The International South Asian Film Festival (ISAFF) returns to Guildford, Surrey, from September 23–27, 2026. Under this year’s theme, Dreamscapes, ISAFF 2026 celebrates storytellers who dare to imagine futures rooted in justice, joy, care, and possibility, while pushing the boundaries of narrative, form, and perspective.
Dreamscapes embraces cinematic imagination as an act of both resistance and hope: reclaiming authorship of the past while boldly envisioning what comes next. These films do not simply predict the future; they dream it, shape it, and invite audiences to dream alongside them.
More than a showcase of exceptional filmmaking, the festival highlights artists who are redefining what South Asian cinema can look like on the global stage. Through film, arts, and culture, ISAFF celebrates diversity and champions inclusion, fostering dialogue, understanding, and connection while helping build a stronger multicultural society and economy.
Among their outstanding programming, thirteen short films from British Columbia will grace the screens at ISAFF 2026. Read on to discover them:
ROOTS (dir. Jasleen Kaur)
Inspired by a true newspaper article, ROOTS is set in 1940s Vancouver and follows Gurdeep, a South Asian widow determined to build a better future for her young son. After placing a deposit on a home in a white neighbourhood, she faces fierce opposition and must defend her right to buy the property before city council. Drawing strength from the memory of her late husband, a Sikh soldier who died fighting for Canada in the Second World War, Gurdeep challenges the racism and segregation that deny her family a place to belong.
CROWNED ATHLETES (dir. Prabhjit Singh Sabharwal)
This compelling short documentary follows four accomplished Sikh athletes from Canada who proudly wear turbans, exploring the challenges of balancing athletic excellence with a deep commitment to their faith.
PLAN JINN (dir. Zeeshan Dhanani)
Twenty-five-year-old Ayesha feels trapped. Desperate to escape an arranged marriage set by her traditional parents, she and her best friend fake a Jinn possession to scare them into calling off the wedding. But when Ayesha’s behaviour spirals beyond their control, a terrifying question emerges: has a real Jinn taken hold?
Still from AT THE END (2026)
AT THE END (dir. Isabelle Deluce, Lili Beaudoin)
In a post-apocalyptic world, a woman lives alone on a decaying boat, fighting for survival. Haunted by the loss of her past and the isolation of her present, she finds solace in a worn copy of Pride and Prejudice. When the weight of her loneliness becomes almost too much to bear, she wakes to find Mr. Darcy in her bed, the living embodiment of her escapist fantasies. As their relationship deepens, she is forced to confront the increasingly blurred boundaries between reality and fantasy, pain and happiness.
PARONTHA (dir. Prabhjit Singh Sabharwal)
A personal short documentary about a Punjabi-speaking grandmother in Canada and her relationship with her English-speaking grandchildren. Though language sometimes creates distance between them, she expresses her love through the food she prepares. As she makes paronthas for her family, cooking becomes a shared language that bridges generations and preserves their cultural connection. The film explores family, aging, and the quiet ways love is expressed within the Indian diaspora.
SANDAI (dir. Ram Rajagopalan, Hiromu Yamawaki)
Burdened by a decade of unresolved conflict, fractured couple Kenji and Sakura arrive at a healing session with Patti, a mystical Tamil therapist, expecting tea and talk. Instead, they are drawn into Kaala Payanam, a surreal ritual of tarot, bitter brews, and dreamlike confrontations that forces them to face their deepest emotional wounds and discover what it truly means to let go.
Still from PATANG (2026)
PATANG (dir. Hasnain Czar)
In the small Punjabi town of Sangrur, 17-year-old Ayaan earns the chance to speak at Youth Parliament in the Lok Sabha, only to discover it falls on Ashura, a sacred day of mourning for his Muslim family. When Ayaan declares he no longer believes in God, tensions escalate with his devout mother. Guided by science, philosophy, and the writings of Bhagat Singh, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that explores faith, identity, and the possibility of coexistence.
MENTOR (dir. Jacquile Kambo)
SHITCUTE (dir. Ritisha Jhamb, Ry Fry)
Two girls meet in a bathroom. One is Type A, the other Type B, and yes, their personalities are reflected in their very different digestive struggles. As they navigate the perils of constipation, diarrhea, and everything in between, they discover an unexpected connection that just might lead to love.
A CUP OF TEA (dir. Charleen Phelps)
After finding herself in police custody, Lizzie Grainger, a woman in her late 60s, gives two detectives a run for their money during a tense interrogation. As Constable Dhuga and Detective Meadows investigate a suspicious incident, they find themselves with more questions than answers.
SANJEEVANI (dir. Neetha John)
After losing her baby during childbirth, Gowri endures cruel treatment from her in-laws while struggling with profound grief and depression. When she discovers a malnourished infant whose mother cannot produce breast milk, she finds purpose in nursing the child. Through this act of compassion, Gowri transforms her grief into healing, embodying the spirit of Sanjeevani, the mythical herb believed to restore life.
VICTORIA KA RAJA (dir. Ayilya Thampuran)
VICTORIA KA RAJA follows Badshah, Canada’s first Bollywood drag king, as they navigate culture, identity, and self-expression through performance. Through intimate interviews, performance footage, and observational moments, the film explores the creation of a masculine stage persona while unpacking the complexities of migration, queerness, cultural expectations, and self-discovery.
MY DAUGHTER’S A WHAT SUCKER? (dir. Amit Aujila)
When their daughter’s increasingly strange behaviour sparks fears of drug addiction, Punjabi parents Alfaz and Kam stage an intervention, only to discover a far more shocking truth: Kavita is a vampire. Blending dark comedy, horror, and Punjabi family drama, the film explores parental love, cultural expectations, and the challenge of accepting your child for who they are.
Read the full schedule and purchase tickets this year’s festival on the ISAFF website.
