The International South Asian Film Festival is always a fantastic expression of world voices and powerful storytelling, and that rings true for 2026. Taking over downtown Surrey later this month, the lineup for this year’s festival might just be the best yet.
The programme centres around the theme of Dreamscapes and features 77 films — eight features and 69 shorts — from 15 countries and across 19 languages. Even more impressive, more than half of the titles are receiving their first screening anywhere in Canada or the world!
It runs from Wednesday, September 23, to Sunday, September 27, and it’s your chance to discover the many different South Asian voices across the globe through intimate storytelling, award-winning films, and passion.
Ready for five full days of movie magic? Here’s a little sneak peek of what iSAFF 2026 has on the big screen.
Lali
Director: Sarmad Sultan Khoosat
Screening time: 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24, Landmark Cinemas Guildford Theatre
B.C. premiere and opening-night feature, Lali is a dark comedy that intersects with desire, superstition, and fear. It follows protagonists Zeba and Sajawal as they live among ghosts for a comedic tale ripe with spooky vibes.
The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony
Director: Habiba Nosheen
Screening time: 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25, Landmark Cinemas Guildford Theatre
Three-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Habiba Nosheen shares the story of three female teenage gymnasts growing up in Pakistan in this intimate coming-of-age documentary.
We follow the athletes as they come head-to-head with expectations of what women can and cannot do. It’s a film that captures a deeply moving story from a corner of the world not often seen on screen.
Love Chaos Kin
Director: Chithra Jeyaram
Screening time: 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27, Landmark Cinemas Guildford Theatre
Love Chaos Kin follows Lakshmi, a mother of two white adopted twins, Anjali and Meghan, whom she has raised in an American-Indian family. When the twins show a desire to find their birth mother, a white woman named Brandy, Lakshmi is forced to face her emotions and support her daughters on their journey.
Doing so while experiencing her own pregnancy, Lakshmi also confronts identity, human struggle, and connection in a poignant film.
Crowned Athletes
Director: Prabhjit Singh Sabharwal
Screening time: 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 2, Landmark Cinemas Guildford Theatre
With its world premiere for the Closing Night Feature, Crowned Athletes is a short documentary following four Canadian athletes who are proud to wear their turbans, despite the challenges they face.
It centres on each individual’s desire to succeed in their respective sports while remaining true to themselves and their faith.
NAMASLAY
Director: Rish and Kanish
Screening time: 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, Landmark Cinemas Guildford Theater 11
Namaslay is a genre-smashing horror satire that reimagines masala cinema through a wickedly dark lens.
It looks at how the West has appropriated yoga, and proves that culture is the blood that keeps the dead alive.
Purchase your iSAFF 2026 tickets
As the only South Asian film festival in Western Canada and a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival, iSAFF is excited to share these spectacular titles and honour the storytellers who have worked so hard to do so.
Marking its 16th year, join the roughly 3,000 filmgoers who are flocking to iSAFF and purchase your tickets and festival passes for the screening programme today. It’s showtime!
iSAFF 2026
When: Wednesday, Sept. 23, to Sunday, Sept. 27,
Where: Several venues across Surrey
Cost: Varies by film/event — Available here
