Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF2023)

Canada’s top film festival of new South Asian cinema, MISAFF2023 is around the corner with the greatest selection of films from across the globe gracing the screens of Mississauga. The festival passes are only $55 (Regular pass) and $65 (VIP pass). You can save 20% using the early bird discount code MISAFF23Earlybird (ends 15th February). The VIP ALL ACCESS PASS includes invitations to exclusive gatherings with filmmakers as well as a swag bag.

Both passes include all the film screenings at the Cineplex Cinema and the Living Arts Centre. The festival pass is a discounted asset that includes the OPENING, CLOSING and CENTREPIECE films as well as all the other titles presented at the festival. However pass holder space is limited, so if you want confirmation of a film screening ticket you will need to buy that ticket separately.

Once you have paid for the pass, please bring the receipt to the Cineplex Mississauga to pick up the physical pass starting the 23rd of March 2023 at 4 PM.

Full festival program out now.

MISAFF 2023’s films include:

KAMLI by Sarmad Khoosat (Opening Night Film/North American Premiere) – PAKISTAN

Three women grapple with their restrained desires in a tale of love, loss and hidden secrets wherein their stories intertwine. Pakistan’s leading actresses Saba Qamar (Hindi Medium), Sania Saeed (Joyland) and Nimra Bucha (Ms Marvel) star in this stunning film.

JOYLAND by Saim Sadiq – PAKISTAN

In inner-city Lahore, a severe patriarch is the head of the middle-class Rana family, which includes his two sons, daughters-in-law, and four granddaughters. He wants his children to give him a grandson and forces his daughter-in-law Mumtaz to quit her job after Haider, his younger son and her husband, finds work at an erotic dance theater. But all changes when Haider falls in love with Biba, a transgender dancer.

POWAI by Kuldip Patel – INDIA

Powai is a triptych of stories about three women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds living in the titular developing suburb of Mumbai – a domestic worker, a govt preschool teacher and a software professional. As they struggle to realize their aspirations and claim their autonomy in a fast-changing, male-dominated, chaotic and often unforgiving urban landscape, their lives intersect in small, unexpected ways.

DODA by Adil Bizanjo (International Premiere) – PAKISTAN

This first feature revolves around a former boxer DODA from a small town. The film goes through the journey of Doda, and how he can survive and overcome his past and make things right once again. The Balochi language film is an attempt to push Baloch representation in the film industry.

HAWA by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon – BANGLADESH

The film depicts the journey of an all-men team on a fishing trawler, eventually where the mystery of life and relationships gets re-interpreted. The usual fishing mission of a group of seasoned boatmen of Cox’s Bazar finds an unheard-of catch in the deep of the sea. They caught a beautiful yet mysterious young girl and then entered the world of men on the boat. The story of the film is based on a fairy tale.

SANAA by Sudhanshu Saria (Canadian Premiere)

The film is about an ambitious young woman who is raging against an internal battle that is rooted in unhealed trauma. Sanaa, like Suds last film LOEV, also world premiered at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival to great acclaim.

What’s Love Got To Do With It by Shekhar Kapur – UNITED KINGDOM

Set between London and Lahore, a filmmaker documents her childhood friend and neighbour’s arranged marriage to a bride from Pakistan. The film stars Academy Award winning actress Emma Thompson, Indian parallel cinema diva Shabana Azmi and beloved British star Lily James.

Shankar’s Fairies by Irfana Majumdar – INDIA

A very nice slice-of-life movie set in rural 1960s India. It revolves around Shankar, the very competent lead servant in the household of a middle-class Indian family. He is a very important presence in the life of the young girl of the family. Yet he is treated like a brainless idiot by the bossy, unsympathetic mother of the family.

“MISAFF brings daring films to Canada and offers them the spotlight on the silver screen in Mississauga. The Festival introduces new voices that reflect new ideas in our communities.” said Festival Director Arshad Khan. “Cinema has been a catalyst for change and the programming at MISAFF reflects the daring spirit of today’s South Asian filmmakers.”

For 2023, MISAFF has also programmed an exciting selection of feature documentaries including the award-winning TO KILL A TIGER by Nisha Pahuja, WHILE WE WATCHED by Vinay Shukla, EXEGESIS: A LOVE STORY by Qais Pasha and MARGINALIZING MINORITIES by Dipti Gupta. The festival is also hosting 12 Canadian short films including the world premiere of THE LOVE WE MADE directed by V.T. Nayani.

MISAFF will also host an exciting program of industry events including the Instagram Conversations With Filmmakers facilitated by the On Canada Project, MISAFF CHAT with the creators and cast of the hit new television show BOLLYWED in partnership with CBC taking place on Friday, March 24th at the Cineplex Square One Cinemas, and the announcement of the 2023 MISAFF Star presented by ACTRA Diversity.