For the second year in a row, the largest South Asian film festival in the country will be bringing the party to Renton for a weekend of movies and fun, including the festival’s closing gala and awards ceremony.
The Seattle South Asian Film Festival kicks off today, Thursday, in Seattle and will make its way to Renton next weekend, where the group will close out the two-week event with a gala and awards ceremony at Carco Theatre. Roxy Cinema and Carco will each host movies during the festival.
“Renton is honored to become part of the largest South Asian film festival in the United States. Hosting the Seattle South Asian Film Festival in Renton allows us to showcase our thriving arts and culture scene, bring visitors and business to Renton, and promote our goal of becoming an inclusive city that celebrates and engages our diverse community,” Renton Mayor Denis Law said in a press release.
This year’s event, the festival’s 10th anniversary, includes a total of 59 films, both feature-length and shorts, from nine different countries. More than 24 filmmakers are also scheduled to attend the 12-day festival, giving audience members a chance to ask questions about the films and learn more about life in the countries where they were made.
This year’s theme is “Coming Home” and there is a focus on Sri Lanka, including several recent films from the island nation, being shown for the first time in the U.S.
The festival also includes a two-day symposium at the University of Washington (Seattle/Bothell) called “Human Rights and the Politics of Filmmaking in South Asia,” sponsored by South Asia Center, scheduled for Oct. 19-20.
Renton showings begin at 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Roxy with “Khwada,” an Indian film. The final films of the year are “The Spectaular Jihad of Taz Rahim” and the short film “Bayberries Have Ripened,” from Nepal, which will be shown beginning at 4 p.m. Oct. 25 as part of the closing night gala and awards ceremony at Carco.
For more information, a full list of films or to buy tickets, visit ssaff.tasveer.org.
