Festival dossier

Film Southasia

Kathmandu, Nepal · Est. 1998 · Established legitimate festival with meaningful track record

Tier BTrusted
Kathmandu, Nepal
63
Legitimacy Score

Should I submit?

Solid signals — do normal diligence

Tier B looks established enough for many filmmakers. Check fees, programming fit, and recent editions before submitting.

  • No physical screenings
  • 28 years of verifiable history
  • 2 verified pro signals

Overview

Film Southasia (FSA) is pleased to announce a call for submissions for its 15th edition! The next edition of FSA is set to take place from 26–29 November 2026 in Kathmandu. Since 1997, Film Southasia has been the Subcontinent’s leading platform dedicated exclusively to non-fiction cinema. The festival brings together documentaries from across Southasia—Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives and Myanmar—recognising the region’s richness, complexity, and diversity through the power of storytelling. This edition will feature approximately 50 exceptional documentaries, along with panel discussions, masterclasses, filmmaker interactions, and community screenings. In between festivals, a package of some of the best and most representative films travels the region and overseas as mini-festivals titled Travelling Film Southasia (TFSA).

Last updated Sep 17, 2026

Legitimacy Analysis

Positive Indicators (+28 pts)

  • 28 years of verifiable history
  • 2 verified pro signals
  • Verified trusted status
  • Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (3 vs 1)

Red Flags (-15 pts)

  • No physical screenings

Trust Signals

Positive Signals

  • Documented history with archived programs
  • Has FilmFreeway community ratings

Festival Details

Founded

1998

Visit Festival Website

FilmFreeway community

Avg. rating

3.7/ 5

Reviews

12

Synced 4 days ago

  • Filmmaker

    I had an unforgettable experience at Film Southasia

  • Filmmaker

    I had not budget to travel to this film festival but the pictures of film fest seem nice...

  • Filmmaker

    best experience! extremely well organized fest with the sweetest people and enriching films

  • Filmmaker

    This festival is the best opportunity for South Asian filmmakers to grow their network, especially because of its niche curation and focus on supporting films and issues of the South Asian community. The organizers did a wonderful job in selecting 47 films from about 2000 entries and this exclusive experience was full of enriching discussions, detailed workshops, and Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. Not to forget, the volunteers here did an amazing job taking care of all guests, filmmakers, and gave us the best experience of our lives.

  • Filmmaker

    The festival was such an amazing experience. definitely one of the best film festivals in south asia with a really well curated lineup, especially with its focus on sociopolitical issues in the region. It’s a great platform for south asian filmmakers to connect and build their network. the volunteers were super friendly and and made the whole experience even more welcoming.

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At a glance

Legitimacy Score63/100
TierTier B
Reviews0
Community Reports0
FilmFreeway3.7★ · 12

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