Surrey’s cultural landscape shone brightly this fall as Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Deepa Mehta received the inaugural Legacy Award at the International South Asian Film Festival (iSAFF) 2025, held across the city from September 24 to 28.
The five-day festival, themed “Legacy”, featured screenings, awards and industry sessions at venues including Landmark Cinemas in Guildford, Surrey City Hall, Skye Avenue Lounge, SFU Surrey, and the Civic Hotel.
“I’m really touched by this honour,” said Mehta. “I love the festival’s philosophy — that it gives space to people who want to grow, who are growing. That’s really important.”
Mehta’s visit marked her first time at iSAFF, which organizers describe as “a cornerstone of Canada’s cultural landscape, spotlighting fearless voices in South Asian cinema.”
Among other honourees were:
Onir (Icon Award)
Supinder Wraich (Leadership Award)
Shubham Chhabra (Emerging Artist)
Sarb Nagra (DGC BC Director Award)
Films such as Fcktoys*, The Last Resort, Zari, Sulaimani and I’m The Most Racist Person I Know won major awards for excellence in feature, documentary and short filmmaking.
During the festival, Mehta’s 2020 film Funny Boy — a coming-of-age story set in 1980s Sri Lanka — was screened to renewed appreciation. Reflecting on its journey, Mehta said, “It’s interesting that with a lot of my films, they find their moment years later. I’m not worried.”
Known globally for her acclaimed Elements Trilogy (Fire, Earth, Water), Mehta continues to work actively at 75. She will begin shooting her next project, Forgiveness, early next year in Medicine Hat, Vancouver and Tokyo — adapted from Mark Sakamoto’s book about families divided by World War II.
For Mehta, storytelling remains essential. “My daughter says I should rest now, but I don’t think of filmmaking as work. It’s like food — something essential that helps you live,” she said.
As iSAFF closes its 15th edition, organizers say the festival will continue to grow as a platform that connects South Asian filmmakers and audiences across borders — and cements Surrey as a vibrant hub for global cinema.
