UK Asian Film Festival – the world’s longest running South Asian film festival – has announced the Opening and Closing films and theme of its 27th edition. Running at venues across London, Leicester, and Coventry from Thursday, 1st – to Sunday, 11th May, the UK Asian Film Festival is presented by Tongues on Fire. It is supported by the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding. UK Asian Film Festival is powered by broadcast partner Lyca Radio.
The UK Asian Film Festival has long been a champion of South Asian female-centric cinema and women in film, both on and off-screen. Each year, its programmes challenge patriarchal norms, spark critical conversations, and drive its mission to advocate for gender equality in the film industry.
This year’s “Longing and Belonging” theme will celebrate films that explore one of the most profound human experiences—the search for connection, identity, and purpose. People grapple with feelings of longing in every corner of the world—the ache for love, the pull of home, the need for acceptance, and the pursuit of meaning. Through the lens of cinema, these universal desires come to life in stories of displaced immigrants, journeys of self-discovery, quests for love, and the tension between tradition and modernity. As society moves forward, cinema remains a powerful tool for change—one that sparks conversations, amplifies voices, and builds empathy.
UK Asian Film Festival Creative Director Samir Bhamra says, “This year’s UKAFF gala screenings are deeply personal, visually stunning, and utterly unmissable. They demand to be seen on the big screen. If you have ever loved, lost, or longed to find where you truly belong—come, witness, and feel these stories unfold in the cinema, where they are meant to be experienced.”
The Opening Gala will take place at BFI Southbank, London, on Thursday, 1st May, featuring the European Premiere of the powerful anthology film My Melbourne (Australia, 2024; Dir’s: Onir, Rima Das, Imtiaz Ali, Kabir Khan; Language: English). The film explores identity, belonging, and resilience through four true stories of underrepresented voices in Australia. A queer man reconnecting with his father, a deaf dancer chasing her dreams, a food blogger bonding with a homeless poet, and a refugee girl finding hope through cricket. This anthology is a bold and moving celebration of diversity.
Themed around the four pillars of diversity—sexuality, gender, disability, and race— the anthology film “My Melbourne” features four unique, diverse stories based on true incidents. My Melbourne is a truly inclusive feature film, celebrating diverse voices and talents. Four iconic Indian filmmakers — Onir, Rima Das, Imtiaz Ali, and Kabir Khan worked with emerging creatives from underrepresented backgrounds to create this film about identity and belonging based on authentic migrant experience.
NANDINI by Onir: Indraneel, a queer Indian man and his estranged father reunite in Melbourne to exploring their fraught relationship and the power of forgiveness amid grief.
JULES by Imtiaz Ali and Arif Ali: Newly married Sakshi and homeless Jules form an unlikely bond, navigating their connection despite their differences.
EMMA by Rima Das: Emma, a talented deaf dancer, grapples with self-doubt and discrimination until a chance another deaf dancer inspires her to embrace her uniqueness and find her inner strength.
SETARA by Kabir Khan: Setara, a 15-year-old Afghan girl rebuilding her life in Melbourne after fleeing the Taliban, finding her sense of belonging through cricket amid family tensions and past trauma.
The Closing Gala will feature the London Premiere of the Academy Award-nominated film The Glassworker (Pakistan, 2024; Dir: Usman Riaz; Language: English) on Saturday, May 10th, at BFI Southbank, London. As war looms, a gifted glassmaker and his father see their world disrupted by an army colonel and his violinist daughter. When love blossoms between the young artists, they must find the courage to stand up to their fathers.
The UK Asian Film Festival showcases a diverse selection of films each year, alongside a compelling lecture series, interactive audience workshops, live performances, visual arts exhibitions, and masterclasses. It also hosts the annual Short Film Competition, celebrating the finest films connected to South Asia while highlighting the rich and varied facets of South Asian arts and culture.
UK Asian Film Festival Founder and Director, Dr Pushpinder Chowdhry MBE says, “The need to belong is a fundamental force that binds us all, propelling us to overcome adversity, find strength in our challenges, and create spaces where we can truly thrive. When we feel welcomed and respected, even the toughest obstacles become surmountable; conversely, exclusion can leave us feeling isolated and alone. At the UK Asian Film Festival, we honor the indomitable spirit of filmmakers who have defied the odds to bring their artistic visions to life. Their stories are powerful reminders of the importance of acceptance, unity, and the transformative impact of doing what is right. This festival not only celebrates diverse narratives but also builds bridges between communities, inspiring us all to connect, reflect, and rise together through the magic of cinema. Join us on the big screen as we embrace the visionary creations of young British Asian storytellers alongside with global filmmakers and witness the power of film to unite and uplift.”
