Tasveer, the premier South Asian film festival in the United States, has revealed its prestigious jury for the 19th annual Tasveer Film Festival (TFF), which runs from October 17 to 20, 2024. Known for showcasing bold and diverse South Asian voices, the festival has earned its place as one of the most important cultural events for South Asian cinema in North America, particularly after receiving Oscar-qualifying status in 2023. This year’s jury is led by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Shaunak Sen (All That Breathes) and includes a roster of notable industry figures including Geeta Vasant Patel, Emmy-nominated director of House of the Dragon and Ahsoka; Omi Vaidya, the beloved Indian-American actor and filmmaker from 3 Idiots; and Elham Ehsas, BAFTA-nominated and Oscar-shortlisted director of Yellow.
Also serving on the jury are Kanak Mani Dixit, a leading journalist and civil rights activist from Nepal, and Samia Zaman, a prominent Bangladeshi producer and president of the International Film Initiative. Other key members include Beena Sarwar, a Pakistani-American journalist and human rights advocate; Arshad Khan, an award-winning filmmaker based in Canada (Abu); Saket Saurabh, an acclaimed cinematographer; and Priya Vashist, a professor and filmmaker focused on queer South Asian stories. The jury will be led by Chaitanya Sareen, an executive producer behind acclaimed films such as Meet the Patels and Yellow.
“I have long admired Tasveer’s unwavering commitment to amp.