Presented by Toyota Motor North America for the third time, the 8th annual Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (DFW SAFF), produced by Texas-based media conglomerate, JINGO Ventures, occupies a new home at Grandscape in The Colony from May 20 to 22, 2022.
“After two years of virtual festivals and a COVID-conscious, socially-distanced, scaled-down festival, we are excited to be BACK and BIGGER than ever,” said Founder and Festival Director Jitin Hingorani. “To celebrate our complete return to live events, we have chosen to host our opening night screening on the Stage and outdoor Lawn, followed by our Saturday and Sunday screenings in the world-class Galaxy Theatres, at the newest shopping, dining and entertainment destination in Northwest Dallas.”
The movies that have garnered prime slots at DFW SAFF 2022 are:
OPENING
Texas premiere of Iman Zawahary’s Pakistani rom-com AMERICANISH
Synopsis: Welcome to America: Where dreams come true…ish. A break from the traditional romantic comedy, Americanish highlights different layers of womanhood as they intersect with cultural and societal expectations. Americanish invites viewers into the home and lives of three marriage-aged women as they navigate the often turbulent waters of romance, culture, career, and family. We follow the joys and tribulations of career-driven sisters Maryam and Sam Khan, and their fish-out-of-water cousin, Amber. Set in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, the film follows a relatable and endearing storyline offering a fresh perspective on classic rom-com tripes. Americanish delves into the complexity of trying to both honor and break from cultural traditions while balancing personal values and career goals in a society that does not always accommodate both. Watch trailer HERE.
CENTERPIECE
North American premiere of Sushrut Jain’s Bollywood drama THE TENANT
Synopsis: Bharat is a 13-year-old boy struggling with adolescence in a conservative Mumbai suburb. When Meera, a beautiful cosmopolitan woman from the big city, moves in next door, she immediately causes a stir. Bharat is drawn to her and pursues an unlikely friendship. Meera, lonely and vulnerable, finds Bharat’s innocence a welcome change in a sea of ogling, Indian men. When she introduces him to jazz and teaches him how to dance with a woman, Bharat glimpses a world of possibilities he is eager to experience. But when he stumbles upon a dark secret from Meera’s past, Bharat is forced to choose: Is she a woman of bad character like everyone says, or is she the smart, sensitive person he knows? It’s only a matter of time before the grownups in the building find out, and what Bharat does next will determine the kind of man he will grow up to be. Watch trailer HERE.
CLOSING
Dallas premiere of Pan Nalin’s flight LAST FILM SHOW
A mischievous nine-year-old boy, Samay, gets into the habit of visiting the rundown local movie theater, against his father’s wishes. Without the money to attend, he strikes up a deal with the laissez-faire projectionist, who welcomes him into the projection booth in exchange for home-cooked meals. Samay’s fascination with movies inspires him and his friends to start their own secret screening operation, but when the 35mm theater’s future is threatened , they must struggle to maintain their new connection to cinema. Watch trailer HERE.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Jitin and his team to support the DFW SAFF again this year” said Jacob Zuk, Sponsorship, Integration, Activation, Toyota Motor North America. “As the festival moves to its new home down the road from our North American Headquarters, we look forward to attending the festival in person to support the growing South Asian community here in Dallas.”
The 8th annual DFW SAFF, presented by Toyota Motor North America and supported by AARP Texas, is taking place from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22, 2022, at 5752 Grandscape Blvd., The Colony, TX 75056. The complete festival lineup, along with trailers, synopses and ticket information, will be available soon on the festival’s website, www.dfwsaff.com.
