Founded in 2002 in Seattle by Rita Meher and Farah Nousheen, Tasveer Film Festival is an annual event that celebrates South Asian cinema through films, panels, and other events. What began as humble community screenings aimed at countering stereotyped images of South Asians in the mainstream media after the 9/11 aftermath has today evolved into a powerhouse platform that uplifts authentic voices and bold narratives. Today, Tasveer is the only Oscar-qualifying South Asian film festival in the world.
Rita Meher, co-founder and executive director of Tasveer Film Festival & Market, says, “When Farah and I started Tasveer—fresh in the wake of 9/11—the idea was simple and urgent: create a brave, welcoming space where South Asians could tell our own stories.”
Some of the key milestones in Tasveer’s global growth include the creation of the Tasveer Film Fund (in partnership with Netflix), the Tasveer Film Market, and now a year-round cultural home with the Tasveer Film Centre.
Their turning point came when Tasveer earned its Oscar accreditation after two years of persistent effort. “After having done the film festival for over a decade, we wanted to think about what is next for filmmakers and their films. Applying for the Oscar qualification was the natural step forward. It took us two years to get this accreditation,” recalls Meher. The Oscar recognition transformed Tasveer from a regional showcase into a globally respected platform, which now attracts filmmakers, producers, and distributors from across the world.
The launch of Tasveer Film Market (TFM) marked another big leap. “We launched the TFM to solve a very specific gap: there was no dedicated bridge between South Asian creators in North America and the film industry outside South Asia,” Meher explains. “Festivals gave visibility, but not the sustained dealmaking infrastructure—packaging support, market intel, curated one-on-ones with streamers/sales agents, and access to capital—that actually moves projects from pitch to greenlight. TFM was designed to be that on-ramp: a professional marketplace anchored in Seattle that convenes buyers, reps, financiers, and mentors who already work with South Asian stories yet rarely meet this talent in one focused room.”
Tasveer’s journey mirrors the very stories it champions—brave, boundary-breaking, and deeply rooted in identity. As Meher aptly sums it up, “Our vision has evolved from ‘representation’ to ‘infrastructure’—so South Asian artists can sustain careers, shift culture, and reach global audiences.”
Films That Shone Bright at Tasveer This Year
HUMANS IN THE LOOP
Directed by: Aranya Sahay
This powerful Indian indie drama follows an Adivasi woman from Jharkhand, who takes on work labelling data for AI systems—only to discover how the biases she carries from her world are mirrored in the machines.
Poster Credit: Instagram/netflix_in
BALI
Directed by: Amoli Birewar
Bali is a bittersweet portrait of Sujata, who dreams of becoming a kabaddi player, only to be pushed toward marriage as she nears the end of school. The film tenderly captures how young girls like her navigate hardship with humor and imagination.
Poster Credit: Instagram/amolibirewar
RAZAA
Directed by Pooja Tolani
The film is an intimate look at an 18-year-old and her mother waiting in a gynecologist’s clinic for an abortion, struggling with the moral and emotional weight of this life-altering decision.
Poster Credit: Instagram/poojatolani 21
TURTLE WALKER
Directed by Taira Malaney
The documentary focuses on the career of conservationist Satish Bhaskar, who has worked tirelessly for 19 years to guide endangered sea turtles back to safety. The film is a quiet reflection on coexistence and ecological urgency.
Poster: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33996857/mediaviewer/rm2778039810/?ref_=tt_ov_i
LITTLE JAFFNA
Directed by Lawrence Valin
Set in a vibrant Tamil neighborhood in Paris, Little Jaffna narrates the tale of Michael, a young police officer, who is assigned to infiltrate a criminal group known for extortion and money laundering for the benefit of separatist rebels in Sri Lanka.
Poster: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33022320/mediaviewer/rm3177021954/?ref_=tt_ov_i
FARMING THE REVOLUTION
Directed by Nishtha Jain
A poetic chronicle of India’s historic farmers’ movement against the government, this documentary transforms protest into visual poetry through songs, shared moments, and resilience rooted in the soil.
Poster: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32058765/mediaviewer/rm2744875265/?ref_=tt_ov_i
WHO ARE YOU, NANU
Directed by: Anjini Taneja Azhar
A poignant tale of 11-year-old Isha, who befriends the phantom of her Nanu’s rambunctious 8-year-old self and discovers the journey after death.
Poster: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28912804/mediaviewer/rm3356647169/?ref_=tt_ov_i
KARNAMA
Directed by: Pranav Dawar
This exhilarating short documentary dives into the high-octane world of Indian stunt drivers who risk their lives performing in the “Maut Ka Kuan” (Well of Death)—a profession fueled by passion and legacy.
Poster: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37898783/mediaviewer/rm3266490626/?ref_=tt_ov_i
HAPPY
Directed by: Sandeep Kumar
Happy follows the story of an Indian refugee, Happy Singh, in Austria, who is forced to confront deportation after a decade of building a life in exile.
Poster: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26929478/mediaviewer/rm357336578/?ref_=tt_ov_i
