(Above): Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi with Tasveer Executive Director Rita Meher and Program Manager Siddhi Ghai (Photo: Tasveer)

Tasveer Film Fund is the first of its kind grant dedicated to South Asian storytellers in the U.S. creating short films – submissions accepted through July 31, 2020.

SEATTLE – Tasveer, the non-profit that operates the Tasveer South Asian Film Festival (TSAFF), the largest South Asian film festival in the United States, is currently accepting submissions from South Asian filmmakers in the U.S. to make their scripts come to life. Submissions are accepted now through July 31, 2020 and the grantee will be announced at the Tasveer Arts Festival in October 2020, which is the new iteration of the festival this year.

“Tasveer was founded to combine a passion for social justice and awareness, with powerful, inclusive storytelling by and about South Asians,” said Rita Meher, executive director of Tasveer. “With this new fund, we can make this possible all around.”

In its inaugural year, the Tasveer Film Fund (TFF) will award one grant of $5,000 to a South Asian filmmaker residing in the U.S. to make a short film. Filmmakers should submit scripts between five to 20 pages in length and incorporate a social justice issue or theme. Scripts can be submitted through FilmFreeway and the submission deadline is July 31, 2020. The final grantee will be announced during Tasveer Arts Festival in October 2020, and must complete their film in time for a premiere at the festival in fall 2021.

(Top, l-r): Deputy Public Affairs Administrator for Renton Preeti Shridhar, Siddharth Zutshi, Tasveer Executive Director Rita Meher, Actor Gayatri Bahl, Filmmaker Asavari umar, Actor & Producer Shivaani Sharma, Actor Kamran Khan, Tasveer Patron Disha Bajaj, Filmmaker & TSAFF Artistic Director Pulkit Datta, Tasveer Program Manager and TSAFF Festival Manager Siddhi Ghai, Actor Ahmed Ali Akbar.
(Bottom, l-r): Actor Nishant Ghan, Filmmaker Danish Renzu, Tasveer Board Member Saira Bano, Filmmaker Hasan Zaidi, and Actor Kesav Wable (Photo: https://zfazly.com)

“Funding is one of the greatest barriers to entry for South Asian filmmakers, and at this critical moment for artists and representation, we’re proud to be able to offer this support towards getting films made and out into the world,” added Pulkit Datta, Artistic Director of the film festival.

Tasveer Film Fund is funded by Tasveer, Archana Soy Fund, and donations by local community members. Tasveer produces three festivals yearly including Tasveer South Asian Literature Festival (TSAL), Yoni ki Baat (YKB), and its signature Tasveer South Asian Film Festival (TSAFF), now in its 15th year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization will combine its festivals into one, now titled Tasveer Arts Festival (TAF). TAF will feature South Asian films, literature, and performance arts to empower, transform, heal, and entertain audiences. In a healthy and safe way, the diverse programs will encourage people to start and hold space for dialogues focused on South Asian stories that represent equity, climate change, LGBTQ+ issues, women’s rights, and much more. TAF is scheduled for early October. The format of the festival and dates will be announced soon.

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Tasveer is a social justice non-profit arts organization that inspires social change through film, arts, and storytelling. More information can be found on their website tasveer.org.