The Chicago South Asian Film Festival

Name

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival

Legal name

Chicago South Asian Arts Council Inc.

Website

https://csaff.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Film Festival

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN), Festival & Event Producers/Organizers (MPAIAFAC)

Keywords

• Film festival events
• South asian cinema
• Cultural film programming
• Film screening services
• Nonprofit arts organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual film block tickets, day passes, festival passes, VIP passes, and opening night tickets sold directly through the website.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts ($25), sweatshirts ($40), hoodies ($40), eco tote bags ($20), and stainless steel water bottles ($30).
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorships from companies including Jio Studios, LA Tribune Film Festival, AwesomeTV, Shree Catering, and others. Hospitality partnership with Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.
4. Donations and Support: Tax-deductible donations as Chicago South Asian Arts Council Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Support page available on website for community contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) produces and presents an annual multi-day film festival showcasing South Asian cinema through curated film screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, industry workshops, musical performances, and awards galas in downtown Chicago. The festival generates revenue through tiered ticketing (Day Passes, Festival Passes, VIP Festival Passes, Opening Night tickets, Masterclass sessions), branded merchandise sales, corporate sponsorships, and tax-deductible donations to its parent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Chicago South Asian Arts Council Inc.

Product overview

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival is an annual cultural event operated by the Chicago South Asian Arts Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The festival's primary offering is the CSAFF Film Festival, featuring curated South Asian cinema with screenings, panel discussions, filmmaker Q&As, and awards. Secondary offerings include Festival Passes and Tickets for various access levels, CSAFF 2025 Merchandise (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, tote bags, water bottles), and venue access at multiple Chicago-area locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CSAFF Film Festival Annual multi-day film festival showcasing South Asian cinema with curated film screenings, panel discussions, filmmaker Q&A sessions, industry workshops, musical performances, and awards galas in downtown Chicago. Targeted at Chicago-area film enthusiasts, the South Asian diaspora community, and international film industry professionals.
• Festival Passes and Tickets Tiered ticketing system offering Day Passes, Festival Passes, Individual Blocks, Opening Night tickets, Masterclass sessions, and VIP Festival Passes with red carpet access. Sold directly through csaff.org to individual attendees.
• CSAFF 2025 Merchandise Festival-branded apparel and accessories sold direct-to-consumer through csaff.org online store, including Unisex Tees ($25), Unisex Sweatshirts (from $40), Unisex Hoodies ($40), Eco Tote Bags ($20), and 32 oz Stainless Steel Water Bottles ($30), with multiple color options available.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17 consecutive years of successful festival operations since 2010
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Chicago South Asian Arts Council Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Non-profit entity established in December 2010 following the inaugural festival. Dedicated to fostering South Asian arts and nurturing local talent across Chicagoland. Parent organization of CSAFF.
• Consulates General of India and PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey supporting entities providing diplomatic and cultural support for the annual festival.
• Chicago Film OfficecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial city agency providing support and recognition for the festival as a key cultural event in Chicago.
• Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special EventscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity department supporting cultural events and festivals in Chicago.
• Jio StudiosflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor entertainment studio partner for 2025 festival. Association announced for red carpet and spotlight lineup.
• Sheraton Grand Chicago RiverwalkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive hospitality partner offering discounted room blocks for festival attendees. Walking distance from AMC River East 21 venue.
• Vachikam IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial founding supporter for the inaugural 2010 festival along with NetIP.
• Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial founding supporter for the inaugural 2010 festival along with Vachikam Inc.
• Chicago Sister Cities: Delhi CommitteecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity committee supporting international cultural exchange between Chicago and Delhi, India.
• Zee CinemaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading television and media company. Partnership announced for 2014 (5th Annual) festival. Major South Asian entertainment brand.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Chicago International Film Festival: Chicago's largest and longest-running film festival, operating since 1964. Broader scope across international cinema but operates in the same city and competes for the same audiences, sponsors, and Chicago Film Office support.
• CAAMFest (Center for Asian American Media Film Festival): San Francisco-based Asian American film festival with broader pan-Asian programming. Comparable in mission around Asian American representation and similar nonprofit model, but with a significantly larger budget and longer history.
• San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF): One of the largest Asian film festivals in North America, with pan-Asian programming across multiple Asian ethnicities. Similar nonprofit model and audience development goals, but at a much larger scale and broader Asian scope.

Direct peers

• New York South Asian Film Festival (SAFF): New York-based South Asian film festival operating since 2009, also showcasing premieres from South Asian filmmakers. Directly comparable in mission, programming, and audience but operates in a larger diaspora market on the East Coast.
• South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF): New York-based South Asian international film festival comparable in scope and mission. Notable for its awards programming and Hollywood industry integration, positioning it as a peer for industry-attended festival programming.
• Toronto South Asian Film Festival (TSAFF): Toronto-based South Asian film festival serving the Canadian diaspora. Comparable in programming focus and nonprofit structure, with similar filmmaker-attended programming and a major North American South Asian diaspora audience.
• DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF): Washington DC-area South Asian film festival with similar mission of showcasing South Asian cinema in the U.S. Comparable festival duration, ticketing structure, and nonprofit governance model targeting the South Asian diaspora.
• Tasveer Film Festival (Seattle): Seattle-based South Asian Film Festival focused on South Asian cinema and cultural storytelling. Comparable nonprofit model with similar curatorial approach and filmmaker Q&A programming, competing for the same regional U.S. grant and sponsorship dollars.
• Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA): Los Angeles-based festival showcasing Indian and South Asian cinema to industry professionals and the public. Highly comparable nonprofit festival model with similar ticketing tiers, filmmaker programming, and Hollywood industry networking.

Regional players

• Singapore South Asian Film Festival (SGSAFF): Singapore-based South Asian film festival serving the South Asian diaspora in Southeast Asia. Comparable in curatorial focus on South Asian cinema, but operates in a different geography and market context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CSAFFestival
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSAFFestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-chicago-south-asian-film-festival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Chicago South Asian Film Festival