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
 |
Click here to Reply or Forward
|
Tag: @filmifestival
0 In search of lost time
Synopsis:
Two South Asian immigrants arrive in Canada in hopes for a better life, but slowly learn it’ll cost them their soul. In today’s world, what does it cost to leave everything behind and make a new-life in a “First World” country? In Search of Lost Time is a tragic comedy which explores the longing for something worth calling “home”, and what someone must do to have “la dolce vita”, as they love to call it.
STARRING: Ali Kazmi, Gia Sandhu, Mikaela Lily Davies, Rouvan Silogix, Steph Crothers & Athena Kaitlin Trinh
Director: A film by Rafeh & Rouvan Mahmud
Rafeh Mahmud is a Pakistani-Tanzanian-American, recent Canadian immigrant, Director, Writer, Daytime Emmy award winning Producer & Editor. He has worked for ABC News “Good Morning America” and as a Production & Post Production Engineer’s Associate for Light Iron, Panavision on Netflix’s “Queens Gambit”, Amazon’s “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, CBS’s “The Good Fight” among other TV-shows and films. Since moving to Toronto, he has worked with Cineflix Productions on a Lifetime MOW “Jodi Arias: Bad Behind Bars”, and on CBC Gem’s “Virgins” and “True Dating Stories.” He has also worked with the Canadian Opera Company, Stratford Festival, Crow’s Theatre & Modern Times Theatre Company.
Rafeh latest film ‘When Life Gives You Lemons’ (2022) has 3 Official Selections, including Oscar-qualifying Martha’s Vineyard AA Film Festival Virtual Experience. His previous film ‘In Defense of Civil Society’ (2021) has received 18 Official Selections, including Cannes’ Diversity in Cannes Shortfilm Showcase, Sarasota Film Festival, & Richmond International Film Festival. 2 Award Wins in Best Picture & Best Editing, 5 Nominations in Best Dark Comedy, including a Grand Jury Nomination, and 3 Honourable Mentions.
Outside of his work in film, he works as a director, playwright, and actor in theatre, and is a multiple grant-winning theatre artist. Prior to his recent immigration to Toronto, he lived and worked in New York City, and Karachi, Pakistan.
Previous experience includes: “Jodi Arias: Bad Behind Bars” Assistant Editor; Lifetime (Cineflix Productions). CBC Gem’s “Virgins” (Lead Editor) & “True Dating Stories” (DIT, BTS Photographer, Assistant Editor). Stratford Theatre Festival Digital Content (2020), Ruby Waters Live (2021), Associate Producer, ABC News [2018 Daytime Emmy]. Post & Production Engineer’s Associate, Light Iron, Panavision (2019), Artistic Associate & Coordinator, Williamstown Theatre Festival (2017), The New School for Drama, BFA, 2013-2017.
Share this:
0 The Mermaid Waits
A showcase of multiple seasons’ worth of designs and products by 18 Waits, through the meet-cute of a man and a mermaid
Director Biography – Nadeem Umar-Khitab
Director Statement
Nadeem Umar-Khitab is a classically trained actor who has spent most of his career performing
Shakespeare. He studied acting at Toronto Metropolitan University with Ian Watson of the Stratford
Conservatory and Dr. Cynthia Ashperger of the Michael Chekhov Association. Most recently, he played
Hamlet in a bold reimagining by director Stephen Drover. His performance was lauded as “eminently
watchable, sympathetic” leading “a first-rate cast [in]…the must-see show of the summer.”
Nadeem’s career spans two decades and three countries, performing at London’s Barbican Centre, the
Brooklyn Centre for the Performing Arts, and across Toronto and Vancouver. Notable credits include the
world premieres of the smash hit Beatles musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s As You Like It (Bard on
The Beach), Anosh Irani’s The Men In White (Arts Club), Carmen Aguirre’s Anywhere But Here (Electric
Company), Chris Abraham’s Macbeth, and the national tour of the award-winning Canadian musical
Onegin (Arts Club).
Recently, his focus has shifted to Film & Television, working on network shows like The Handmaid’s Tale
(Hulu), Brilliant Minds (NBC), and Robyn Hood (Global). Spring 2026 will see the release of his third major
studio feature Ready or Not: Here I Come (Fox Searchlight).
A recent graduate from Toronto Film School’s Screenwriting program and soon-to-be graduate of
Yorkville University, Nadeem is now forming a banner to produce his own projects under – uplifting
original narratives that put him and other up-and-coming diverse artists at the forefront.
