A Dream in Doubt
Sunday November 25th, 8.15pm - 10.45pm
Directed by Tami Yeager, USA, 2007
English, 57 minutes

A Dream in Doubt is an immigrant story in a world in which patriotism has morphed into murder. When Rana Singh Sodhi’s brother is killed in America’s first post-9/11 revenge murder, he begins a journey to reclaim his American dream and fight the hate that continues to threaten his community. This intimate, hour-long documentary is one man’s odyssey, from persecution in India to embracing America as his homeland, proving that courage and hope have the power to overcome hate.

A Monument of Injustice
Sunday November 25th, 2.45pm - 4.05pm
Directed by Professor P.S. Nirola, India, 2007
English, 30 minutes

This documentary charts the tragic life of the uncrowned Maharaja Duleep Singh. He was the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who was known as the Lion of The Punjab. It explains how after being brought to England, Duleep Singh was forced to leave his faith, his Empire and the Golden Throne. It also shows the loss of Kohinoor Diamond and the events that led to the fall of the Sarkar-e-Khalsa (The Sikh Raj). A Monument of Injustice is not just a Documentary Film, but a document of one of the most tragic chapters of Anglo Sikh History.

A Time to Rise
Sunday November 25th, 2.45pm - 4.05pm
Directed by Anand Patwardhan, Canada, 1981
English, 40 minutes

On April 6th, 1980, the Canadian Farmworkers Union came into existence. This film documents the conditions among Chinese and East Indian immigrant workers in British Columbia that provoked the formation of the union, and the response of growers and labour contractors to the threat of unionization. Made over a period of two years, the film is an eloquent testimony to the progress of the workers' movement from the first stirrings of militancy to the energetic canvassing of union members.

Calcutta Calling
Sunday November 25th, 4.45pm - 6.45pm
Directed by André Hörmann, Germany, 2006
English, 16 minutes

Chances are you’ve spoken to Ethan Reed over the phone. His real name is Vikeeh Uppal and he is one of over 350,000 people currently working in call centres across India. Calcutta Calling is an energetic and timely snapshot of globalization at work that takes viewers into the quickly expanding world of Business Process Outsourcing.

Where young and motivated men like Vikeeh take the opportunity to make a nice living selling everything from cell phones to fire extinguishes to customers in America and Great Britain (for the record, he finds the British more polite). Although, he has never been out of Calcutta, Vikeeh, or Ethan to his customers, works hard to be a top seller in what has become a very competitive industry. He gets tutored in the English language, learns pronunciation from commercials and movies, and watches Manchester United soccer matches to gain insight into people he interacts with on a daily basis.

Though he is intent on maintaining Indian values and customs, Western influences have seeped into his life: Nokia is his favourite cell phone brand and Levi’s his favourite jeans.

The Colourful Crown
Sunday November 25th, 2.45pm - 4.05pm
Produced by Sarabjeet Singh, Directed by: Asis Sethi

The Colourful Crown is first and foremost, an exploration of the centuries’ long custom of wearing turbans. Turbans are mostly associated with the Sikh religion, which is a little more over 300 years. However, the turban has been used by far more cultures, dating back to the time of the Old Testament. The Colourful Crown first delves into the origins and history behind the turban and what it represented symbolically. It then brings the concept of the turban along the lines of Sikhism. Along with that, it showcases the importance of the turban to the Sikh religion and the misconceptions that have aroused post 9/11 violence relating to the turban.

Fair Dinkum Manjit
Saturday November 24th, 5.45pm - 8.15pm
Directed by Faramarz K-Rahber, Australia 2006
English, 26 Minutes

"Fair Dinkum Manjit! is all about Manjit, a 49-year-old Indian-Australian cab driver who is so proud of being an Aussie that he has composed a music album, singing of his love for Australia and its people. After selling over two thousand copies of his homemade CD to his cab customers and attracting considerable attention in his hometown of Brisbane, this singing cabbie is now planning to film a Bollywood video-clip for his most popular song “Song Australia”.

