Tongues on Fire is synonymous for championing South Asian feminist films and supporting pioneering artists and auteurs

ABOUT US

Tongues on Fire

Tongues on Fire is a not for profit company founded in 1997. We produce the annual UK Asian Film Festival, celebrating the richness and vibrancy of South Asian culture, history, arts, storytelling, and self-expression by:

  • Opening doors and providing a platform for emerging talent, independent film and arts with a link to South Asia
  • Bridging art, culture, health, and technology to herald the challenges of a world in motion
  • Dismantling inequalities in the creative industries to readdress the balance
  • Breaking barriers, taboos in South Asian communities and encourage open discussion
  • Empowering the next generation through masterclasses and showcases
  • Pioneering networking occasions to develop leaders and provide wider learning opportunities

We are proud to have showcased films at UKAFF that champion stories of lived experiences rarely found in South Asian cinema. Below are some of these incredible stories we have brought to our audiences over the years.

GENDER EQUALITY

We have pushed for increasing representation of female filmmakers, from having showcased five female filmmakers in the 1990 to now 35 in 2019.

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Southall Black Sisters with a series of film screenings.

Bhuna Athuya receives an award in 2011 for her contribution to Costume Design.

MENTAL HEALTH

We champion films that challenge social taboos around mental health and create awareness within the South Asian community.

Khamosh Pani is a moving tale set in Pakistan, with the traumatic effects of Partition resonating in family life.

Provoked is based on the the true story of a woman imprisoned for killing her husband after suffering years of physical and mental violence.

The Killing of John Lennon is a dark trip into the mind of Mark David Chapman, the man who murdered John Lennon.

Lynch Nation documents heart-wrenching stories of mob lynching that have torn apart families and shaken India.

LGBTQ+

We are committed to redefining whose stories are platformed at UKAFF and are proud to have brought queer stories to the forefront of our festival.

In 2014 we presented a commemorative trilogy in the memory of acclaimed actor, writer and director, Rituparno Ghosh.

Ek Aasha tells the story of an aspiring teacher who has struggled with gender identity since childhood.

Transgenders: Pakistan's Open Secret explores day to day lives and hardships of Pakistan's discriminated transgender class.

The path breaking film My Beautiful Laundrette offered a timely critique of the race, class and gender upheavals under Thatcherism.