Share this:
0 Mango Trail
Each morning, Rabiya moves through her routine with quiet precision, unseen by a husband who barely notices her. When their car breaks down, she follows a surreal trail of mangoes into a park where colors speak, and wind, water, and the Koel, the bird of memory and spring, call to her. There, she meets a trickster spirit drawn from Punjabi folklore, devouring mangoes with wild abandon. In this strange encounter, Rabiya brushes against a forgotten self, stirred by desire and memory. She runs. The next morning repeats like clockwork, but a basket of mangoes and the echo of a haunting melody suggest something has quietly, irreversibly shifted.
Director Biography – Danyal Rasheed
Danyal Rasheed is a filmmaker working between Toronto and Pakistan, known for a body of work that navigates memory, displacement, and the sacred. His key projects include A Walnut Tree (2015), Mela Chiragan: A Few Rhymes (2018), and Hatak (2020).
Hatak, a short fiction film based on a story by renowned Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto, screened at international festivals including IFFSA Toronto (2021) and DCSAFF (2022). His feature documentary A Walnut Tree offers a haunting glimpse into the lives of internally displaced people in Pakistan’s conflict-ridden FATA region, premiering at IDFA (2015) and Hot Docs (2016).
In Mela Chiragan: A Few Rhymes, Rasheed turns his lens to the ecstatic rituals of the annual mela at the shrine of Sufi poet Shah Hussain. The film screened at Open Doors (Locarno Film Festival) and the Freiburger Film Forum in 2021.
Share this:
0 Comical Depression
Comical Depression is a short film that talks about different ways in which depression can appear and the impact of relationships on a person who is going through depression.
Millie, the lead character who is going through depression has friends and family who visit her throughout the day. Their attempts at ‘helping’ do not translate into actual help primarily due to a lack of awareness of ‘depression’.
This film is meant to start conversations about depression, its symptoms, the differing appearance of varying symptoms in different people and other mental health issues that are prevalent in our society. It is a film that incorporates educational and entertainment elements but does not offer medical advice as this is not a public service announcement. However, it does fill the gap of providing light-hearted, family centric film content for healthy conversations around various mental health issues.
Director Biography – Swaroop Elamon
With over a decade of experience in independent filmmaking and scriptwriting, Swaroop has developed a unique style that blends creativity with technical expertise. Swaroop’s passion for storytelling is evident in every project he undertakes.
His academic background in political science from the University of Delhi coupled with a postgraduate diploma in film direction from LV Prasad Film Academy in Chennai and a certificate in Digital Marketing from York University, Toronto has contributed to his diverse and rich storytelling abilities that resonates universally.
His extensive repertoire of work showcases his versatility across various formats, including short films, music videos, documentaries, and digital content. Notably, his involvement in the upcoming web series “Ekam” as both a writer and director highlights his continued growth and involvement in larger-scale fictional narratives.
Beyond film, Swaroop’s engagement in theater as a writer, sound designer, and actor likely provides him with a multifaceted approach to storytelling, allowing him to infuse his projects with depth and creativity.
Overall, Swaroop Elamon’s blend of education, experience, and involvement across different mediums indicates a well-rounded and passionate artist with a penchant for storytelling and creative expression.
Share this:
0 ASHTRAY
In a battle of will and wants, one man must choose between love and lungs.
Director: Ashish Varma
Ashish is a veteran of the short film space, known for his prolific body of work. His latest endeavor is his first feature-length script, Desi Fiction, a film audiences can look forward to seeing on the 2026 festival circuit!
Share this:
0 Guilty Pleasures
A Christmastime date takes a dark turn when Emily and Arjun, a young couple still in the early days of their budding relationship, begin discussing their guilty pleasures.
Director Biography – Aidan Grossman, Abhinay Jakhar
Abhinay Jakhar is a filmmaker and actor with a background in film directing from the New York Film Academy and additional training from UCLA Extension. His previous short film was selected for the prestigious ASCF Festival. With experience in acting and directing, Abhinay combines a strong storytelling sensibility with a passion for crafting visually compelling narratives.
Born in Toronto, Aidan Grossman is an actor, filmmaker, and cinematographer with a strong dedication to creating visually compelling, innovative works. He has proudly created and starred in award-winning projects such as “Drummer Boy” (2020), “Seabreeze” (2021), and “Elle” (2024), while he has served as Director of Photography on captivating short films such as “Maybe Tomorrow” (2025) and “The Nook” (2025).
