Dodge College and Chapman University are very pleased to announce that this year’s Sikh Art and Film Festival (SAFF) will be held right here in Orange County, in Marion Knott Studios and the Folino Theater.

Every year, the Dodge campus is home to numerous festivals and programs, including the Women in Focus conference, Pusan West and our own Cecils Awards, and we’ve always had a very strong role in the international educational arena, hosting, among others, the Ngee Ann Polytechnic School, and screenings of the Destination: Africa study abroad program.  Although we’re located right next to Hollywood, and all the powerhouse productions and opportunities connected to it, we’re always looking outwards, trying to cultivate the love of cinema all over the world.

The SAFF focuses on celebrating all aspects of Sikh life, especially the arts, featuring films which deal with a wide range of topics stemming from this diverse, prolific culture.

From the Sikhlens website:

The Festival begins Friday, November 19th with a red-carpet Opening Night beginning at beginning at 7:30 pm. Guests will be welcomed to the festival by a set of short films, live entertainment, and the premiere of the 2011 SikhPoint Calendar. A delectable dessert and dancing reception will conclude the night.

A youth-focused cluster will start off the Saturday events. This cluster focuses on films and live book readings intended to incite interest and inspire youth, while teaching about Sikh history. The focus then turns to creative Sikhs in the Visual, Audio and Entertainment Industries. Hear their stories, watch and listen to their craft, and interact with and support Sikhs breaking ground in these unique areas. Also introducing for the first time an interactive segment on “Introduction to Film-making,”to demystify the film-making process. Rounding out the day’s events are a series of short films featuring a wide variety of genres, an eclectic mix of filmmakers, and a unique blend of topics, including special selections from the SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival. Saturday evening’s events will be kicked off by a heart-pounding music video, which will serve as a prelude to the 2010 SAFF feature film. After a day filled with Sikh-centric arts, the festival is hosting a “Dance the Night Away” after party for festival attendees at Dodge College.

Sunday’s events start with an international flavor, with an emphasis on Sikh films and artists from all over the world. The concluding cluster of the festival will touch upon Social Issues within the Sikh Diaspora. This segment is aimed to bring upon a meaningful and insightful look into the surroundings of the Sikh Community today.

All festival events will be taking place at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in Orange, CA.

SikhLens seeks to provide an outlet for sharing Sikh heritage and culture with the rest of the world by creating awareness for work that is “Sikh-centric,” showcasing our talent, and instilling pride in our community.

SikhLens seeks work from artists in a variety of fields, including but not limited to movies, books, music, and art. It creates appropriate avenues for this work to be shared with the rest of the world with the aim of getting more exposure for the presenters; and at the same time creating awareness about Sikhs. This will result in a better understanding of Sikh culture and values in a way that is pure and unbiased.