IF WE WON'T TELL OUR STORIES THEN WHO WILL?

MISSION

The South Asian Screen Office (SASO Canada) exists to advance equity, access, and sustained participation of South Asian professionals across Canada’s screen industries by serving as a research-informed, consultative, and connector body between creators, institutions, and decision-makers.

SASO works to ensure South Asian voices are seen, heard, and structurally supported — not through advocacy alone, but through data, dialogue, and long-term institutional engagement.

MANDATE

SASO Canada’s mandate is to function as a national screen sector organization with the following core responsibilities:

Research & Documentation

– Gather and publish data on South Asian representation on-screen and off-screen

– Document lived experiences to inform policy, funding frameworks, and industry practices

Consultation & Advisory

– Act as a consultative body for funders, broadcasters, guilds, and public agencies

– Provide informed input on equity initiatives, program design, and evaluation frameworks

Sector Dialogue & Convening

– Create structured, safe spaces for industry dialogue between practitioners and institutions

– Facilitate focused forums that reflect regional, generational, and practice-based diversity

Development & Access Pathways

– Identify systemic entry barriers and advocate for sustainable access pathways

– Advance targeted development initiatives in partnership with public agencies and leading screen organizations

Policy Influence & Accountability

– Develop evidence-based recommendations to address structural inequities

– Track progress and encourage accountability through public briefings and sector reports

GENESIS

SASO Canada was seeded through Beyond the Checkbox, a national roundtable at the IFFSA Film Summit 2025 that brought together preeminent South Asian screen practitioners, industry leaders, and policymakers to move beyond generic labels, affirm a distinct South Asian Canadian voice, and address systemic barriers and structural inequities across the screen ecosystem.