FUKU (Happiness Is Blowfish)
Sunday November 25th, 10.45am - 1.00pm
Directed by Maninder Chana, Canada, 2007
Japanese with English Subtitles, 12 minutes

Big Boss has been betrayed. Akito, a young hoodlum with an appetite for power and all the luxuries that come with it, has broken from the pack and gone on his own. But his bid for independence has fallen flat and he finds himself now crawling back to his mentor for forgiveness.

Big Boss though is not having any of it. Insulted, he aims to make an example out of Akito. He meets him at an upscale restaurant and makes sure blowfish, a delicacy that Akito has an affinity, for is on the menu. If not prepared properly, blowfish can be poisonous. Knowing this Big Boss enlists the help of newly acquired henchmen to ensure the fugu (blowfish) is not up to snuff. Upon eating it, Akito falls limp.

Big Boss thinks he has won. But what he does not realize is that over time, Akito has built up a tolerance to the poison. He has moments not seconds to live. And with his last breath, Akito fights to take Big Boss down before the poison overrides his system and kills him.

Golden Kitchen
Saturday November 24th, 3.30pm - 5.15pm
Directed by Valerie Berteau & Philippe Witjes, India, 2005
Punjabi with English Subtitles, 5 minutes

Every day, the free kitchen Sri Guru Ram Dass Sahib serves 30000 meals in the Golden Temple of Amritsar, India. This short film provides a behind the scenes look at this benevolent operation.

Holy Duels of Hola Mohalla
Saturday November 24th, 3.30pm - 5.15pm
Directed by Vani Subramanian, India 2001
English and Punjabi with Subtitles, 28 Minutes

Based on a festival created by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, Hola Mahalla is a festival that is an exhibition of Sikh martial arts and athletic skill, showcasing the rich culture and beauty of the Sikh faith. In the midst of these celebrations what are the challenges facing the Khalsa Panth today?

In Memory of Friends
Saturday November 24th, 3.30pm - 5.15pm
Directed by Anand Patwardhan, Canada, 1990
English, 60 minutes

In Memory of Friends documents the violence and terror in Punjab during the late 1980s. India - a land torn apart by religious fundamentalists and a repressive government.

After examining the political turmoil of the late 1970s and rise of Sikh fundamentalism the film concentrates on the legacy of Bhagat Singh, a young socialist hanged by the British in 1931 at the age of 23, Singh has since become a legendary figure. Todaythe State eulogizes him as a nationalist while Sikh separatists portray him as a Sikh militant. In fact, Singh was neither. Just prior to his death he wrote a book which he entitled Why I Am an Atheist.

A band of brave Sikhs and Hindus carry Bhagat Singh's secular legacy from village to village. In the religiously charged countryside ideas of internationalism now carry a price.

Kabaddi Cops is the remarkable story about a determined group of Canadian police officers from Toronto (GTA), who take up kabaddi a 4,000 year old sport in order to bond with the local South Asian community. After witnessing a protest over racial profiling in front of Peel Regional police headquarters in 2002, Inspector Barry Dolan believed the sport could ease tensions and promote harmony between police and South Asians. His method was unorthodox and surprising to everyone.

By selecting a small group of dedicated young men who knew nothing about the sport and very little about the culture, the inspector formed a kabaddi team comprised entirely of police officers from his own department. Their focus was on becoming closer to the community and bridging the gap that often exists between police and immigrants. The team practiced hard on their days off and began competing in tournaments and festivals to the delight of thousands of enthusiastic spectators. In doing so, the Peel Police kabaddi team became the only non-Asian team anywhere in the world.

One Light
Sunday November 25th, 2.45pm - 4.05pm
Directed by Angad Singh, USA 2007
English, 24 Minutes

Inspired to resolve conflicts in today’s world, Angad Singh at age 13 directed and produced his first film, One Light, which celebrates the oneness of humanity and aims to transform, connect and inspire everyone to mobilize to create a better world. One Light is inspired by the travels of Guru Nanak who reached out to millions in a conflicted world to impart the message of One God, One Humanity…One Light. Angad attempts to reach out to his neighbors to educate them about himself as a Sikh and learn about them while making this world a friendlier place, one step at a time.