Director Statement
Although delivered in a dark, titillating package, “Guilty Pleasures” is ultimately an exploration of weird, twisty bits that we all have inside of us. This film takes a seemingly trivial and lighthearted event — discussing our day-to-day guilty pleasures — and flips it on its head, turning it into a dark comedy.
But while it’s thrilling and comical, it’s also relatable. At some time or another, most people experience a moment where things get a little too weird to take seriously. We also have a tendency to judge others for their quirks and inner demons, sometimes turning a blind eye to our own eccentricities in the process. “Guilty Pleasures” pokes fun at the uncomfortable situations we find ourselves in (especially while dating!) while also drawing attention to the hypocrisy many of us harbor.
Aesthetically, the film still starts out with a slightly more Hallmark feel, but we decided to commit to a more disturbing tone throughout the film instead of playing up the humor. To achieve this, we took a more intimate and unnerving approach to the cinematography. The aesthetic shift mirrors the characters’ descent into chaos, which is exactly what makes the dark comedy work: that surprising contrast.
We hope that viewers will laugh, but in a “what did I just watch?” kind of way. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions—one minute you’re laughing, and the next, you’re wondering if you should be laughing at all. All the while, you may be starting to wonder if someone has ever looked at you the way these characters look at each other… What strange and dark parts of yourself have others flagged that you might not be aware of?
This film plays with genre conventions in a way that doesn’t take itself too seriously, so expect some oddball humor mixed with suspense. It’s a fun ride from start to finish—dark, quirky, and definitely not your average guilty pleasure.
Share this:
0 Nanoo Knows Best
A 3-minute animated short blending 2D and stop-motion, telling an absurd yet heartfelt tale of love, memory, and mangoes during a zombie apocalypse. Inspired by my bond with my Pakistani grandmother, Nanoo, it captures a surreal moment of connection in a crumbling world.
Director Biography – Raahim Tariq
Raahim Tariq is a 2D Animator & Multimedia Designer from Pakistan who recently completed his BFA with Honours and a Distinction from OCAD University in Toronto. He majored in Experimental Animation. Within the trajectory of learning and experimenting with different types of animations from 2D to 3D, as well as stop motion, he has developed a passion for 2D animation. He enjoys creating whimsical and fantastical characters, exploring humor-filled stories, and mainly promoting stories about being Pakistani and his identity, and in doing so, he tries to bring brown culture to the mainstream, so it may lead to the acceptance and respect for brown culture. Furthermore, his exploration entails using color symbolism and materiality within his animations to support displaying a deeper message. He hopes to work in Animated TV Shows/ Cartoons as well as create animated adverts for companies. While he is majoring in animation, he has a background in graphic design, illustration, and traditional art, which has led him to work and make campaign posters and article illustrations for nonprofit organizations in Pakistan, designing logos and menus for restaurants, and showcasing his work in exhibitions and winning awards.
Director Statement
The film combines two distinct animation styles. The main characters and world are presented in 2D animation, using blood flat colors and geometric shapes. The zombies, however, are animated using stop-motion, texturally and tonally separating the “imaginary” from the “real.”
Ultimately, this film is a love letter to grandmothers, to mangoes, and the chaotic beauty of South Asian storytelling. It captures the feeling of being a kid and believing every wild tale your elders told you, no matter how impossible, because when Nanoo speaks, you listen, even if it means you go through a field filled with zombies
Share this:
0 Twist
An panda cub faces off against a stubborn jar of strawberry jam. Who will emerge victorious in this tussle?
Director Biography – Anoop Pillai
Born in Kerala, India, Anoop has lived in various parts of the world such as Mumbai, Dubai, Dammam, Manama, and most recently in Toronto. Alongside actively working on his own projects, he also assists fellow filmmakers in bringing their visions to life. Anoop’s second project, ‘TP Tango’, received two awards, including one for ‘Best Director’.
Anoop has a diverse portfolio. He has worked on over 10 projects, writing and directing six of them, which are currently in various stages of production. These include animation and live-action short films, as well as a feature project. He has also directed 2 French short films. He fondly recalls starting as a photographer and writing short stories on his personal blog, which sparked his passion for writing and directing.
Beyond films, Anoop has ventured into literary work, having authored three children’s picture books titled ‘Pinky-Boo and Gumberstonz Stories’, available on Amazon and other online platforms.
Director Statement
“Twist” is a short animation for younger children aged 3 to 8 years. The story centers around friendship and the message that we all need a helping hand at times.
