Deepa Mehta Honored with Legacy Award at South Asian Film Festival

The International South Asian Film Festival (iSAFF) recently celebrated its 15th edition in Surrey, Canada, from September 24 to 28, 2023. The event, described by organizers as a “cornerstone of Canada’s cultural landscape,” aimed to highlight bold voices within South Asian cinema. This year’s theme, “Legacy,” resonated throughout the five-day festival, which featured screenings, awards, and various events at venues including the Landmark Theatre, Surrey City Hall, and Civic Hotel.

Deepa Mehta Receives Inaugural Legacy Award

Among the festival’s highlights was the presentation of the inaugural Deepa Mehta Legacy Award, awarded to the esteemed filmmaker Deepa Mehta. This marked her first attendance at the festival, where she expressed her gratitude, stating, “I’m really pleased to be here, so pleased. I mean, I’m so touched by it.” Mehta praised the festival’s philosophy of supporting emerging voices, emphasizing its importance in the industry.

The festival also recognized several other talented filmmakers. Notable winners included Annapurna Sriram for Excellence in Feature Filmmaking with her film F*cktoys, Sarita Khurana for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking with The Last Resort, and Leela Varghese for the Sher Vancouver Award for Best 2SLGBTQ+ Film with I’m The Most Racist Person I Know. Additionally, Shruti Parekh and Vinnie Ann Bose received accolades for their short films Zari and Sulaimani, respectively.

Screenings and Future Projects

Among the films showcased at the festival was Mehta’s critically acclaimed Funny Boy, a drama that delves into the sexual awakening of a young boy set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s tumultuous political landscape in the 1980s. B.C.-based actor Agam Darshi, who portrays a supportive aunt in the film, noted that the film did not receive the recognition it deserved due to pandemic-related restrictions. Mehta herself acknowledged the unfortunate timing of the film’s release, particularly as it was selected as Canada’s entry for the Academy Awards. “It had its moment and then the s**t hit the fan, so to speak, with what happened with the pandemic,” she noted.

Despite the challenges, Mehta remains resilient and dedicated to her craft. Known for her acclaimed Elements trilogy from 1996 to 2005, she received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2012, Canada’s highest honor in the performing arts. With her 75th birthday celebrated in September, she shows no signs of slowing down. Mehta is set to begin filming her new project, Forgiveness, in January 2024, with locations in Medicine Hat, the Vancouver area, and Tokyo. The film is based on the book by Mark Sakamoto, chronicling the experiences of two families on opposite sides of World War II.

Looking ahead, the iSAFF aims to continue its mission of providing a vibrant platform for South Asian filmmakers. With the successful conclusion of its 15th anniversary, the festival is poised to further solidify Surrey’s position as a global hub for South Asian cinema and storytelling.