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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                           SEPTEMBER 11, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 36

                                15 Years. One Festival.

             A World of South Asian Stories.

              DCSAFF celebrates its 15th anniversary with three days of cinema, culture, conversations and

                    community on September 11–13, 2026 at Regal Rockville Center, Rockville, Maryland

            NEERAJ DHAR

            Rockville, MD
                  he Washington, D.C. region’s South Asian
                  film community is preparing for a milestone
            Tcelebration  as  the  DC  South  Asian  Film
            Festival (DCSAFF) marks its 15th anniversary this
            September. The three-day in-person festival will
            bring  features,  shorts,  documentaries,  filmmaker
            conversations, master classes and post-screening
            discussions to Montgomery County.
                This  year’s  message,  “Bridging  Cultures
            Through  Cinema,”  reflects  DCSAFF’s  commit-
            ment to presenting the breadth of South Asian
            stories and filmmakers, with voices connected to
            India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal,
            Bhutan, Tibet and Sri Lanka.
               A Festival Built Around Stories That
                          Stay With You
                2 Blue anchors the Opening Night program,
                setting the tone for a festival centered on hu-
            5man connection and resilience. Lali headlines
            Closing Night and has already attracted interna-
            tional attention, including a world premiere at the
            76th Berlin International Film Festival earlier in
            2026.
                The wider lineup includes Madam Mumtaz &
            Co., Boong, Shadow Box, The Great Shamsuddin
            Family, Timeless, Notice Me Now, On the Moun-
            tain and Dad’s Dream, among other independent
            works.
                Sarmad Khoosat, Pakistani filmmaker, writer,
            producer and actor, returns to DCSAFF with Lali.
            Khoosat has a long history with the festival; he was
            previously  honored  for  his  contribution  to  Paki-
            stani television and cinema, and Kamli earned him
            the DCSAFF Best Director award in 2023.
             More Than Screenings: Building a Film
                            Community

                  he anniversary celebration begins before
                  the cinema lights come up. On September
            T6, DCSAFF will host a Lunch Mixer & Pan-
            el Discussions at The Writers Center in Bethesda,   fessionals.                            cinema beyond the theater weekend.
            presented by Kimberly Skyrme / Creative! Butter-  The 15th edition continues DCSAFF’s evo-        Plan Your Festival Weekend
            fly Films and DCSAFF. The program brings film-  lution as a connector within the regional creative   • September 11–13, 2026
            makers, performers and production professionals   economy—creating opportunities for filmmakers,   • Regal Rockville Center
            together for conversations on DCSAFF’s 15-year   actors, producers, writers and crew while giving   • 199 E. Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD 20850
            journey, the Mid-Atlantic talent pipeline and pro-  audiences access to stories that entertain, chal-
            duction in the region, followed by networking. Fea-  lenge and connect. The festival’s virtual program   DC South Asian Film Festival
            tured voices include DCSAFF alumni, Maryland   is scheduled for September 14–30, extending the   Bridging Cultures Through Cinema
            Film Office representatives and other industry pro-  opportunity to discover South Asian independent   • Culture • Cinema • Community

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