Filmi 23!
Filmi Toronto’s South Asian Film Festival – 23 Years!
December 6th – 7th, 2025
Stay tuned for some great films!
21st Filmi: Toronto’s South Asian film festival
Harbourfront Centre
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0 Rolling Dream
Rolling Dream
Rolling Dream
Toronto Premiere
Director: Maahi Kaur
Synopsis:
The story revolves around a 7 yr old girl and her small dream, who lives in a one-
room house in the slums of Mumbai city. On her way to her school, is a big high-rise
building that she sees everyday and wonders how big the houses might be and if she
could ever get to see a big house. One day her school teacher gives the entire class
an essay to write, titled ‘My Dream’, she enthusiastically writes that her dream is to
go inside that building and see a big house someday. She talks to her parents about
her dream and also with a woman who works inside that building and try to find our
way to enter the building. She also prays to Lord Ganesha (Lord of success and
destroyer of obstacles and evils) to make her small dream come true. She also tries
sneaking into the building but just doesn’t find a way to enter this private secured
building. Was her dream ever fulfilled and if so at what cost? Does Lord Ganesha
destroy the obstacles on her way? An insight into the extreme lives in Mumbai, the
ones in the slums and the other in the high-rise buildings of Mumbai. Story also
highlights the domestic child labour scenario occurring in India.
FB Page:
http://tinyurl.com/puvez2h
Trailer:
Filmmaker: Maahi Kaur
Maahi Kaur was born & brought up in India and moved to Toronto,
Canada in 2000. Maahi have Master degree in Human Genetics &
Finance. She have worked in Finance industry for 7 years before started
her journey as Filmmaker in 2009. She has gained all her experience in
Filmmaking working on different sets of short, Indie & big budget
movies.
Maahi is CEO of Mahiwood Production Inc. in Vancouver, BC founded in
2012. The main focus of the company is to produce the short & feature
films in co-production with International production companies. In Jan
2013, she moved to Mumbai where she gained experience working in
Indian cinema for 2 years. In Nov 2014, Maahi made her first short
under Mahiwood Productions titled “Rolling Dream” in Mumbai based
on child labor. This short film gave Maahi recognition as Filmmaker as
movie got selected at many Film festivals, won an award in excellence &
Maahi also got nominated as Best Filmmaker at WMIFF, Washington DC.
Maahi have recently complete her second short film (24 mins) title “
Coffee at Laundromat” based on Immigration issues & LGBT rights in
Canada. This movie will be submitted to all the major film festivals.
Beside from these two projects, Maahi have been working on her first
feature film title “ Journey of Revenge & Dream”. Maahi have also
completed the script for Hindi feature film title “Loan Marriage ka
Funda “
Maahi have creativity, talent, experience & Her foremost dream is to be
a successful Filmmaker and make movies of all genres that make
difference in the society
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0 Y DOC
Y DOC
Saturday, 3rd – 4:00PM
Shorts Program 2
Y DOC – Mind Over Matter
Y DOC – Gun or Pen
Y DOC – The Wrong Turn
Y DOC – Face to Face
Saturday, 3rd – 6:30PM
Short Documentary Series
Y- DOC The Unheard Story
Y-DOC – Stolen Childhood
Y-DOC – 103
Y-DOC – Autism at 180
Y-DOC – Cyber Bully
Y-DOC- Old is Gold
Y-DOC – Global Warning
About Ydoc – 2015
YDocs-2015 youth festival hosted by CFLI was a huge success! 82 young members produced & screened 10 short documentary movies based on social issues.The event was held in July at J&J Swagat Banquet Hall and attended by over 400 people.
Centre for Leadership and Innovation (CFLI)
Leaders aren’t born, they are nurtured and developed. This is the driving force behind Centre for Leadership and Innovation, which was launched in January 2012. CFLI was founded with the mission to build and promote leadership and innovation amongst Tamil Canadians and other multicultural communities. It is registered as a Non-Profit organization.
CFLI’s primary goal is to provide an inspiring and supportive environment that will help individuals become leaders. To achieve this goal, our focus is to provide a continuous learning environment through a holistic training approach, offering programs highlighted in the blocks above. These are the building blocks for developing future leaders.
