Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where do I get the tickets?
Please visit the Location/Tickets page.
2. Can I still become a sponsor?
You can donate to Tasveer online through our fiscal sponsor, Three Dollar Bill Cinema, and PayPal. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
You can also read about Sponsoring an ISAFF 2009 Program. Contact Rita Meher for more information rita@tasveer.org
3. How about kids?!
Babes in arms welcome in the movie theater. Kids Play Room also available for children over 1yr to be dropped off. Tips are appreciated! Note: we have trained babysitters and volunteers, however, this is not licensed childcare room.
4. Where is South Asia?
South Asia is a group of countries that are culturally, historically, and linguistically connected, and also geographically located in the Indian subcontinent. There are variations on the countries that are included when South Asia is referred to, although most include India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Some include border countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar, or Tibet, while other organizations choose not to do that. Tasveer decided to include the countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka based on research, considerations, respect, and recognition for each country and people.
5. Why do you include Afghanistan in your definition of South Asia?
Because Afghanistan is central between South Asia and the Middle East, it often gets lost when regions are classified. Some South Asian organizations include Afghanistan in their mission while others don't. We include it because of its historical significance during the Moghul and British colonial period and its close political, religious, linguistic, and cultural relationship with other South Asian countries. We also include Afghanistan because there is no Seattle based film organization that covers Afghanistan in their mission statement and we did not want this country to be disregarded.
6. My country, language, and/or culture are not represented in the festival. Why is the film festival called South Asian but does not cover all the countries listed on the website?
The countries listed are the countries considered to be in the South Asian region and in the mission statement of the presenting organization Tasveer. There is intention and effort to include all the people of South Asia around the globe. But films are selected based on availability, costs, production year, production value, public screening rights, and other logistical factors. Most likely a film from your region/culture/language is not in the festival because it was not feasible for any number of these reasons.
The intention and mission is to include, not to exclude, the multitude of South Asia.
Please email us if you know of any independently produced films from your region, culture, or language. You are also welcome to join the festival team for 2009, because you might have more access, knowledge, and language skills to films from your region. And finally, we encourage everyone to learn to make films so that South Asian diversity is reflected in the films available. Contact us if you are interested in filmmaking and need our assistance. Our email for general inquiry is info@tasveer.org.