In the film, a young panda cub wrestles with a stubborn jar of strawberry jam. The story captures her determination to open it and the timely help she receives in getting through this.
Growing up, I was captivated by classic cartoons like Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes. Creating an engaging animated short has always been on my bucket list, and with Twist, I’m thrilled to bring that dream to life.
Share this:
0 ME | HER
Reuniting a decade later, two friends navigate the delicate dance of reconciliation, rekindling old flames, and confronting the weight of regret over unresolved emotions from their shared past.
Director: Jaskaran Singh
With an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto and a graduate of Sheridan College’s Advanced Television and Film program, Jaskaran Singh served as Head Writer and Creative Director for UofT’s campus media channel. Founding Paradox Lost, he aims to leverage his distinctive voice to craft narratives often overlooked, striving to write, direct, and produce stories that deserve a platform.
Share this:
0 Leeches
Leeches
Toronto Premiere
Director: Payal Sethi
Duration: 20 Minutes
Synopsis: In the Old City of Hyderabad, Raisa hatches a dangerous plan to save her younger sister from becoming a one-day bride when she finds an archaic remedy that could restore a girl’s virginity.
Director: Payal Sethi
AWARDS:
Brussels Short Film Festival 2016 – Best Short Film
Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2016 – Honorable Mention – Best Performance in a Short Film
Indian Film Festival, Stuttgart 2016
International Women’s Film Festival Seoul 2016 – Audience Award
Zanzibar International Film Festival 2016 – Best Dhow Film
Share this:
0 Interview
Interview
Director: Ryan Kayet
Duration: 19:00 Minutes
Synopsis:
An eager applicant walks into the pivotal interview of his career. When the employer rejects him before it begins, the young man shows him just how tenacious he can be.
Director: Ryan Kayet
Director
Ryan is an up-and-coming filmmaker that excels as a screenwriter, director, and producer. After receiving high praise for his thesis film, Lurker, Ryan co-founded Riverlife Productions with a desire to focus on strong character driven narratives. He has directed the bravoFACT funded short film One Day at a Time, based on the award winning Canadian play Cancer Can’t Dance Like This, and several music videos that have been featured on Much Music and many online websites. Interview, a dramatic short about race, power, and the importance of choosing your words carefully, was funded by the Ontario Arts Council and has just begun the festival circuit. His most recent project, Cancel the F—ING Internet, is a comedic short that has just completed.
Dave Gibson – Producer
Dave is an accomplished creative and corporate media producer. His first project was the acclaimed student film Lurker, which lead him to co-found Riverlife Productions in 2008 and he has never looked back. Working in corporate media, Dave has obtained ample experience in the planning and execution of video production. His work has gained him considerable respect in the community, and has lead to him becoming a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee award recipient in 2012. The leadership and project management skills he has developed have enabled him to produce powerful short films and music videos. His video Where Would I Be has been featured in publications like Urbanology Magazine. He has also produced for broadcast, such as his bravoFACT funded short film Cancer Can’t Dance Like This: One Day at a Time for bravo in 2010 and One in Eleven for Much Music in 2012. More recently, Dave produced the short film All for Davey which was a finalist in the 48 Hour Film Project and produced the Ontario Arts Council funded short film Interview which is currently on the festival circuit.
Ahsan Butt – Writer
Ahsan Butt is a writer and essayist. His first two screenplays were official selections of the Toronto International Teen Movie Festival in 2002, while his short fiction and essays have appeared, or are forthcoming, in The Offing, The James Franco Review, Eclectica Magazine, LitroNY, as well as The Monarch Review. Recently, he acted as Fiction Editor for an issue of The James Franco Review, a literary magazine focused on the visibility of marginalized writers, especially those who are not James Franco. Ahsan was born in Toronto, is of Pakistani descent, and currently lives in Los Angeles.
Richard Young – Lead Actor
Richard Young is an actor who most recently acted opposite Sir Derek Jacobi
in the feature The History of Love, based on the internationally bestselling novel. His acting credits include The Strain, Rookie Blue, Saving Hope, Degrassi, Mayday, the digital series MsLabelled (Shaftesbury/Smokebomb) and the feature English Butler Masala Chai (Vision TV). Richard is also a co-creator/writer/actor on the Bell Media OMNI/Rogers digital Kung Fu series Sudden Master, and he produced/wrote/acted in the digital series Off2Kali, featuring a who’s who of Canadian talent such as Colin Mochrie (Who’s Line Is ItAnyway?), Charlotte Hegele (Bomb Girls), Huse Madhavji (Saving Hope) and Katie Boland (Reign). Off2Kali was profiled by CBC’s Punchline and screened at the ReelWorld, Filmi and Toronto Web Festivals. In theatre, Richard is an alumnus of the Nightwood Theatre Emerging Actor Program, was part of the Second City’s Educational and Family Companies, and performed to sold-out audiences across the country in the touring romantic-comedy play 30 Dates.