Our longer term vision is to leverage the talents of our future leaders to form a Think-Tank, a leading edge policy institute that provides research and analysis on issues affecting Canadians.
http://www.cflicanada.ca
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0 Gary “Saint Lion” Mangat Documentary
Gary “Saint Lion” Mangat Documentary
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0 Slumgods
Slumgods – Anuj Rastogi
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0 The Village Way – Wilbur Sagunaraj
The Village Way – Wilbur Sagunaraj
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0 Post Mortem
Post Mortem
Story: An amateur Model who is getting ready for her audition, experiences the supernatural.
Produced by: Sarvan Singh (sarvan@dalewoodproductions.com)
Written & Directed by: Ryan Golding
Starring: Sachel Metoo, RInya Cyrus, Rick Gomes, Sonali Jain, Connielee Ann Bovington, Abbas PJ, Micheal Cheung
Sound Recording: Derek Lukosius
Make Up: Ashley PV
Production Team: Kelly Kalyan, Manvir Sandhu, Jeff Moghadam, Jason Fyfe
Executive Producers: Manjit K Singh, Sanj Sharma, Sarbjit Saroya
Special Thanks: Red Rose Banquet Hall
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0 Teacher in a Box
Teacher in a Box
The School for Innovation was founded by a corporation determined to rebound our national economy by teaching design thinking to teenagers and putting the most promising prototypes into production. Here, a jaded teacher is coming to terms with being replaced by a digital avatar of herself. But when an abused teenage girl develops a design for a new product that stands to make millions for the corporation, the teacher must protect the girl’s best interests.
Director: Tanuj Chopra
Tanuj Chopra’s first feature film PUNCHING AT THE SUN about South Asian teenagers coming of age in Elmhurst, Queens premiered at Sundance, Tribeca and won the grand jury prize at the San Francisco International Asian American Film festival. Variety called the fiery debut “Distinctive, original and iconoclastic.” Other award winning titles he’s directed include Butterfly, Clap Clap, Carbon Dated and the ITVS Futurestates film PIA about a runaway genderbending android. He is also the co-writer, director, and editor of the popular episodic female comedy mini-series NICE GIRLS CREW starring Sheetal Sheth, Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen.
Tanuj is currently working on industrial and independent projects like crowd-funded indie feature NATURE BOY, Brown girl stoner comedy GRASS, and the VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS development grant for the anti Silicon Valley story CHEE and T.
In his downtime, he facilitates the NEW VOICES FOR YOUTH filmmaking initiative, a program dedicated to empowering creativity and civic engagement for teenagers. He holds a BA in Art Semiotics from Brown University and an MFA in film direction from Columbia University where he was awarded the Dean’s Fellowship.
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0 Rani
RANI (Queen) 2015 |
Synopsis
A troubled doctor tries to solve the mystery of a missing patient scared for her life!
Doctor Rogers is late for work as usual… Suffering from a divorce and alcohol abuse ‘The Doctor’ barely gets through his day. After closing up and canceling all his plans Doctor Rogers to his surprise finds a lonely Indian women crying in the examination room. Trying to translate the teenage Immigrant from Canada proves to be difficult but he discovers she’s in fear for her life! After being distracted by a loud bang at the front of the hospital The Doctor returns to find Rani (the Indian women) Missing. The next day Dr. Rogers and his staff track down the patient and discover Rani Lall could not have been the patient from last night….because she died six months ago…
Trailer
https://vimeo.com/user4477410/review/122148342/7905fbf0ed
Production
Sanj Sharma
ProducerGender: M
Sarvan Singh
DirectorDalewood Productions
Sanj Sharma
Writer
David Brandon George
Lead ActorGender: M
Elizabeth Harden
SupportingGender: F
Gursharan Mann
SupportingGender: M
Jyoti Grewal
SupportingGender: F
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0 Entrain
ENTRAIN
Laurent is a lonely French-Canadian student who spends his daily commutes air
drumming to the music on his iPod. This attracts the attention of another drummer,
Method – an East-African immigrant. Realizing their shared passion for rhythm, Method
initiates a drumming lesson on the packed subway, one that breaks language and
cultural barriers.
