5 Unmissable Films at the 19th Tasveer Film Festival

With over 100 films being showcased at this year’s Tasveer Film Festival and Market, the annual Seattle-based event continues to showcase the best of South Asian cinema. Here’s a look at 5 unmissable films at the festival.

Umesh Chronicles

Featuring an impressive star cast, including Amitabh Bachchan, Babil Khan, and Adil Hussain, this festival favorite has garnered praise worldwide. Directed by Pooja Kaul in her feature debut, Umesh Chronicles serves as the festival’s centrepiece film. A poignant reflection on a bygone era, the film is both timeless and deeply rooted in its time, making it a must-watch.

Wakhri

Directed by acclaimed Pakistani-American filmmaker Iram Parveen Bilal, Wakhri follows the journey of a widowed Pakistani school teacher who becomes an accidental viral sensation after expressing her bold views on social media. Inspired by figures like Qandeel Baloch, Pakistan’s first social media celebrity, the film sheds light on women’s fight to be seen and heard. Wakhri has previously screened at the London Indian Film Festival and SXSW, earning rave reviews. Bilal is also the founder of Qalaambaaz, Pakistan’s first screenwriting lab.

All We Imagine as Light

An Oscar contender and winner of the Cannes Grand Prix, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light is one of the year’s most celebrated films. With a stellar cast featuring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Hridhu Haroon, and Chhaya Kadam (also seen in Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies), this film is an essential watch at the festival. It has received glowing reviews, with critics calling it “a glowing portrait of urban connection and unexpected sisterhood” and “an ode to the city and its outsiders, who can neither call it home nor leave it.”

A Nice Indian Boy

Roshan Sethi, known for writing hit shows like The Resident, Call Jane, and Code Black, steps into the director’s chair for A Nice Indian Boy, featuring talents like Karan Soni, Zarna Garg, and Sunita Mani. This heartfelt rom-com, which is also screening at the London Film Festival, has been widely praised. Critics have dubbed it “one of the funniest, most heartfelt rom-coms of the year” and “a joyous celebration of love and family.”

Paper Flowers

A poignant exploration of love, loss, tragedy, and hope, Paper Flowers is a reminder to cherish life’s fleeting moments. Directed by Mailesh Pailoor and based on a true story, the film stars a talented ensemble, including Karan Soni, Kapil Talwalkar, and Olivia Liang. It has captured the hearts of audiences globally and is one of the festival’s most anticipated films.