Twitter: @RichardYoungRY
Charlie Ebbs –Lead Actor
A founding member of the stage and TV comedy group, Ottawa Sketch, Charlie has appeared in over 25 film and television shows including Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal (2013), Crook (2014), and Tell the World (2015), as well as his television appearances in Hard Rock Medical (TVO),192 (BRAVO), Real Detective (CTV), and Best Laid Plans (CBC), amongst others. With his professional partner, Rachelle Casseus, he wrote and co-produced two successful short films, The Hold Up (2012) which premiered in Los Angeles at the Hollyshorts Film Festival, and The Buckley Brothers (2014), which won Best Comedy at the 2014 Lady Filmmakers Fest in Los Angeles, California. Charlie also has numerous stage credits and is a member of the NW9 Theatre Collective an Ottawa-based professional ensemble. Self-employed as a photographer and writer for over 25 years, and more recently as an actor, Charlie has spent his life defying the idea of ‘don’t quit your day job’
͟
Share this:
0 Kathakaar
Kathakaar
Canadian Premiere
Director: Abhimanyu Kanodia
Duration: 11 Minutes
Synopsis:
Prakash, an old theatre projectionist of a single screen theatre
and a cinema lover is fired from his job because of the change
in the technology. Devastated by this sudden catastrophe and not
knowing what to do next he decides to move to his village where
he has a small house. Struggling with what to do with his life
he one day narrates a story for a crying kid. This incident
helps Prakash get his confidence back and gradually he starts
telling stories to the kids in the village and ultimately
enchants the entire village through his storytelling, also
rediscovering his passion.
Director: Abhimanyu Kanodia
Born at Ajmer, Rajasthan on 31st December, 1988. After
completing class 12th from Mayor School (Ajmer), he moved to
Mumbai (India), to take up Chartered Accountancy course and
completed it in year 2013. In 2013, he joined Mumbai based
film school Whistling Woods International to study filmmaking.
He graduated in July 2015 with a major in Direction.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KathakaarShortFilm
Awards and Accolades
– Semi-Finalist in the Foreign Narrative category of the 43 rd annual Student Academy
Awards. Out of 1,749 submitted to the Student Academy the advancement puts
Kathakaar in roughly the top 5% of all films submitted.
– Best International Short Film- 5 th Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival, 2015
– Best Short Film (JURY) – 5 th Washington D.C. South Asian Film Festival, Washington D.C., 2016
– Competitor Award- II International Motivational Film Festival BRIDGE of ARTS, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, 2016
– Best Short Film- 6 th Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai, 2015
– Best Short Film- 5 th Pune Short Film Festival, 2015
– Best Short Film- 4 th Bangalore Shorts Film Festival, 2015
– Best Short Film- CORTOKINO International Film Festival, Mumbai, 2016
– Best Short Film- Aakruti International Film Festival, Mumbai, 2015
– Best Director- 4 th Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival, 2015
– Best Screenplay- 6 th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival, 2016
– Best Cinematography (Student)- Haryana Internatinal Film Festival, 2016
– Best Actor in a Short Film (Piyush Mishra): Haryana Internatinal Film Festival, 2016
Official selection
– 3rd Benicia Film Festival, California, 2016
– 2nd Machetanz Film Festival, Alaska, 2016
– PLANOS – Tomar International Short Film Festival, 2016
– 1st Norwich Radical Film Festival, United Kingdom, 2016
– 14th Pune International Film Festival, 2016
– 8th Nashik International Film Festival, 2016
– 5th Delhi International Film Festival, 2015
– 5th Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, 2015
– 2nd Rajasthan International Film Festival, Jaipur, 2016
– 1st All Lights India International Film Festival, Kochi, 2015 (Opening Short Film)
– 13th Frames Film Festival, Mumbai, 2016
– 1st Haryana International Film Festival, 2016
– 3rd Goa Short Film Festival, 2016
23rd Filmi: Toronto's South Asian Film Festival Dec 6-7 2025 