ELAINE POON (Director, Executive Producer) is a Toronto-based director and art
director for commercials, short films and music videos. She graduated with honours
from the renowned School of Image Arts at Ryerson University, where she received the
Errol Aspevig Award, and the Universal Studios Scholarship in Filmmaking. Her thesis
film Amalgamations went on to win the Best International Student Film at the Canada
International Film Festival and screened at Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. Her
award-winning works have screened at dozens of film festivals across the globe.
ADRIEN BENSON (Writer, Director, Executive Producer) is an award-winning
playwright, actor, musician and filmmaker. Raised fully bilingual, his work has been
recognized and awarded for the successful integration of both French and English
culture. He is currently based in Toronto, where he most recently completed an
International Baccalaureate in Sociology at York University. In 2013, he was awarded
both the writing and directing award for his play, NOUGHT AT THE OPERA, which
premiered at the Glendon College Theatre Festival.
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0 While you were Sleeping
Film: “While You Were Sleeping” (2015)
Runtime: 9:23
Synopsis
“While You Were Sleeping” is a father’s heartfelt poetic tribute to his baby boy, and hopeful wish for a better tomorrow for our future generations. An avid spoken word artist and writer, “While You Were Sleeping” marks a milestone in Anuj’s musical storytelling, as well as reflecting the realizations about the world around us through the eyes of a father.
“While You Were Sleeping” was written one morning in Toronto, after watching my son sleeping in his crib. I thought about him, and my daughter, and all the things I wish this world would be, and could be, for them. It’s really the simple dream of any father to have their child wake up to a world that is better than the one before them”.
“While You Were Sleeping” features Anuj’s spoken word narration against music composed for the piece. The official video, shot, edited and composited by Anuj, takes you through the journey of a world evolving to a better future as his son sleeps, evoking an ethereal, dream-like state.
Director’s Biography:
Anuj Rastogi is a Toronto based multi-disciplinary artist. As a film composer, music producer, spoken word artist and writer, he has composed and produced for film, studio, and has performed with a number of diverse artists across Canada, the US, the UK and India. As a Spoken Word artist, Anuj uses elements of word play and storyline that thread together broad narratives about social, political, personal and human insights. Anuj is currently working on a number of projects including a new studio album, a new Spoken Word EP, and two new feature scores in pre-production for 2015 / 2016. Anuj brings a forward a sensitivity that is a unique product of his intuition and environment, and is now adding “filmmaker” to his bucket-list
Links:
- Website: www.omnesia.com
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WShkHh-OyGs
- Twitter: @omnesia
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/omnesia
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0 Dream
Dream
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0 Grin F*ckers AKA corporate BS Artistes
Grin F*ckers AKA corporate BS Artistes
Grin F*&ckers AKA Corporate BS Artistes
Director: Firdaus Bilimoria
A group of management consultants grinf*ck or in other words, schmooze, lie and deceive, their clients and each other.
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0 Preeti and Sweety’s Canadian Christmas
Preeti and Sweety’s Canadian Christmas
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0 First Session
FIRST SESSION
Canadian Premiere
SYNOPSIS: Two women attempt to repair their relationship with the help of an unconventional therapist and the healing power of the mango.
RYAN LOGAN (director/editor)
An LA-based film editor who has also directed and written numerous award-winning films garnering notice at over 100 festivals and museums worldwide. Notable screenings include the Chicago International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Shortfest and Seattle International Film Festival (and venues as diverse as the Director’s Guild of America, Lincoln Center, Film Institute and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts). His work has been featured in Indiewire, Movie Maker Magazine, the Chicago Tribune and The LA Times. He focuses a lens on marginalized and frequently overlooked characters, typically branded as outsiders. He often explores these difficult themes through darm comedy and experimentation, inviting the audience to experience “a day in someone else’s shoes”.
Director twitter: ryanloganchi
Actor twitters: thefawz, mouzam, parvey
Featured Artist as part of CHICAGO ARTISTS MONTH (CAM) by the Chicago Cultural Center.
