As another incredible year wraps up, the team at iSAFF is extending gratitude to all the attendees and guests of the festival and for assisting in creating an unforgettable experience for all.
The festival kicked off with a one-of-a-kind experience-the first-ever Filmmaker Welcome Retreat. This vibrant gathering of talented filmmakers was a unique opportunity for them to connect and settle in before the festivities began, setting the tone for an extraordinary iSAFF 2024.
The Opening Night was a celebration of inspiration. It marked the premiere of Boong (with Bala Hijam) and was hosted by the ever-charismatic Nira Arora. A fireside chat with the phenomenal Archie Panjabi was a decisive moment of inspiration for everyone in attendance, setting the bar high for the rest of the festival.
Following the screening of Boong, the Purple Carpet Gala brought together an incredible mix of celebrities, business leaders, and prominent officials from Surrey and Vancouver. Guests included Archie Panjabi (Icon Award), Aliza Vellani (Leadership in Film Award), Anisha Cheema (Emerging Artist Award), and Neeru Bajwa (Visionary Actress and Leader Award). The awards were followed by a night of dancing and glamour at Surrey City Hall, setting the perfect tone for the rest of the festival.
On Friday, the Biz & Tech Forum, co-hosted with the Surrey Board of Trade, was an exciting discussion on “Making It in Canada.” The panel shared their insights and experiences in the industry. iSAFF also hosted the Pathbreaking Actors Panel, with stars like Iman Vellani and Suraj Sharma joining for a dynamic conversation about their careers, discussing their journey, challenges, and future projects.
The evening saw the Canadian Premiere of Neeru Bajwa’s Shukrana and a unique Fashions in Film event, celebrating the intersection of fashion and cinema in spectacular style.
Saturday offered two insightful panels: How to Make a Hit TV Show: The Allegiance Story and You’ve Made a Film, Now What? iSAFF was thrilled by the sold-out screenings of Gunjal and Dear Jassi, where audience members stayed for an engaging Q&A with the filmmakers. The night concluded with the much-anticipated Party in the Skye, an incredible evening of music and celebration at Skye Avenue & Lounge.
The festival closed on Sunday with a sold-out screening of The Glassworker, Pakistan’s first-ever hand-drawn animated film, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. The evening brought about the anticipated Awards Ceremony, where everyone celebrated the outstanding talent and creativity showcased at iSAFF 2024.
The 2024 Winners
- Excellence in Feature Filmmaking: Boong, directed by Lakshmipriya Devisher
- Vancouver Award for Best LGBTQ+ Film: Amma’s Pride, directed by Shiva Krish
- Excellence in Short Filmmaking (International): IF, directed by Tathagata Ghosh
- Excellence in Short Filmmaking (North America): Kumar Kumar, directed by Kiran Koshy
- Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking: Agent of Happiness, directed by Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó
- Honourable Mentions: The Glassworker, This Is TMI, Flight 182, Wagging Tale, Night Queen
iSAFF extends much gratitude for supporting and being part of the 2024 journey, with an appreciation for the sponsors and RBC for launching the RBC Film Fund, which will provide bursaries to five outstanding films featured at iSAFF.
Thanks to correspondent Jess Singh for her assistance during the Festival. All photography provided by iSAFF.
Author Profile
- Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.
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