Tasveer, the premier South Asian film festival in the United States, has announced its prestigious jury for the 19th annual
Tasveer Film Festival
(TFF), which runs from October 17 to 20, 2024. Known for showcasing bold and diverse South Asian voices, the festival has established itself as one of the most significant cultural events for
South Asian cinema
in North America, especially after receiving
Oscar-qualifying
status in 2023.
This year’s jury is led by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Shaunak Sen (All That Breathes) and includes an impressive roster of industry figures, such as Geeta Vasant Patel, Emmy-nominated director of House of the Dragon and Ahsoka; Omi Vaidya, the beloved Indian-American actor and filmmaker known for 3 Idiots; and
Elham Ehsas
, BAFTA-nominated and Oscar-shortlisted director of Yellow. Other esteemed jurors include Kanak Mani Dixit, a leading journalist and civil rights activist from Nepal, and Samia Zaman, a prominent Bangladeshi producer and president of the International Film Initiative.
Also joining the jury are Beena Sarwar, a Pakistani-American journalist and human rights advocate; Arshad Khan, an award-winning filmmaker based in Canada (Abu); Saket Saurabh, an acclaimed cinematographer; and Priya Vashist, a professor and filmmaker focused on queer South Asian stories. The jury will be chaired by Chaitanya Sareen, an executive producer behind acclaimed films such as Meet the Patels and Yellow.
“I have long admired Tasveer’s unwavering commitment to amplifying South Asian voices worldwide. It is a privilege to return to Tasveer as President of the 2024 Film Festival jury and contribute to this important mission,” said Shaunak Sen, President of the 2024 Jury.
The Tasveer Film Festival has grown significantly, with nearly 500 submissions this year from countries including the UK, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the U.S. A total of 110 films have been selected, with a strong focus on themes of female empowerment, LGBTQIA+ issues, resilience, and immigrant stories. The films will also spotlight underrepresented perspectives, offering unique explorations of masculinity, elderly experiences, and euthanasia.
The festival will culminate in an awards ceremony on October 20 at Seattle’s PACCAR IMAX Theater. Categories include Best Feature Narrative, Best Documentary, Best Short Narrative, and Audience Choice Awards. Notably, the winning short film will become eligible for consideration at the 2025 Academy Awards. Last year’s winner, Yellow(directed by Elham Ehsas), was shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards.
