South Asian Film Festival UK unveils restored classics and full nationwide rollout for October 2026
The South Asian Film Festival UK has announced its inaugural nationwide edition, bringing restored classics of Indian cinema to eight Showcase Cinemas across England this October. Supported by the BFI Audience Projects Fund, the festival will screen Raj Kapoor’s ‘Sangam’ on 4 October, Yash Chopra’s ‘Kabhi Kabhie’ on 11 October, and Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ on 18 October, each presented in newly restored versions.
Festival Director Rajesh Bedi said, “The South Asian Film Festival UK is more than just a film festival – it is a celebration of culture, nostalgia, music and storytelling. These iconic films deserve to be experienced on the big screen, surrounded by fellow cinema lovers, exactly as they were intended. We are proud to bring these timeless classics back to audiences across the UK. For the very first time, every screening will also feature our exclusive Filmy Sing-Along Medley – a joyful celebration of Hindi cinema’s greatest songs, inviting audiences to sing along together before the main feature begins. It’s an experience that makes every screening truly unique, memorable and unforgettable.”
BFI Senior Manager Sarah‑Jane Meredith said, “The Audience Projects Fund was established to support projects which reach audiences right across the UK with culturally significant programmes. We are therefore delighted to be supporting the inaugural South Asian Film Festival which fully meets the Audience Projects Fund’s aim of ensuring people across the UK can access a wider choice of film and the moving image, including stories that reflect their lives. The festival is programming films which are not readily available to South Asian audiences in the UK and promoting South Asian film heritage in the mainstream exhibition landscape. We wish the festival all the very best.”
Showcase Cinemas’ Director of Event Cinema James Dobbin added, “We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with SAFF UK to bring these beautifully restored classics back to the big screen, giving our customers and their families the opportunity to experience these iconic films as they were always meant to be seen. Each screening will be a true celebration of Indian cinema, and we can’t wait to join the special sing-along before the film to help create an unforgettable shared experience.”
Lyca Radio CEO Raj Baddhan said, “Lyca Radio Network is immensely proud to partner with SAFF 2026 for its debut year. This festival celebrates the very best of South Asian cinema, and the line-up is nothing short of iconic. From the 4K restored presentation of Raj Kapoor’s Sangam, to the golden-jubilee screening of Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhie, and the 25th anniversary of Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai, these films are woven into the cultural fabric of our community. Their soundtracks are part of the daily heartbeat of our station, resonating deeply with our listeners across generations. We are delighted to support a festival that honours such timeless artistry and brings these classics back to the big screen.”
Rosie Doal of A Rosie World said, “Growing up, Bollywood wasn’t just entertainment in our house, it was everything – the music, the drama, the sheer scale of it all, filling our front room on VHS. I never had the chance to watch Sangam or Kabhi Kabhie on the big screen, so getting to live that experience through SAFF feels like coming full circle. To get to work on a festival that lets me reignite that flame, and share it with an audience who feels the same way, means more than I can put into words. These films carry different memories for every generation – whoever you are, whatever your first encounter with them was, SAFF UK is a chance to make a new one, together, on the big screen where they always belonged.”
Each screening will open with the SAFF UK Filmy Sing‑Along Medley, featuring classic song sequences from stars including Dev Anand, Asha Parekh, Dharmendra, Rekha, Rishi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee and Katrina Kaif. Screenings will take place in Bluewater, Southampton, Reading, Leicester, Coventry, Nottingham, Leeds and Dudley, with tickets now available at showcasecinemas.co.uk/saffuk and updates at saffuk.com.
