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Sep 21 - Sep 24, 2023

About CSAFF

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival’s mission is to advance diversity in Chicagoland through cinema, conversation and culture. The festival gives South Asian talent, stories and themes a world platform and is committed to providing an experience in cinema for filmmakers and moviegoers alike with the warmth and personal touch that is unique to Chicago.

THE FESTIVAL AIMS TO:

  • Promote South Asian culture, talent and perspectives through films, art and discussions
  • Promote Local Businesses and Organizations by creating partnerships and fostering strong relationships to provide exposure
  • Promote Chicago as a destination for making films while supporting local talent through workshops and networking platforms

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival, is one of the largest multicultural events in the heartland of America and is dedicated to advancing diversity in Chicagoland through cinema, conversation and culture. The Festival was founded in 2010 by the Chicago South Asian Arts Council, a non-profit organization that aims to promote creativity and culture through art.

CSAFF is held in late September in downtown Chicago and screens premiere films, hosts exceptional talent and organizes panel discussions, opportunities for filmmakers and film lovers to connect, musical performances, industry workshops, tributes to major artists and awards galas.

The Festival supports films from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tibet. Films from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have also received a platform at CSAFF. All of our films are spoken or subtitled in English.

Founded in 2010 by the Chicago South Asian Arts Council, Inc., CSAFF is an exclusive annual event supported by the Mayor of Chicago, Chicago Film Office, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Consulate General of India, the Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago Sister Cities: Delhi Committee, Evanston Public Library, the City of Evanston, Tribeca Flashpoint Film School, DePaul University, educational institutions and industry ambassadors. Most importantly, we owe immense gratitude to our vibrant, film-loving and loyal audience.

“The Festival creates an innovative cultural and cinematic experience for Chicagoans and visitors alike. Through the gift of film, the Chicago South Asian Film Festival invites all to share and enjoy the magic of cinema and true cultural exchange. The City is proud to host this extraordinary partnership between the South Asian community and the arts and entertainment industry.”

– Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

FESTIVAL HISTORY

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival was founded in 2010 by Amit Rana, Mileen Patel, and Ketki Parikh with the support of Vachikam Inc and the Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP). The first festival was held October 1st – 3rd, 2010 at the Chicago Cultural Center and Columbia College Chicago and showcased 16 films. The inaugural event attracted just over 1,300 attendees including renowned filmmakers Aparna Sen, Deepti Naval and Ajay Naidu.

The initial committee members at inception were: Suhani Amin, Kaivan Dave, Ketki Parikh, Mileen Patel, Amit Rana, Raza Siddiqui, Susan Singh, Shalini Trivedi and Parveen Usman.

Based on the success of the first festival, the Chicago South Asian Arts Council Inc., a nonprofit organization, was formed in December 2010 to carry out the mission of furthering South Asian arts and talent in Chicagoland.

In conversation and Q&A with artists

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Ketki Parikh

Ketki Parikh is the co-founder and President of Chicago South Asian Film Festival. While growing up in India she was intimately engaged in both the performance and theories of artistic expression through dance and drama at the prestigious Darpana Academy in Ahmedabad. After moving to the United States, In 1995, Ketki founded Vachikam with the goal of sharing these experiences with the greater Indian community in USA by nationally promoting theatrical performances and artists of the highest quality from India. Ketki is also a strong and active supporter of the Indian community. After serving on the board of India Development Service she also serves as a board member of Apna Ghar, a domestic violence shelter in Chicago serving primarily Asian women and children.

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Jigar Shah

Jigar Shah is the Festival Director of Chicago South Asian Film Festival. He is passionate about the connection between stories, films and community. He aims to share perspectives through film and art by providing a platform for talents who are overlooked as he empowers each of us to see our inner artists. Jigar holds several leadership titles and is advisory board member to various nonprofits. He serves as a jury member in other international film festivals. Working in a leadership role in a Global healthcare financial firm, Jigar is a technology strategy leader who holds advanced degrees in Engineering, MBA (Chicago), and Law (Pritzker School of Law, Northwestern, Chicago). “I believe in bringing each of us together through art and culture; this is possible and I make this an everyday action in my life.”

