ASIS SETHI
Director. Producer. Writer.
"The power of cinema lies in its characters—how they evolve, how they struggle, and how they rise against every challenge life throws their way."
Asis Sethi is an award-winning South Asian Canadian filmmaker, educator, and industry leader with over 15 years of experience in film, television, and broadcasting. Playback Magazine’s “10 to Watch” (2020), an alumna of the TIFF Series Accelerator, Women in the Director’s Chair, BANFF Spark, CFC/Netflix Calling Card Accelerator, and the Reelworld Producer Program, Asis is recognized for her powerful storytelling and advocacy for underrepresented voices.
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As the founder and CEO of Fly Away Films, Asis leads a dynamic, women-led production company with a growing slate of feature films, documentaries, television series, and children’s content. Her work has been supported by major institutions including Netflix, Paramount, CBC, CFC, Citytv, OMNI Television, and the Canada Council for the Arts.
Her REMI Award-winning short film A Bloody Mess - a bold exploration of menstrual stigma—screened at over 30 international film festivals. She is also the creator of Darshan Dekh Jeeva, a 16-episode documentary series on historical Sikh shrines in India (funded by the OMNI Documentary Fund), and The Colourful Crown, which examines post-9/11 discrimination against turban wearers. Her immigration-focused docu-series Welcome to Canada received national broadcast attention, and her acclaimed short Rock the Cradle, which addresses postpartum depression, earned multiple awards, including Best Directing at the WIFT+ Showcase.
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Asis is developing her debut directorial feature Slam Dunk, Sehaj!, which won The Big Pitch at TIFF, was supported by the CFC/Netflix Calling Card Accelerator, and is currently streaming on CBC Gem. The project continues development with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.
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An educator at Humber Polytechnic’s Film & Television Production program, Asis is committed to shaping the next generation of storytellers. A respected mentor and community builder, Asis supports emerging talent through WIFT Toronto, OYA Black Arts, CaribbeanTales Creators of Colour Incubator, and the M Film Lab. She is the Co-President of the South Asian Canadian Film Federation (SACFF) and the Secretary of the WIFT+ Toronto Foundation Board.
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In 2025, Fly Away Films was selected as one of 25 women-led production companies for the BANFF Spark: Producer’s Edition powered by Paramount - a testament to Asis’s vision and impact as a Canadian creative force.
