About
World Film Festival (WFF) San Francisco takes pride to support INDEPENDENT films that display strong storytelling, both in the written word and visually. We generate the biggest audience for the recognition of the work of filmmakers from across the globe in the heart of San Francisco Bay Area. We will screen Old Classics , short films, documentaries, and feature films up to 130 minutes in length submitted by independent filmmakers from around the world. Submissions are juried by a panel of industry professionals, and winners chosen according to content, innovation, and technical execution. There will be a special Bay area film initiative block, as well as several informative workshops by industry professionals throughout the weekend.This event has continued to garner participants from all over the world, and has attracted luminaries and dignitaries from all over the world. The festival organizers have continued to organize this Festival which is intended to give our communities an opportunity to work together and present this Festival year after year.
Every year and has allowed our communities, to get a better understanding of the culture, the arts, the music and foods of the Indian American community.
Founded in 2010, AWAAZ Productions, Inc. is the brainchild of founder Dr. Fasi Khurram. He looked at the entertainment universe and saw islands of companies serving niche markets. His vision was to unify all services under one banner, creating a single body of integrated companies that complement and reinforce each other.
More than just a production company, AWAAZ Productions’ business structure is both deep and wide, encompassing the entire media spectrum. With its affiliated companies like the AWAAZ Academy of Arts , Cali-Wood Studios and AWAAZ Studios, it provides services to support all phases of content creation, from training talent and developing show concepts to production and distribution of the finished product .
Founder/CEO Dr. Fasi Khurram 
Hollywood Consultant Arnie Frank 
Choreographer Sandip Soparrkar 
Advisor Tom Tafolla 
South Indian Consultant Dr. Ms Rao 
Azar Faramarzi Judge from Persia 
Kishor Masoom Judge from India 
Rajeev Khinchi Project Leader & Director, Indian Representative 
Bollywood Ambassador for WFF 2020 Rakesh Sabharwal
Rakesh Sabharwal
Rakesh Sabharwal started his career as a film distributor and advisor for all India distribution & have released more than 160 films till now, later opened distribution offices in Jaipur, Amravati, Indore also having full hold of distribution all over India, After doing distribution & exhibition till 2004 shifted to Mumbai & joined as facilitator for Reliance Big Cinema & still working as a Freelance facilitator with several multiplex chain.
Achievements & Personal Summary
- He has experience of 40 years in Bollywood film industry.
- He is connected to ground root level of film Exhibition, Distribution, Production and anything related to the Entertainment Industry.
- He was the advisor & facilitator for Reliance Big Cinema for 6 years.
- He worked as a business head for BOHRA BROS for TV Shows as FACE THE REVIEW, CRIME AND BOLLYWOOD, for channel ZOOM and daily soap “SITA AUR GEETA” for NDTV Imagine, later started his own production house for films & TV shows. He has expertised to plan the distribution, marketing and publicity for theatrical release of films all over India on freelance basis having a good team of PR Marketing & Distribution.
- As Advisor for Bollywood part for Festival San Francisco from 2015 to 2018. Was taking care of bollywood films & nominated Actors for this Film Festivals.
- Nominated as Jury for IFFA Film Festival Sydney (Australia) from 2016 to till date & also he has been Jury for many beauty pageants & shows all around the world, some of them are:
- Mrs. India Universe
- Mrs. Glamours India
- Face of India
- iReigning Mrs India
- Archeizz Mrs India
- Remain trustee of association CCCA Bhusawal for 2 years & member film producer association AMPTPP from last 11 years & also member of IMPPA Mumbai (The oldest film producer’s association) from last 15 years. Apart from this Mr. Rakesh Sabharwal started Line Production & Marketing of films with various Production Houses & also as an “Executive Producer” & line poducer some films which are” 26th July at Barista, Mudrank (The Stamp paper), Kahin Hai Woh Aas Pass, Khallas, Aishwarya, Mittal v/s Mittal, Love.Com(Hindi, Tamil, Telgu), Malegaon ka super hero (this was a cult film which got more than 15 international awards), Jeena to hai (Hindi, Tamil, Telgu), Diary of a butterfly, Hum bhi agar bachhe hote, Warrior Savitri(by Hollywood director Param Gill was shot in India & USA) Kabaddi, Tamso ma jyotir gamaya (Short Film) etc.
- Tamso ma jyotir gamaya (Short Film) – this short film got many Domestic & International film awards which are –
- Nasik International Film Festival People’s Choice Award
- Jaipur Rajasthan International Film Festival Award
- Banglore Queer Film Festival Awards
- Hum bhi agar Bache hote – A children film which got many awards:
- Best Feature Film – International Film Festival of Shimla – 2nd October 2016
- Best Photography – Arte Non Stop Festival, Argentina – 1st October 2016.
- Best International Feature Film – Film Maker of The Year Film Festival, Indonesia –
25th November 2016