Rabba Hun Ki Kariye
Saturday November 24th, 5.45pm - 8.15pm
Directed by Ajay Bhardwaj, India 2007
Punjabi with English Subtitles, 65 Minutes

While India won her independence from the British rule in 1947, the north western province of Punjab was divided into two. The predominantly Muslim areas of West Punjab became part of Pakistan, and the Hindu and Sikh areas of East Punjab remained with, the now divided, India. The truncated Punjab bore scars of large-scale killings as each was being cleansed of their minorities.

Sixty years later, Rabba Hun Kee Kariye, trails this shared history divided by the knife. For the first time a documentary turns its gaze at the perpetrators, as seen through the eyes of bystanders. While East Punjabis fondly remember their bonding with the Muslim neighbours and vividly recall its betrayal, the film excavates how the personal and informal negotiated with the organised violence of genocide. In village after village, people recount what life had in store for those who participated in the killings and looting. Periodically, the accumulated guilt of a witness or a bystander, surfaces, sometimes discernible in their subconscious, other times visible in the film.

Religions of the World – Our Faiths Animated: Sikhism
Saturday November 24th, 2.00pm - 3.00pm
BBC, United Kingdom, 2007
English, 15 Minutes

This collection of films illustrates brilliant renditions of different faiths and cultures around the world. This highly acclaimed animated series from the BBC captures the essence and basic tenets of eight religions - Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sufism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Confucianism. Each segment offers easy-to-grasp stories through soothing characters, pleasant and culturally significant music, and a mixture of cell animation, paintings, and Claymation. Though appropriate for all ages, this artistically valid series is a great way to capture the interest and enthusiasm of younger students. The SWFF will showcase the Sikh episode of the series.

Saving Mom and Dad
Friday November 23rd, 8.35pm - 10.20pm
Directed by Kartik Singh, France 2007
English, 14 Minutes

Seven year old Ravi Malhotra is determined to get his parents into Heaven. The problem is, according to his teacher, Sikhs need to accept Jesus in order to be saved. How far will Ravi go to save mom and dad?

SKYLAB is Falling
Saturday November 24th, 2.00pm - 3.00pm
Directed by Pat Pecorella, USA, 2007
English, 6 minutes

It is 1979 in Punjab, India, U.S. space station SKYLAB hurtles toward the Indian sub-continent. A young Punjabi boy, six-year-old Puneet, is playing outside and has just stomped on a frog. Now, as he listens to a radio broadcast about the imminent crash, he fills with dread that SKYLAB will strike his home and kill him and his family. This charming story, inspired by true events, lets us be a fly on a cement wall as Puneet takes one step toward growing up.

Sri Harmandir Sahib
Saturday November 24th, 10.45am - 12.45pm
Directed by Asha Seth, India, 2002
English and Punjabi, 85 minutes

Sri Harmandir Sahib documents the 400-year history of the world famous Golden Temple, Amritsar— the holiest of all Sikh Shrines. It shows the history and importance of Sri Harminder Sahib to the younger generation of Sikhs and to all those who have not visited the Golden Temple. This is the first documentary to show the various ceremonies at night and early morning in detail, while providing a refreshing look at the architecture and history of this spiritual dwelling.

Searching for the Sikhs of Tod Inlet
Sunday November 25th, 8.15pm - 10.45pm
Directed by David R. Gray, Canada, 2007
English, 50 minutes

Searching for the Sikhs of Tod Inlet brings to life a fascinating story of the East Indian workers of the lost community of Tod Inlet, British Columbia, in the early 1900s. This film tells of the discovery of the remains of an old worker’s village, the long search for information from community elders, records and archives, and the eventual contact with descendants of the Sikh workers. With both archival and new film footage, the film features interviews with members of the Sikh community and original music based on Sikh traditional songs.