My 1-woman comedic play ME, MY MOM & SHARMILA toured 3 cities in Pakistan! Upcoming performances at The Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Tasveer: The Seattle South Asian Film Festival and 3rd-I.
“Some actors hold an audience, a few possess it. Some actors light up a scene, a few ignite it…FAWZIA MIRZA belongs to the latter category” – Zia Mohyeddin
Watch my new 8 minute documentary RECLAIMING PAKISTAN about the work of Pakistani revolutionary Mohammad Jibran Nasir and Pakistan for All.
THE FIRST SESSION, a short I wrote, produced & star in, named a SEMI-FINALIST in the NBCU Short Film Contest! It screened at The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Palm Springs Short Fest, Frameline, Outfest and more!
‘LIKE’ the facebook page for the new short film I co-wrote, produced and star in: SPUNKLE.
twitter: @thefawz
facebook: fawzia.mirza Website | IMDB | YouTube Kam Kardashian | Brown Girl Problems
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0 We’re Late
WE’RE LATE
Written & Directed by: Huse Madhavji
Starring: Rizwan Manji & Aly Mawji
All he wants is some time.
MadHuse Productions 2015
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0 Haraamkhor
OPENING NIGHT FILM
TORONTO PREMIERE
Haraamkhor (English: The Wretched)
FILMI 2015
OPENING NIGHT FILM
TORONTO PREMIERE
Haraamkhor (English: The Wretched)
Tickets on Sale NOW!
http://tinyurl.com/p3n54dw
The story is about Shyam (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), and complications around his extramarital affair with his young student, Sandhya (Shweta Tripathi). This relationship is set against the foil of Sandhya’s classmates- Mintu (Mohd Samad) and Kamal’s (Irfan Khan) friendship. Kamal is in love with Sandhya.
Haraamkhor was priemered in 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) and Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). Nawazuddin Siddiqui received the Best Actor award for the film at the New York Indian Film Festival
TRAILER
http://tinyurl.com/o7zuqr5
0 My Hot Mom Gandhi
My Hot Mom Gandhi
‘MY HOT MOM GANDHI’
A diasporic desi couple imagines what it would be like to wear politically sensitive
Halloween costumes at a house party in San Francisco.
SYNOPSIS
Partners in antics and life, Shane and Reena drive around the streets of San Francisco
talking about politics and what to be for Halloween. Driven by a desire to share Indian
history and their political views, each costume scenario is tested out on party goers.
The costume choices touch upon sensitive issues such as political assassinations,
white privilege, and drone strikes.
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0 A Silent Treatment
A Silent Treatment
Using modern day technology, a couple silently resolves their differences.
Director: Ash Varma
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0 Onto Us
Onto Us
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0 Aloo Tikki
Aloo Tikki
Director: Ash Varma
Synopsis:
A couple’s conversation over Aaloo Tikki (Potato Patty) on a Sunday afternoon.
Akash is looking for answers from his long time girlfriend (Neha), more specifically to his marriage proposal.
In a beautiful restaurant, Neha teaches him the true meaning of being in a relationship.
Watch this conversation unfold.
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0 A Disappearance
0 Licks
Licks
Director: Jazz Virk
A young couple is having a fun night out in the back of a 1968 Chevelle SS 320. A strange sound is heard by EVE and her boyfriend ADAM goes to investigate. After a long silence… The Crazed Lunatic whose name is known as PREACHER appears and hunts down ADAM.
EVE helpless in the convertible car, tries to escape only to find out that all the exits have been sealed off by PREACHER. ADAM’s neck has been slit and EVE is finally tackled down and mounted by PREACHER. He takes out his dagger and goes for the kill, but EVE transforms into a VAMPIRE and throws PREACHER to the ground. She mounts him and bites him in the neck turning him into the only thing he’s hated his whole life; a VAMPIRE.
EVE takes off in the car and leaves before the sun rises. PREACHER kneels down and LICKS up all the blood of ADAM because he has turned into a full out VAMPIR
Still Attached
23rd Filmi: Toronto's South Asian Film Festival Dec 6-7 2025 
