Deepa Mehta Honored with Legacy Award at 15th South Asian Film Festival

The International South Asian Film Festival (iSAFF) celebrated its 15th anniversary in Surrey from September 24-28, 2023, highlighting pivotal voices in South Asian cinema. The festival, which took place at various venues including the Landmark Theatre and Surrey City Hall, featured a rich program of screenings, awards, and discussions, all centered around the theme of “Legacy.”

One of the festival’s significant moments was the presentation of the inaugural Deepa Mehta Legacy Award to the acclaimed filmmaker, marking her first appearance at iSAFF. Mehta expressed her gratitude during the festival’s opening day, stating, “I’m really pleased to be here, so pleased. I mean, I’m so touched by it. I really like the philosophy of the festival, that it gives space to people who want to grow, who are growing, and that is really important.”

The festival honored a variety of films and filmmakers, including Annapurna Sriram for “F*cktoys,” which received the Excellence in Feature Filmmaking award. Other notable winners included Sarita Khurana for “The Last Resort,” which earned Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking, and Leela Varghese, who won the Sher Vancouver Award for Best 2SLGBTQ+ Film for “I’m The Most Racist Person I Know.” Additionally, Shruti Parekh and Vinnie Ann Bose received accolades for Excellence in Short Filmmaking for their films “Zari” and “Sulaimani,” respectively.

The festival also recognized filmmaker Onir with an Icon Award, while Supinder Wraich received the Leadership Award for her role in the Allegiance TV show. Emerging talent Shubham Chhabra was acknowledged as an Emerging Artist, and Sarb Nagra received the DGC BC Director Award.

A highlight of the festival was the screening of Mehta’s film “Funny Boy,” a poignant drama that delves into the sexual awakening of a young boy against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s political turmoil in the 1980s. Agam Darshi, a B.C.-based actor in the film, noted that its release was overshadowed by pandemic-related restrictions, adding that the film did not receive the recognition it deserved. Mehta reflected on the film’s challenging launch, acknowledging, “The timing was unfortunate… It had its moment and then the s**t hit the fan, so to speak, with what happened with the pandemic.”

Born in India and now a Canadian citizen, Mehta has made significant contributions to cinema with her Elements trilogy and received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2012. As she continues to work on her craft, her upcoming project, “Forgiveness,” will begin filming in January 2024 in Medicine Hat, the Vancouver area, and Tokyo. Based on Mark Sakamoto’s book, the film tells the story of two families on opposite sides during World War II.

At 75, Mehta shows no signs of slowing down. In a recent phone interview, she remarked, “I don’t know, this is part of me. My daughter thinks I should relax now, just take care of the grandkids… but I also like to work — but I don’t think of it as work. Doing what I do is like food, something essential that helps you live.”

Following its 15th anniversary, the iSAFF aims to further its mission of providing a vibrant platform for South Asian filmmakers and fostering connections among audiences through storytelling. As it continues to grow, the festival is solidifying Surrey’s status as a global hub for South Asian cinema.