The Drive-By Ventriloquist
Saturday November 24th, 10.45am - 12.45pm
Directed by Maninder Chana, Canada, 2007
English, 40 minutes

Following the passing of his father TB has found solace in silence. His only friend, Harry, is a ventriloquist dummy. A chance encounter with the noted ventriloquist, Artie, leads TB to believe he will learn the secrets to the art. However, Artie, and his dummy Steve-O, may not be what they appear.

The Golden Throne
Saturday November 24th, 5.45pm - 8.15pm
Directed by Christabel Gingell, United Kingdom, 2007
English, Running Time 29 minutes

The Golden Throne in the Victoria and Albert museum is an intricately designed chair that once belonged to one of India’s most charismatic rulers – Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Punjab. The throne, designed circa 1818, has become an icon representing the wealth and extravagance of Sikh royalty.

Ranjit Singh was a Sikh warrior king who unified the notoriously turbulent region of five rivers in what was then North-Western India. He was an accomplished statesman who became known in his lifetime as the Lion of the Punjab and was appointed Maharajah in 1801. He set up court in Lahore and commissioned the throne as a symbol of his newly acquired supremacy and power.

The shape of the throne – which is wide enough to allow its sitter to be cross-legged – reflects the fact that by the 19th century, chairs had been introduced to India by the Europeans. The throne is made from 24 carat gold panelling to make the throne light, since it would have been moved around the court when the Maharajah held public audience. The technique for fashioning the gold is known as repousse, and on such thin gold panels, this would have been incredibly difficult work. The goldsmith who was commissioned to make the throne was a Muslim called Hafez Muhammed Multani.

After Ranjit Singh’s death in 1839, his fragile Sikh kingdom was plunged into chaos and in 1849 the Punjab was formally annexed and became part of British India. Ranjit’s youngest son Dulip had briefly taken his father’s title but was deposed and dispossessed by the British. The throne entered into the collection of the East India Company Museum in London and eventually passed into the V & A’s collection, where it still exudes a sense of power from the man who once ruled a thriving nation, the Lion of the Punjab.

Writings on the Wall
Saturday November 24th, 10.45am - 12.45pm
Directed by Angad S Bhalla, Siddhartha Luther, Canada, 2006
English, Hindi & Tamil with English subtitles, 24 minutes

A critical documentary exploring the pop, underground and alternative art culture. Whether through artistic drawings, films billboards, political posters, Warli traditional art or graffiti tagging, all survive on the margins in spite of, and as a refuge from, the ever-present industrial, film and business worlds. With infectious optimism, three young men eke out a living in India’s largest cities using public art to express their hopes and dreams.

Camerawallah: A Century of Sikh Photographs (1849-1948)
Saturday 24th November 07, 1:10 pm to 2:25 pm

Parmjit Singh explores the photographic record of the Anglo-Sikh encounter during the British Raj. The age of the development of photography in Punjab commenced on its annexation to British territories in 1849. The dramatic end of the kingdom created by the legendary Maharajah Ranjit Singh was documented in the first grainy shots of the Sikh people and their architecture in Lahore taken by an amateur military photographer, Dr John McCosh.

Since then the history of the Sikhs has been played out in front of the camera's lens. McCosh heralded the first of the military photographers who went on to capture the Sikhs in the British Army. Early Victorian photographs of the Sikhs highlight attitudes connected with the British presence in India, indicating both the power of photography as a colonial tool of classification and appropriation. The photographic medium was later used for wartime propaganda and as an anthropological research tool. A unique opportunity to view images from a variety of collections including the National Army Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the British Library.

Preserving Sikh Heritage
Saturday 24th November 07, 4:10 pm to 5:25 pm

The Punjab is the north-western gateway into the sub-continent of India and has been the entry point for a myriad of invaders and emigrants over the centuries. Criss-crossed by the ancient spice and silk routes its fertile plains were inspiration for an explosion of artistic fusions and traditions. The region developed into a cultural melting pot; an environment within which the fertile and diverse traditions of different communities clashed and spawned a multitude of hybrids.

