3rd i Films will showcase a diverse array of independent films highlighting South Asian narratives at the 23rd Annual San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival from October 10-12.
3rd i Films is set to celebrate the 23rd Annual San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival, taking place from October 10 to 12 at The Roxie Theater in San Francisco. The festival aims to promote diverse representations of South Asians through independent cinema, featuring a range of genres from art-house classics to innovative documentaries.
This year’s festival will kick off with the crime thriller LITTLE JAFFNA (France, 2024), directed by Lawrence Valin. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2024 and was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Zurich Film Festival, follows an undercover French police officer of Sri Lankan descent. Tasked with infiltrating a Tamil gang in Paris, the protagonist grapples with the complexities of his dual identity while navigating the gang’s operations. Following the screening, Valin will participate in a Q&A session.
3rd i Films continues to push boundaries with its selection of groundbreaking cinema from South Asia and its diaspora. This year, the festival’s Beyond Bollywood segment will showcase award-winning narrative, documentary, and short films from various countries, including India, Sri Lanka, France, the UK, Canada, and the USA.
Women’s stories take center stage at this year’s festival, highlighted by Uttera Singh’s PINCH (India, 2025). Premiering in the International Narrative Competition at the Tribeca Film Festival, this vibrant dark comedy offers sharp social commentary. The film follows travel vlogger Maitri, who, while accompanying her mother and neighbors to a temple during the Navratri festival, faces an unexpected and shocking incident. This prompts her to take retributive action, setting off a series of events that disrupt her close-knit community. Singh will also engage in a Q&A after the screening.
Another notable film is Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s CACTUS PEARS (India/Canada/UK, 2025), which presents a sensitive exploration of bereavement and the mother-son bond within a rural, lower-class Indian farming community. This film, the first Indian and Marathi language entry to win the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, has resonated with audiences for its intimate portrayal of queer identity.
Additionally, Lakshmipriya Devi’s BOONG (India, 2024) offers an upbeat coming-of-age story that explores themes of friendship against the backdrop of Manipur’s sociopolitical unrest. The narrative follows adventurous schoolboy Boong and his friend Raju as they navigate obstacles to reunite Boong’s divided family.
Engaging and poignant, Aranya Sahay’s HUMANS IN THE LOOP (India, 2024) provides a nuanced examination of artificial intelligence through the lens of a tribal woman’s experiences. Following her divorce, Nehma returns to her village with her children and takes a job as a data annotator, reflecting the real-life involvement of many indigenous women in India’s burgeoning AI industry.
The festival also features documentaries that blend magical realism with investigative storytelling. Rajee Samarasinghe’s YOUR TOUCH MAKES OTHERS INVISIBLE (Sri Lanka/USA, 2025) explores the plight of thousands of missing persons during Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war. The narrative intertwines the supernatural with real-life testimonies from women whose loved ones disappeared amidst the conflict. Samarasinghe will join a Q&A session following the screening.
Another documentary, FARMING THE REVOLUTION (India/France/Norway, 2024), directed by Nishtha Jain, captures the spirit of the massive protests against exploitative farm laws in India during the COVID lockdown. The film follows young Punjabi farmer Gurbaz as he joins over half a million protesters, showcasing the diverse demographics of the movement. Jain will also participate in a Q&A after the screening.
The festival’s shorts program continues to highlight a wide range of themes, from immigration and identity to gender and social justice. This year’s selection features narratives and documentaries that reflect the diverse experiences of filmmakers from South Asia and the diaspora, accompanied by Q&A sessions with the creators.
The San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival will take place from October 10 to 12, 2025. For more information about the festival and its lineup, visit thirdi.org.
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