Celebrate Global Cinema and Art
Crossover International Festival of Film and Art
Co-presented with Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, OWAF, The City of Tracy
FREE! Live Musical Performances
Ishmeet Narula - Musician and Actress
Friday, Oct 10th l 6:15 PM - 6:30 PM
Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
Ishmeet Narula is a classically trained Indian musician, singer, and performer based in California. Known for her trendsetting style and melodious voice, she has toured with big names in Bollywood and Punjabi music, performing in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, U.K., and India. Narula has released several albums and singles, including Sakeeriyaan (2013), Teriya Raahwaan (2018), and Bewafa(2023).
Ishmeet is star and a host of Cpics Original Show "Eat With Ishmeet"
IG: @ishmeetnarula
FB: Ishmeet Narula
Asher Jacob – Musician
Sunday, Oct 12 | 4:00 PM
Lobby, Grand Theatre – right before Cpics Presents
Meet Asher Jacob, an 11-year-old musical prodigy and multi-instrumentalist from Tracy. Asher sings, plays guitar, cajón, cymbals, shaker, tambourine, and even whistles during his performances. Don’t miss his vibrant live set that’s bound to inspire.
Follow Asher:
IG: @asher\_g\_jacob
FB: Asher G Jacob
YouTube: Asher G Jacob
Sukhjanvir aka JJ – Musician/Performer
Saturday, Oct 11 | 1:30 PM & 6:30 PM
Lobby, Grand Theatre – before the feature screenings
Born and raised in Tracy, Sukhjanvir (JJ) is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter and producer. Sukhjanvir (JJ) music is dreamy, raw, and filled with stories that turn heartache into hits. JJ’s live performances will set the tone for a powerful day of cinema.
Follow JJ:
IG: @sukhjanvir
Free Art Exhibition
Anju Chanana – Ada Art
Onsite: Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
Oct 10 (Opening Night)
Oct 11 (before main features)
Oct 12 (4:00 PM before Cpics Presents)
Anju’s art, rooted in yoga, spirituality, and vibrant color, will be displayed throughout the festival. With 10 large pieces on exhibition, her work promises to be as impactful as the films themselves.
Connect with Anju:
Website: ada-arts.com
IG: @ada.artsntrends
FB: Ada Arts n Trends
Workshop by Joseph Graham
Interactive workshop on acting, filmmaking, and VFX/AI led by award-winning filmmaker and educator Joseph Graham in the Studio Theatre. Graham, founder of Conjured Cinema, is internationally recognized for pioneering AI-assisted filmmaking while preserving the artistry of human storytelling. His filmography includes the feature films Strapped and Beautiful Something, along with experimental shorts, music videos, and acclaimed stage productions.
About CIFFA 2025
The Crossover International Festival of Film and Art (CIFFA) isn’t just about films – it’s about celebrating creativity in every form. This October, join us for free live music performances, art showcases, workshops, and special screenings at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy, CA.
From opening night to closing day, CIFFA brings together global filmmakers, musicians, and artists in a festival that’s as inspiring as it is entertaining.
Opening Night Film – 10th Oct
Inspired by true events. Barefoot Warriors is set in a quaint Punjab Village in North India, where events unfold upon the arrival of an American man, seeking to redeem his own failures in life, but ends up fulfilling century old dreams for the village folks. Football (Soccer) forms the backdrop of this inspirational story.
Written and Directed by Kavi Raz
Free Event
Special Screening – 11th Oct
Preeti, an elegant woman in her 50s, leaves an abusive marriage with her philandering husband, Ajay. Facing ageism and sexism, Preeti launches a dress-design business while trying to repair her relationship with her daughter. She befriends Jackson, a sincere restaurant and bar owner. Preeti confronts ostracism and ridicule from the Indian community for standing up to her husband's abuse and her friendship with Jackson. Preeti realizes that freedom has consequences.
Director Gayatri Everitt Bajpai
Writer/Producer Rashmi Rustagi
Free Event
Special Screening – 11th Oct
40 DAYS, Naguib and his wife Mariam decide to take over a dangerous journey to the United States starting from Central America all the way to the US-Mexico Border facing many tough life threatening obstacles.
Director Peter Takla
Free Event
Centerpiece Film – 11th Oct
AFREEN, A timely film about the roots of terror and the price of revenge. On 22 October, 2016, a suicide bombing by ISIS, targeting the famed Eaton Centre shopping mall in Toronto, Ontario, was narrowly thwarted, with one suspect killed. Independent sources have estimated the death toll, had the attack succeeded, would have been the highest in a terrorist strike on North American soil since 9/11. For security reasons, the foiled plot has been kept secret… until now. Afreen is the story of that plot.
Director Aashish Chanana
Free Event
Closing Night – Series – 13th Oct
LITTLE INDIA, The series follows the misadventures of a trio of 20-something Indian-American siblings - Zoya, AJ, and Kabir - as they attempt to navigate life with their immigrant parents all while helping run the family business. They have very little to their names but will do anything to avoid having to work at their parent’s shop for the rest of their lives.
