FESTIVAL FOCUS
The International Film Festival of South Asia Toronto returns Oct. 9-19 for its 14th edition, spotlighting South Asian, Canadian and Afghan voices alongside tributes to cinema legends Peter Brook and Guru Dutt.
The fest opens with Canadian premieres of Berlinale-acclaimed “Shadowbox” starring Tillotama Shome, and Roya Sadat’s “Sima’s Song.” Afghan filmmaker Sadat will lead a “Storytelling in a Shifting Land” masterclass with fellow filmmakers Mozhdah Jamalzadah, Aziz Dildar and Tarique Quyumi.
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IFFSA 2025 honors visionary director Peter Brook with a presentation of “The Mahabharata,” introduced by his son Simon Brook. The festival also commemorates Guru Dutt’s centenary with a rare theatrical presentation of “Pyaasa,” Anup Singh’s “Poetry of Shadows” appreciation event, musical tribute “Echoes of Longing” and immersive installation “Chiaroscuro Dreams.”
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Canadian premieres include Eisha Marjara’s “Calorie,” Baljit Sangra’s “Have You Heard Judi Singh?” and Ash Varma’s “Desi Fiction.” The programming features over 100 premieres and 40 events across Greater Toronto Area venues.
“IFFSA Toronto has become the home where South Asian cinema lives in its fullness,” said festival director Sunny Gill.
JUDGING JOURNEY
The 30th Busan International Film Festival has unveiled its 15 jury members across five major award categories ahead of the Sept. 17-26 event.
The New Currents Award jury, recognizing emerging Asian filmmakers with a KRW20 million ($14,400) cash prize, features Variety critic Jessica Kiang, Georgian director Alexandre Koberidze (“What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?”) and Korean helmer Oh Seung Uk (“The Shameless,” “Revolver”).
The BIFF Mecenat Award for documentaries includes journalist-filmmaker Ito Shiori (“Black Box Diaries”), director Kim Mire (“Sanda”) and Sundance senior programmer Basil Tsiokos. Thai director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, who won Cannes Critics’ Week 2025’s Grand Prize for “A Useful Ghost,” joins the Sonje Award jury alongside Byun Young-joo (“The Murmuring”) and Taiwanese filmmaker Lee Hong-chi.
The Netpac Award jury features producer Diana Ashimova, Korean Independent Film & Video Association chair Baek Jaeho (“Citizen Roh”) and producer Teng Lee Yein. The Fipresci Award jury includes critics Narendra Bandabe and Sofía Ferrero Cárrega and Sungkyunkwan University professor Kim Meehyun.
The concurrent 20th Asian Contents & Film Market runs Sept. 20-23.