Let's Tell Our Stories More Accurately & Fairly
ALWAYS HERE, ALWAYS COMMITTED
The South Asian Screen Office (SASO Canada) is actively developing opportunities in collaboration with leading screen organizations and funding bodies, aimed at supporting South Asian Canadian talent across all stages of screen storytelling.
Stay connected with SASO to learn more about new opportunities as they are announced, and join us in shaping the next generation of bold, innovative, and authentic South Asian Canadian voices in screen media.
BRIGHT LIGHTS PROGRAM – 4TH EDITION
The Bright Lights Program, presented by the South Asian Screen Office (SASO Canada) in collaboration with the IFFSA Talent Fund, is a premier initiative supporting emerging and mid-career South Asian Canadian filmmakers. Now in its fourth edition, the program combines financial support with immersive hands-on workshops and mentorship led by acclaimed Canadian and international filmmakers, offering participants a unique platform to realize their creative visions and advance their careers toward feature filmmaking.
The program seeks to uncover untold stories within the South Asian Canadian community, emphasizing narratives that convey the specificity of diasporic experience while resonating with universal themes. Over its previous editions, the Bright Lights Program has fostered projects that have gone on to gain festival recognition, critical acclaim, and industry development opportunities, spotlighting the next generation of South Asian Canadian screen talent.
Applications for the 2026 edition open on June 10, 2026, and close on July 31, 2026, via the IFFSA Talent Fund website. Phase I will select ten finalists to participate in script development, pitching workshops, and mentorship, culminating in a live project pitch session before a distinguished jury and the announcement of the winners.
Selected projects will then enter production phases under the guidance and mentorship of industry advisors, ensuring professional oversight and support at every stage. The Bright Lights Program is more than a funding initiative—it is a launchpad for bold, authentic, and visionary South Asian Canadian storytelling, shaping the voices and careers that will define the future of screen media.
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“My film Desi Standard Time Travel literally would not exist without the IFFSA Talent Fund. In a world where BIPOC filmmakers are always being asked to re-justify our existence and pick at our deepest trauma for a chance to get any funding, it means so much to have a fund that accepts South Asian Canadian filmmakers for who we are. IFFSA Talent Fund allowed me to stretch from drama in to genre, taking a creative risk that I couldn’t afford to otherwise. Beyond funding, the IFFSA Talent Fund provided that space to dream. And as I move forward with my festival run in North America, and private screening series around the world, I couldn’t be more proud to have my film start with the IFFSA logo.” – KASHIF PASTA, FILMMAKER
“The talent fund allowed me to make a personal film about my culture, my mental health, and my late father. It’s been a journey and a process making the film, but the support I received not only allowed me to create art with my grief, but gave me closure, and for that I say thank you.” – IAN BAWA, FILMMAKER
SASO Fund
As a strategic vision, the South Asian Screen Office (SASO Canada) will establish the SASO Fund — a dedicated production fund to support South Asian-led projects within Canada’s screen ecosystem. Rooted in equity, access, and sustainability, the Fund is conceived to bridge long-standing gaps in financing, development pathways, and industry opportunities, ensuring that South Asian voices and vision has the space to be realized.
Structured with the intention of meeting the standards of a certified independent production fund, the SASO Fund will be developed through a phased, deliberate approach, incorporating stakeholder consultation, governance frameworks, eligibility criteria, and assessment processes. This careful, staged development will ensure the Fund’s sustainability, integrity, and alignment with best practices in Canadian screen industries. Through strategic partnerships, and responsible stewardship, the Fund aspires to become a trusted and enduring pillar of support for South Asian creators nationwide
Once fully realized, the SASO Fund will nurture projects that reflect the breadth and complexity of South Asian experiences, push the boundaries of creative excellence, and contribute meaningfully to Canada’s. screen landscape — balancing cultural resonance, public interest, and industry viability.
IFFSA TALENT FUND IS SUPPORTED BY
