The Tasveer South Asian Film Festival (TSAFF) is the largest South Asian film festival in the United States. TSAFF is headquartered in the beautiful Pacific Northwest city of Seattle in Washington State and its surrounding cities.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic placed an unprecedented strain on the world and the arts community. In response to the crisis, Tasveer led the Coalition of South Asian Film Festivals (CoSAFF) in 2020. CoSAFF was a first-of-its-kind event that brought together seven well-established South Asian institutions from across North America. The virtual festival ran for 15 days, presenting online screenings of thought-provoking films & forums on South Asia and its diaspora, to engage viewers in dialogue on the issues of human rights, social/political/economic justice, and representation, garnering about 45,000 views.

In our 16th year, Tasveer South Asian Film Festival will have a hybrid film festival with in-person and online screenings.

TSAFF is produced by a nonprofit arts organization ‘Tasveer’ founded in 2002. TSAFF provides a platform to South Asian storytellers from around the globe, through films, workshops, monologues, and panel discussions. We believe film can be a powerful medium to bridge ideas and communities and create deeper understanding through stories, in order to foster a happier and healthier world.

* TSAFF 2021 will take place under The Tasveer Festival which will combine two major festivals — Tasveer South Asian Film Festival (TSAFF) and Tasveer South Asian LitFest (TSAL).

* All events and decisions are subject to changes considering the unforeseen COVID-19 situation and in compliance with CDC guidelines.

All selected filmmakers of non-distributed films will be paid an honorarium. The festival reserves the right to waive the honorarium.

Awards & Prizes

• Tasveer Emerald Award:
• Awarded to highly accomplished filmmakers in Recognition of Significant Contribution to South Asian Film and Diaspora Stories.
• Tasveer Audience Award for emerging directors:
• Best Narrative feature
• Best Documentary
• Best Short
• $50 Honorarium is available to each filmmaker per project participating in a post-film QnA.
• $1000 Best Narrative feature (only to non-distributed films, in the competition)
• $1000 Best Documentary (only to non-distributed films, in the competition)
• $500 Best Short (only to non-distributed films, in the competition)