It was in these lands that the Islamic and Hindu arts combined to create one of the greatest cultural treasuries in the world, a treasury that found a unique expression in the arts and architecture of the Sikhs. A powerful combination of robust colour, strong narrative and brutal honesty distinguish Sikh art in all its forms prompting one 19th century observer to describe the unique colour palette of the Punjab as "warm and rich and fearless". Sikh architectural traditions uniquely fuse together the predominant forms and their evolution over four centuries mirrors the maturation of the faith.

Today, that truly unique Sikh artistic heritage is under great threat. Few, buildings, if any, remain from the sacred period of the Gurus and the Sikhs' own manuscript tradition is in tatters.

Amandeep Madra will present a glittering array of Sikh material heritage and tell the often sad story of the steady and willful destruction of that heritage. The presentation will conclude with some practical steps that can be taken to preserve Sikh heritage for the future.

The Classical Music of the Sikhs
Sunday 25th November 07, 12.45pm to 15.15pm

Patiala Gharana (R Birdi and K Manku)
One of the most prominent gharana’s (home) of vocal North Indian classical music. The Gharana was founded during the rule of the Patiala Sikh Maharaja Mohinder Singh in the ninteeth century by Ustad Jasae Khan. It is famous for its ghazal, thumri, and khayal. Raminder and Kirath are two sisters will perform a classical number employing Fast sargam and taan a trademark of this gharana

Vanishing Traditions. (Mohan Singh and party)
Sikh Ragis were not only adept at the art of Gurmat Sangeet but some were excellent writers who sang there compositions to classical Raag. This section will begin with a rare composition from 100 years ago, in praise of the tenth master of the Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh. It is sang in Jhap Taal a ten beat rhythmic cycle.

Heer Ranjha is the classic love story. The traditional form of “Heer” lends itself to the folk tradition , however there is a seldom heard classical form of singing “Heer” This particular item is set to the “Punjabi Theka” Rhythmic cycle – apt since the Heer Ranjha love story is set in Punjab..

Tarana’s are songs that are used to convey a mood of elation performed at the end of the vocal concert. Mohan Singh is a classically trained artist who trained in both the Gurmat Sangeet Tradition from Ustad Harbhajan Singh and the Benares Gharana tradition spending 15 years under the tutelage of the master vocal duo Pt’s Rajan and Sajan Mishra.

Tabla Solo: Sukhwinder Singh 'Pinky'

Tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in the classical, popular and religious music of the Indian subcontinent The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres. The tabla can be played solo or as accompaniment bass to classical forms such as in the Sikh Gurmat sangeet tradition. It has made its way through fusion music to the West and can now even be heard in films produced by Hollywood.

Born September 1965 in Bhaini Sahib, Punjab. Sukhvinder Singh “Pinky” has devoted himself to the study of rhythm. He started his training at the age of 5 under the Pakawaj Samrat Ustad Nihal Singh of the Punjab Gharana learning the pakawaj. Being a child prodigy he gave his first solo performance at Birla Mateshwari Hall, Mumbai in 1978.

After receiving a sound foundation in Pakawaj, Sukhvinder had a desire to learn tabla from none other than the world renowned Tabla Samrat Pandit Kishan Maharaj of Varanasi (Benaras Gharana), a living legend in tabla playing. These intense urges of learning made him leave his home, family and childhood behind in late 1978 and proceed to Varanasi and dedicate his next eighteen years in the pursuit of tabla. Pt. Kishan Maharaj saw the potential and dedication in the young Sukhvinder and gave him meticulous attention and tutelage. Pt. Kishan Maharaj takes pride in mentioning "Sukhvinder" as one of his best disciples who is carrying out the tradition of his "Banaras Baaj" (Banaras style of Tabla playing).