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"That is fine to focus on Queer Asia for this year I suppose but the urgent state of fixing the environment in Asia would would be my preferred focus as the world cannot wait! Tasveer has always stressed women's and gay issues but what about the rest of the planet - animals are part of our world too and way more oppressed! What groups are locally helping animal issues in Southeast Asia and why not support that?" -- anonymous
"Tasveer's film festivals have provided a remarkable space for people to meet across various identity markers. As a queer South Asian immigrant, I applaud Tasveer's commitment to presenting the diversity that is the "South Asian community." And because of the popular medium of film to bring folk together, the space is more easily inhabitable by people who might otherwise shy away from each other. This kind of cultural organising is critical to developing stronger relations within and across communities. Thank you!" -- Dipika Nath
"Cinema, like all art forms, is at its most powerful when it explores
universal themes within specific contexts. Tasveer is pulling
together a set of films touching on powerful themes of interest to all
of their supporters -- family structure, relationships, personal
identity, the nature of love -- all within the context of the
experiences of GLBT South Asians. The line-up is a perfect reflection
of their goal to challenge us all to explore the full range of South
Asian culture and politics through independent progressive films." -- Dr. Steven M. Goodreau, UW Asst. Professor of Anthropology
"The South Asian and broader communities are stronger and more
politically engaged because of Tasveer's work. I'm looking forward to
watching the community grow through this year's ISAFF, focusing on
LGBTQ communities. There is no denying the power of film and media,
and I admire Tasveer for using that power for the betterment of my
life, and our community." -- Uma Rao
"as a queer south asian woman, there are so few representations of me,
my life, and my communities in the world. to see my own life and
reflection presented creatively and artistically through film can be a
very empowering experience on a personal and collective level. in
addition, as a progressive voice in the south asian community, i see
tasveer as uniquely positioned to support queer south asian artists,
filmmakers and communities. this is a valuable opportunity for the
south asian community to explore issues of gender and sexuality within
a cultural context through the medium of film." -- Gita Mehrotra
"I fully support Tasveer's choice to devote this year's ISAFF to
exploring issues affecting queer South Asians. Relative to the South
Asian mainstream, queer South Asians represent a marginalized
community who are viewed as being less than fully South Asian because
of their sexual orientation. Beyond just entertainment, ISAFF
represents a unique opportunity to explore these internalized
mechanisms of oppression. As a community and as a diaspora, we need
to have this conversation, and I applaud Tasveer's courage in
providing us a forum for that to happen." -- Shankar Narayan
"Films reflect both oppression and possibilities. ISAFF is a space
where I find complexity and depth reflected in a real way, and I am
deeply appreciative of that. That's why I think it's important and
significant to reflect the queerness of desis through this medium.
What we silence is as impactful as what we voice. If we don't
represent the identities and lives of a large section of South Asians,
they are made further invisible. And if a large majority of people
identify as heterosexual and consider queer ISAFF irrelevant, then
this is dangerous for those of us who don't identify with them.
Oppression affects all our lives - we have a responsibility to raise
our own awareness, to challenge ourselves, and to support the
struggles of those of us seeking visibility and owning our power.
ISAFF opens doors - I want to see a wide array of doors that I can
walk through, options I can choose from that will continue to open my
mind and reflect the complexity of my life." -- Nitika
"There are no "Queers" in the world, we are all human beings with one
big soul and individual genetic and environmental makeup. Tasveer
through its focus on gay, lesbian and transgender human beings through
ISAFF embraces us all South Asians with our differences, without
discrimination." -- Anonymous
"I am absolutely thrilled that Tasveer has chosen to feature queer
programming at this year's ISAFF. Tasveer emerged out of a shared
conviction that there is power in cinema- the power to make visible
what has been invisibilized, the power to tell stories that are rarely
told, and the power to shape (and challenge) the way the way we make
sense of the world around us. From its initial stages, Tasveer made
the extraordinary commitment to not only screen independent films
emerging from South Asia and the diaspora but also to engage audiences
in community dialogues around the social, political, and personal
issues on which the films speak. Tasveer has consistently taken risks
to actualize this commitment and create unique opportunities for
audience members to engage in discussions around seemingly
controversial topics- such as domestic violence, gender, communalism,
and sexuality. This year's ISAFF is no exception. Tasveer's
leadership in bringing queer stories to the forefront is inspiring.Too
often queer voices go unheard. And too often, they are actively
silenced, silenced even when the voices belong to our family members,
our neighbors, our friends, and our greater Tasveer community.
Thank you, Tasveer, for the work that you've done. And thank you for the work that you do!" -- Sandra Gresl
"This letter is in strong support of the queer content planned for this
year's ISAFF. We at Trikone-NW are so proud of our long-standing
partnership with Tasveer, extending to Tasveer's beginnings in early
2002. In fact, the very first Tasveer film event was a joint venture
with Trikone-NW. Each year since 2004, ISAFF has designed
well-thought-out programs around specific themes and addressing
specific issues. "Aaina," and specifically "Yoni ki Baat," is a
testament not only to Tasveer's strong relationship with Chaya, but
also to your willingness and commitment to engage with and tackle
controversial issues affecting all of us. How fitting, then, that
2008's film festival continues to extend these traditions --of
developing well-formulated themes, establishing strong partnerships,
and embracing all South Asians-- to have a queer-themed ISAFF.
As a fellow South Asian community organization, Trikone-NW applauds
Tasveer's commitment to ensuring that all South Asian voices,
experiences, contributions, and challenges are reflected in your
programming, from the films to the filmmakers to the related events.
This commitment strengthens our community, builds stronger
partnerships, and beautifully meets your mission to engage the
community in dialogue and action around sociopolitical and cultural
themes that are specific to South Asia. Tasveer has never shirked from
controversy and has never allowed the fear of potential loss of
supporters to stop you from pushing the boundaries of thought and
dialogue. We know that Tasveer's courage and inclusiveness will be at
the heart of the queer programming of ISAFF 2008." -- Vega Subramaniam, Board Chair, Trikone-NW, on behalf of the board and Trikone-NW community members
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