South Asian Film Festival, being the most prestigious and only South Asian Film related cultural event to bring the South Asian countries together, is receiving tremendous support from the film fraternity of the entire South Asian Region. The aim of the Festival is to forge an environment of peace and harmony among the countries in the region. Further, its objective is to provide a forum for film-makers to discuss their works, exchange creative and technical expertise in film-making, ensure the participation of policy planners and opinion makers and facilitate marketing of films from the countries within the region that will enhance mutual trade opportunities. The idea is also to ensure that the emergence of Indian Cinema in the global entertainment scenario is treated as an opportunity and not a threat, so that a niche of South Asian films is developed in the region.

The SAFF has been receiving support & participation from all the eight South Asian countries - Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Pakistan, Bhutan & India. While the Festival has been receiving support from the entire South Asian film industry, the support from the Indian film industry is exceptionally commendable.

With a focus on promoting peace and harmony, SAFF creates unparalleled experience for filmmakers and its audience. The 5th Annual South Asian Film Festival will take place from September 17-20, 2010, in Goa. More than 50 films from these countries will be screened during saff goa, The Opening night will experience a film from Afghanistan “An Apple from Paradise” A film on “distorted interpretation of religion in Afghanistan”.

Different categories of films will be screened at the festival that includes Classic Films, Short Films, Documentary Films and Popular Films. The festival will feature, films from all era’s, from young upcoming directors to established award winning directors. The festival will  feature some films with heart wrenching stories from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, India. These are “An Apple from Paradise”  “Neighbor” “ Yeh Hindustan Who Pakistan” “Mukti”, “49th Day”, “Chorten Kora”, “ Kushu Thara”  “Kagbeni”, “KhudaKushi”  “Children Of The Pyre” and  many more.

A host of celebrities from the South Asian film fraternity like Nagesh Kukunoor, Mahima chowdhury,  Shyam Benegal, Prakash Jha, Sumitra Peries, Abdul Faththah, Daoud Wahab, Morshedul Islam and many others are expected to be a part of the Festival.

The Entertainment Society of Goa and Kala Academy Goa are collaborating with the Foundation, the screening will be held in both the venues. The Government of Goa and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) are co-sponsors to this Festival.

During the festival, a Seminar on South Asian Cinema in Global context will be organised with the participating delegates from the South Asian Countries and other side events like Painting exhibitions by Simran Lamba (a young film maker and painter) and Tabassum Perween (an IIM, Ahmedabad post-graduate student) and Contemporary Dance performance by noted Kathak dance exponent, Ms. Sharmistha Mukherjee and group on the inaugural day are some of the highlights of the South Asian Film Festival this year. For four exhilarating days, directors, filmmakers, industry professionals, movie lovers and media will attend and watch the very best of South Asian cinema. The Festival will give audiences of all ages and cultures a chance to discover South Asian cinema and culture.

The South Asia Foundation (SAF) is a non-profit development organization that is hosting the South Asian Film Festival and has been working, for over two decades, through various initiatives to improve the people to people contact and cooperation within South Asia. It has worked with artisans, cultural and social activists, policy planners, artists, filmmakers, NGO’s et al to design and implement programs that yield sustainable results.

South Asia Foundation is a voluntary development organisation, apart from social development work it is also involved in cultural activities such as film making & organising major festivals to enhance people to people contact in the Region. Our first documentary film was directed by the well known director "Goutam Ghose" that received National Award in 2002.

The Foundation, through its interaction with a cross section of people in the region over the years, has come to the conclusion that films are the single most effective medium for improving communication and co-operation within the region. The influence of films on the psyche of the masses is enormous. It can be used for reinforcing the initiatives that are already underway for generating peace and harmony. There is a need to support and showcase the products of this medium to generate appreciation for the socio-cultural norms that exist in each country of the region. Improved understanding at the peoples’ level will result in a better government-to-government interaction and will also open up and increase opportunities for trade and investment.