Nothing About Us Without Us
FOUNDATIONAL POSITION PAPER
Framing the landscape: South Asian representation in Canada’s screen industries
The South Asian Screen Office (SASO Canada) is charting the landscape of representation in Canada’s screen industries. Our Foundational Position Paper, Framing the Landscape: South Asian Representation in Canada’s Screen Industries, illuminates the lived experiences of creators, identifies structural barriers, and examines the systems that shape whose stories are seen and heard. Moving beyond individual narratives, this paper highlights the inequities embedded within industry practices, offering a critical lens and actionable insights for change. By situating South Asian representation within a comparative context and learning from other equity-focused screen initiatives, we aim to build a more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable ecosystem where every voice can thrive.
To learn more, please reach out: admin@saso.ca
NATIONAL LISTENING SESSIONS
Connecting Voices Across the Nation: Shaping the Future of South Asian Storytelling
The South Asian Screen Office (SASO Canada) is convening a series of national listening sessions to illuminate the lived experiences and structural realities facing South Asian professionals across Canada’s screen industries.
These closed-door, facilitated conversations provide a space for candid reflection, dialogue, and insight, ensuring that every perspective informs SASO’s foundational research and shapes future engagement with industry institutions.
Your voice matters. Your experience counts. Join us in shaping an inclusive and equitable future for South Asian storytelling in Canada.
To participate, please reach out: admin@saso.ca
KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION & NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
September 2026 | Toronto
The SASO Symposium convenes artists, creators, thinkers, and industry leaders for a focused gathering centered on equity, representation, and systemic change in Canada’s screen landscape. Grounded in lived experience and informed by national research and listening sessions, the Symposium creates space for critical reflection, shared accountability, and collective imagining.
This is not a showcase, but a working forum — where voices converge, structural realities are examined, and pathways forward are shaped with intention. Through dialogue, case studies, and cross-sector exchange, the Symposium advances a deeper understanding of how South Asian presence, participation, and leadership can be meaningfully strengthened.
Held in Toronto, a city shaped by migration and cultural intersection, the 2026 Symposium marks a moment to pause, listen, and move forward — together — toward a more equitable future for screen storytelling in Canada.
To learn more, please reach out: admin@saso.ca
SOUTH ASIAN FILMMAKERS ALLIANCE
SAFA Canada
The South Asian Filmmakers Alliance (SAFA Canada) is an independent, thriving community dedicated to advancing South Asian screen storytellers nationwide. SAFA Canada provides a platform for creators to connect, collaborate, and grow, fostering a dynamic ecosystem that celebrates and elevates South Asian Canadian stories.
Membership is FREE and opens doors to:
— Professional growth and development through workshops, masterclasses, and curated learning opportunities.
— Networking and collaboration with peers, industry leaders, and mentors.
— Access to resources and opportunities that support the creation, promotion, and impact of independent screen work.
SAFA Canada is a vibrant community where creativity flourishes, stories resonate, and meaningful connections thrive. By supporting its members, SAFA Canada ensures they have the resources, networks, and opportunities needed to succeed and make a lasting impact in the screen industry.
To become a FREE member, please visit: SAFA Canada