Director Sim Dhugga
Free Event
Official Selection - Short Films
Special Screening – 11th Oct
Wish Box - A couple's life takes a mysterious turn when they stumble upon an ancient box hidden in their new apartment. As they delve into its contents, their lives take unexpected turns, setting off a chain of mysterious events.
Directed by Abhinav Sainger
Free Event
Special Screening – 11th Oct
Buk Pocket: Two lives marked by hunger — a drifting vagabond and a street child — briefly intertwine. Dreams of abundance clash with stark reality, until a simple act of kindness transforms despair into shared hope.
Director Samir Karmakar
Free Event
Special Screening – 11th Oct
I Can Smell A Rat - Maribel, 10 years old, has her night turned upside down after being assigned the role of Hamlet in a school play, where she spends her night between her football-obsessed family and Hamlet.
Director Antonious Bassily
Free Event
Special Screening – 11th Oct
How to Cook French Cousin - A charismatic chef hosts a cooking tutorial on French cuisine, but as the recipe unfolds, a dark secret simmers.
Director Hritik Mehta
Free Event
Special Screening – 11th Oct
Masala Love - The Sheikh family owns the best South Asian restaurant in Little India, Toronto. However, their reputation is challenged when Sultana Sheikh, the matriarch, intends to hand over the restaurant to her Canadian-born son.
Director Gursimran Datla
Free Event
Special Screening – 11th Oct
Rishtey - Ria, an aspiring model, and Juhi, an award-winning Creative Director are best friends. Vicky, an ace photographer, enters their lives. Will their world be the same?
Director Dinesh More
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
Jalebi - tells the story of Anya, a successful lawyer from a traditional Indian family, who decides to breakup with her boyfriend right before her engagement dinner. Her decision sparks a heated debate within her family, revealing deep-rooted cultural and generational differences. The film explores the tension between personal happiness and familial obligations, ultimately questioning how one can honor both.
Director Ayushi Khurana
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
Amina's Song - While we follow the daily struggle of a young Egyptian student in Kazan, Amina risks everything to fulfill her dream of becoming a singer, which triggers some changes in her life.
Director Essam Hayder
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
Storms Never Last - When industry strikes bring financial hardship and shattered dreams to an idealistic filmmaker, the strength of his love is tested as he struggles to weather the storm.
Director Gary Tucker
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
The Monkey - Dr. Adam and his monkey companion face humanity’s cyclical failures, where survival depends on lessons that have not been learned.
Director Bishoy Adel
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
The Madman - In 1970s Jaipur, two men face a tense standoff on a crowded commuter train. With the Bangladesh War for Independence looming, uncertainty and human volatility hang heavy in the air. Based on a story by the late Douglas Adams, The Madman asks: “Is it everyone else who’s lost their mind, or is it me?”.
Director David A. Harris
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
Diez Segundos - After years of guilt following the loss of his best friend, guilt worsened by blame from some of the townspeople, Fredi finds his peace through a mystical sign, and by finally accepting love and forgiveness from the one who mattered most.
Director Gloria Laino
Free Event
Official Selection - Documentaries
Special Screening – 12th Oct
Test Subject V - Set in India, this animated docu-drama follows a middle-aged man from the other end of the fitness spectrum as he challenges lifelong beliefs and undergoes a profound physical and mental transformation. Through humour, emotion, and honesty, the film explores human courage, resilience, and the power to change. Ultimately, it’s an inspiring story that encourages better choices for health, the planet, and animals — all while remaining entertaining and relatable.
Directed by Sol Kohli
Producer Kunal Avanti
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
Fekry's Thoughts - A contemporary portrait follows the life of an Alexandrian framemaker born in the 1930s. Through his personal story, the film explores the profound changes in Egypt over the past 80 years, capturing society's transformation through a dedicated craftsman's eyes.
Director Essam Hayder
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
Manan Kanchu Para - Manan Kanchu Para narrates the concerns of Nicolás Sayhua and his community about the severe drought affecting their region and the year's agricultural harvest. Nicolas seeks to reflect and take action to reverse this situation in the future.
Director Ronald Romero
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
From & To Nature We Return - In a mesmerizing visual journey, it explores the deep connection between humanity and Mother Earth, calling us to reconnect with nature and live in harmony with its cosmic rhythms.
Director Bishoy Adel
Free Event
Special Screening – 12th Oct
Cameraphobia - Set in Alexandria, the film follows street photographers and an independent filmmaker as they share the challenges and risks of working on the streets, and how these experiences shape their art. An interview with an anthropology researcher explores the phenomenon of cameraphobia, examining the fear and resistance surrounding street photography today.
Director Younis Hosni
Why You Can’t Miss This
It’s FREE! Live music and art are open to the public.Experience local and international talent up close.
Connect with musicians, artists, and filmmakers in a creative festival atmosphere.
While you’re here, check out the official CIFFA 2025 film screenings, series, documentaries, and workshopshappening October 10–12 at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts.
Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
715 N Central Ave, Tracy, CA 95376
Learn more: owaf.org and https://atthegrand.org/events/ciffa-film-festival/
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