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Amit Rana

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Aparna Sen

Aparna Sen is a critically acclaimed Indian filmmaker, script writer, and actress. She is the winner of three prestigious National Film Awards and eight international film festival awards. Her first film appearance happened in Satyajit Ray’s Teen Kanya when she was sixteen. In 1981, Aparna, made her debut as a film director with 36 Chowringhee Lane which won national and international accolade. Since then she has gone on to direct films on a wide variety of subjects that have brought her worldwide fame and recognition.

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Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi is regarded as one of the finest actresses in India. She has appeared in over 120 Hindi films in both mainstream and independent cinema, and has to her credit as an actor several international projects. Azmi’s performances in films across genres have earned her praise and awards, which include a record of five wins of the National Film Award for Best Actress and four Filmfare Awards. In addition to acting, Azmi is a social and women’s rights activist, a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), and a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.

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Vishal Bhardwaj

Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, writer, composer and producer. He has directed ten feature films, produced five and composed music for more than forty. His directorial work includes Makdee, The Blue Umbrella, Kaminey, 7 Khoon Maaf, Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola, Rangoon, Pataakha as well as the internationally acclaimed Shakespeare Trilogy – Maqbool, Omkara and Haider (adapted from Macbeth, Othello and Hamlet, respectively). He has received 3 international awards and 7 national film awards for his work and recently began his stage career by directing A Flowering Tree in the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, and composing music for the Monsoon Wedding musical in Berkeley, California.

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Bhawana Somaaya

Bhawana Somaaya commenced her career in the late 70s as Chief Reporter with Free Press Journal’s film weekly titled Cinema Journal. In 81 she joined Movie as Assistant Editor and went on to become the Joint Editor. In 2000, she joined as Editor Chief, Screen, a film weekly of The Indian Express Group. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards and has contributed columns to prominent publications like The Observer and The Hindustan Times. She has to her credit nine books in a span of 10 years which include Amitabh Bachchan – The Legend and Cinema – Images & Issues. Somaaya does a weekly film review and a Sunday show on 92.7 Big Fm. She is a multifaceted individual who juggles multiple responsibilities including being creative consultant to Enlighten Films and their website Dear Cinema, a guest lecturer at MET college, and serving her second term on the Advisory Panel of Central Board of Film Certification.

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Lillete Dubey

Lillete Dubey has appeared in numerous Indian movies, most notably in the Mira Nair directed: Monsoon Wedding, Baghban alongside the legend, Amitabh Bachchan, Bow Barracks Forever alongside her daughter Neha Dubey, and Housefull alongside Bollywood A – listers Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone. Lillete Dubey, in addition to acting, is an acclaimed theatre director, television and film artist, and founder of the Theatre Action Group in Delhi. She has directed a number of plays including Mahesh Dattani’s Dance like a Man, which is the longest running play in English that completed 425 shows across the world and a two week run on Broadway.

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Deepti D'Cunha

Deepti D’Cunha is a Film Programmer, based in Mumbai, India, specializing in Contemporary Indian Cinema. Deepti sources and curates films for the Viewing Room section, Work-in-progress lab and Film Bazaar Recommends section, for NFDC Film Bazaar. Her deep commitment towards independent Indian cinema always keeps her on the lookout for new films and fresh talent from all over India as well as new platforms for exhibition and distribution of Indian cinema across the world. She has been a programmer for the 17th and 18th International Children’s Film Festival of India by the Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI) and well as for Osian’s Cinefan Film Festival. Deepti sources Indian films for International Film Festivals and is currently the India Consultant to Marco Mueller, Artistic director, of Rome Film Festival.

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