cusp of DFW SAFF 2019 sponsored by Toyota Motor North America, and to say the least, this critic’s excitement about coming back is paramount on the mind. Boasting an even bigger line-up of film offerings, twenty-one mind you, the festival encompasses both feature length (“The Lift Boy“, “Hamid“, and the opening night effort “Sir“) and short formats (the opening night effort “That Man In The Picture“, plus “Malai“, “Maunn“, “Pagg“, “The Layover“, “Still Rolling: The DDLJ Story“), as well as inspired programming diversity covering Family & Children (“Chippa“, “Nanu Aur Main“, “Chuskit“), LGBTQI (“The Homestay“, “A Monsoon Date“, “Khejdi“), Documentary (“Lovesick“, “Salam“), Men’s (this year’s Centerpiece effort “Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota“), Pakistani (“Dreams“, “Salam”), and Arts (“Vande Mataram“, “Nude: Chitraa“). But, it’s not limited to just the films themselves. How about the Q&A sessions with directors Priya Giri Desai (“Lovesick”), Anand Kamalakar (“Salam”), Vasan Bala (“Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota“), Safdar Rahman (“Chippa”), and Aijaz Khan (“Hamid”), producer Zakir Thaver (“Salam”), and actors Vivek Gomber (“Sir”), Rupak Ginn (“The Layover”), and “Lion” child phenom Sunny Pawar (“Chippa”)? It’s an engaging, engrossing, and absolutely entertaining spectacle to be a part of.
Think that’s all there is to it? Not by a long shot. This year, as it is now the fifth in DFW SAFF’s storied history, a new facet is being introduced–the 2019 DFW SAFF 5 Years, 5 Awards! Assembling a Jury consisting of National Award and Filmfare Award-winning film editor/screenwriter Apurva Asrani (“Satya“, “Shahid“, “Aligarh“), actor/writer Rupak Ginn (“Royal Pains“), critically acclaimed Pakistani-American director/producer Mehreen Jabbar (“Ramchand Pakistani” “Dobara Phir Se“, “Lala Begum“), award-winning Canadian-based/Pakistani-born filmmaker Arshad Khan (“Abu: Father“), and award-winning filmmaker Mahesh Pailoor (“Brahmin Bulls“), it promises to be a closing night to remember by paying tribute to what I can guarantee will be the best run of films yet at DFW SAFF.
Speaking of this, how about a quick glance at the nominees? These are:
Best Film: “Sir”, “Chippa”, “Salam”, “Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota”, and “Hamid”
Best Director: Rohena Gera (“Sir”), Safdar Rahman (“Chippa”), Anand Kamalakar (“Salam”), Vasan Bala (“Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota”), and Aijaz Khan (“Hamid”)
Best Actor: Vivek Gombar (“Sir”), Moin Khan (“The Lift Boy”), Ashish Sharma (“Khejdi”), Abhimanyu Dassani (“Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota“), and Vikas Kumar (“Hamid”)
Best Actress: Tillotama Shome (“Sir”), Radhika Madan (“Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota”), Kalyanee Mulay (“Nude: Chitraa”), and Rasika Dugal (“Hamid”)
Best Child Actor: Sunny Pawar (“Chippa”), Jigmet Dewa Lhamo (“Chuskit”), and Talha Arshad Reshi (“Hamid”)
Best Short Film: “That Man In The Picture”, “Malai”, “Pagg”, “The Layover”, and “Dreams”
Audience Favorite: “Sir”, “The Lift Boy”, “Lovesick”, “Chippa”, “Salam”, “Khejdi”, “Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota”, “Chuskit”, “Nude: Chitraa”, and “Hamid”
Even having not seen a single one of these efforts yet, I feel totally confident this is not only an all-star line-up of projects and talents behind them, but one hard series of decisions that will need to be made by the elite Jury! Yet, we’re still not finished highlighting the fact that there is also the beautifully orchestrated venues that host the opening night event (Perot Museum of Nature & Science), the films Thursday-Sunday (AMC Village on the Parkway 9), and the Friday/Saturday/Sunday afterparties (Pane Vino Osteria, Saffron House, and Center Stage). I can say from last year’s festival that this kind of in depth submersion into South Asian film and everything associated with is all part of the top quality hosting that Hingorani & Co. extend. Worth it? Without exception. As to films to watch for in particular, it’s hard to narrow down, as I am frankly looking forward to every one of them. I will say that “Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota” is one in that I’ve found the unique style of South Asian action films is refreshing relative to mainstream Hollywood. The Shorts programming always brings a noteworthy level of filmmaking aptitude to the table, as being able to capture the viewer in an abbreviated amount of time while delivering a full story is difficult at best, yet so awesomely satisfying when accomplished well. “Chippa”, “The Lift Boy”, “Hamid”, and “A Monsoon Date” are a few I anticipate.
I know my personal goal is to officially screen and review every single film presented this year, just like I managed from last year’s festival, as I feel it is the minimum these filmmakers and actors deserve when it comes to pointing out that DFW SAFF 2019’s line-up includes a World Premier, two North American Premiers, one U.S. Premier, fourteen Texas Premiers, and three Dallas Premiers. Independent cinema is still a medium that remains in a somewhat “sheltered” state of existance, though over these last several years, it’s starting to emerge as a force to be reckoned with, even in the already hugely prolific South Asian film machine. Being a voice to aid in promoting it over here in the U.S. is something I greatly strive for and desire to do more of, while festivals like DFW SAFF embody the very core essence of what growing talents are out in in that community, providing a worthy platform to showcase it over four days and the twenty-one films chosen to be a part of it. So, I come full circle and ask again the question we began with–what is it to encounter amazing, the unexpected, that which has impacted you in a profound way that you never truly predicted? How about availing yourself with opportunity and attending the 2019 Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival sponsored by Toyota Motor North America to find out?
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, see you at DFW SAFF 2019!
