IFFSA Toronto: Your Stories; Your Festival

The International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) Toronto returns for
its 14th edition, October 9–19, 2025, reaffirming its place as a global stage for South Asian cinema in all
its cultural authenticity—layered, unflinching, and alive.
The festival opens with the Canadian premieres of Berlinale-acclaimed Shadowbox by Tanushree Das
and Saumyananda Sahi, starring Tillotama Shome (Qissa, Sir), and Roya Sadat’s internationally
celebrated Sima’s Song. Tillotama’s presence imbues the festival with an arthouse tour de force, while
Sadat further anchors the Afghan spotlight through her Storytelling in a Shifting Land masterclass, joined
by filmmakers Mozhdah Jamalzadah, Aziz Dildar, and Tarique Quyumi, in a program of immersive events
that includes the evocative musical evening Echoes of Her Voice.
IFFSA 2025 commemorates the Centenary of Guru Dutt, India’s most lyrical cinematic poet, with a
curated journey of remembrance featuring a rare theatrical presentation of Pyaasa, Anup Singh’s film
appreciation event Poetry of Shadows, the musical tribute Echoes of Longing, and the immersive
installation Chiaroscuro Dreams.
The festival also honours visionary director Peter Brook with a landmark presentation of The
Mahabharata, introduced by his son Simon Brook—a reflection on a work that forever reshaped theatre
and cinema on a global scale.
Canadian cinema resonates strongly at IFFSA 2025, with premieres including Eisha Marjara’s Calorie,
Baljit Sangra’s Have You Heard Judi Singh?, and Ash Varma’s Desi Fiction. Alongside these premieres,
IFFSA celebrates acclaimed storytellers Anar Ali (CBC’s Allegiance) and Jasmeet Raina (Crave’s Late
Bloomer), reaffirming the emergence of South Asian narratives at the centre of Canadian screen culture.
The festival’s lineup continues IFFSA’s tradition of bold programming with Natesh Hegde’s Berlinale-
acclaimed Tiger’s Pond (presented by Anurag Kashyap), Pradipta Bhattacharyya’s Rotterdam-favourite
The Slow Man and His Raft, Gurudatha Ganiga’s Karavali starring Prajwal Devaraj and Raj B. Shetty,
Proshoon Rahmaan’s The Roots, and Rajee Samarasinghe’s searing doc-feature Your Touch Makes
Others Invisible.
With more than 100 premieres and 40 events, IFFSA Toronto 2025 further establishes itself as a
professional hub through the IFFSA Film Summit (October 11, 12, and 18), convening filmmakers,
storytellers, and industry leaders for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and opportunity development to
shape the future of South Asian and Canadian screen storytelling.
“IFFSA Toronto has become the home where South Asian cinema lives in its fullness,” said Sunny Gill,
Festival Director. “What excites me about this year is the way the festival moves between memory and
momentum—honouring the masters while amplifying new voices that are reshaping how South Asian
stories are seen and heard in Canada and across the world.”
Presented by TD Ready Commitment, with major support from Turkish Airlines, Ontario Creates, Toronto
Star, the City of Mississauga, and Experience Brampton, IFFSA Toronto 2025 promises an unparalleled
cinematic journey.
Festival details and passes are now available at iffsatoronto.com