Surrey, British Columbia – Sher Vancouver, a registered charity for LGBTQ+ South Asians, has partnered with the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival (VISAFF) to launch the Sher Vancouver Award for Best LGBTQ+ Film.
The annual award, personally funded by Sher Vancouver Founder Alex Sangha, offers a cash prize of $2000 CAD to the winning film director and recognizes outstanding queer South Asian films that create awareness and empower the South Asian LGBTQ+ community.
Open to all film genres, including documentaries, animations, feature films, short films, and more, the Sher Vancouver Award for Best LGBTQ+ Film is open to any official selection at VISAFF that focuses on South Asian and LGBTQ+ people. A minimum of three jury members will select the winner based on the film’s merits, including overall story, cinematography, music, directing, editing, and how it empowers South Asian LGBTQ+ people.
“We are thrilled to showcase the best LGBTQ+ films from South Asia and the diaspora worldwide in Surrey through this award,” says Sher Vancouver Founder Alex Sangha. “This is an important part of our education and outreach to the community. We want to offer the filmmakers an enhanced platform to continue their filmmaking journey.”
The Sher Vancouver Award for Best LGBT+ Film aims to elevate the voices of a marginalized and vulnerable segment of the community, breaking down taboos, stigma, and discrimination to create a safer and more inclusive environment for South Asian LGBTQ+ people to live their lives freely and without oppression.
Submissions for the festival open in May, and the festival is scheduled for November 2023. The award winner will receive an official Award Winner Laurel from VISAFF and a trophy.
Sher Vancouver and VISAFF are excited to introduce this new award, showcasing the talents of queer South Asian filmmakers and creating a more inclusive community for all.