4th Independent South Asian Film Festival Oct 3rd

Tasveer Presents Seattle’s Fourth Independent South Asian Film Festival!

Documentary Workshop: Sunday Oct 7th, 11am

In our 4th year of creating a 5-day festival of independent South Asian films for Seattle, Tasveer reaffirms its commitment to strengthening community roots with initiatives for South Asians in Seattle and throughout the South Asian diaspora. Join us as we look at the present state of women’s rights in Afghanistan, interfaith dialogue in Pakistan, a hijra of India celebrating her life, a bioscopewallah’s sojourn in India, a man’s solitary journey to a remote Tibet summit, and many other thought-provoking and inspiring stories. We are excited to open the festival with famed Pakistani physician, musician, filmmaker and peace activist, Salman Ahmed. Plus we are thrilled to close our program with the exceptional film, 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama.

Befitting our theme of “strengthening community roots”, this year’s festival sponsor is Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods — we are grateful for their generous support! This year all ISAFF programs are FREE to the public, but voluntary donations are welcome.

Register for the half-day introductory class on documentary filmmaking. This half-day introductory class on documentary filmmaking will be conducted by local filmmaker, Nadeem Uddin, founder and director of Samsara Films. Workshop participants will learn about various documentary styles and of different concepts toward the production process... More

Film Highlights

Sponsorship/Donation Opportunities

The sponsorship/donation program was created to provide an opportunity for individuals to support Tasveer and Seattle’s 4th Independent South Asian Film Festival. Any individual can sponsor a specific program of the festival or the entire festival or make a donation.

Individual Program Sponsorship: $50(plus handling fee) per Program. Go to the Schedule page and click on the corresponding ‘Sponsor Program’ button to sponsor program(s) of your choice.
Individual Festival Sponsorship: $150(plus handling fee). To become a festival sponsor, click:
Donation boxes will be available at the festival(cash/check only please). To make an online donation, click:

Sponsorship benefits:

Individual Sponsors will be acknowledged by listing their name on the website by the program, by listing their name on Tasveer newsletter that highlights the program, and verbally before the program begins at the festival; Festival Sponsors will be acknowledged by listing name under festival sponsors on the Sponsors page, by listing name in Tasveer newsletter and verbally on the opening night of the festival.
Program Sponsors will receive 2 reserved seats at the sponsored program; Festival Sponsors will receive 2 reserved seats for all programs.

We hope that the Individual Sponsor will also help to promote their sponsored festival program to their social circles.
Note that the individual sponsorship prices are not negotiable. We encourage donations from individuals in any amount. Donations in amount of $25 and above will be acknowledged on the website on the sponsors page.

"10 Questions for the Dalai Lama" closes ISAFF!

Against the backdrop of an exotic land, the filmmaker is granted ten questions for the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Containing rare historical footage taken inside Tibet, the film intersects personal observations, the troubled history of a government-in-exile, and the life and wisdom of one of the premier spiritual leaders of our times. Referred to by some as the "rock star of peace", the 14th Dalai Lama is both an extraordinary spiritual leader and the exiled head of Tibet. He is also a scholar, Nobel Peace Prize winner... More

Salman Ahmed Opens ISAFF!

Salman Ahmed is the founder of Junoon, South Asia’s best known rock band. As an internationally recognized celebrity, Ahmed has been a passionate promoter of peace between India and Pakistan, as well as, between the West and the Muslim world. His documentaries, “Rockstar and the Mullahs” on music in Islam and “It’s My Country Too” on Muslim-Americans have appeared on PBS and BBC... More