In the foreground, bold white text announces "THE SOUTH ASIAN NEW WORKS FESTIVAL" with the tagline "Bringing Community Together Through The Arts," overlaid on a collage of textured backgrounds including handwritten script and film strips, while the background features a blurred silhouette of a person against a cityscape.

Enacte Arts Inc

Enjoy the full program with access to all main activities.

General Admission

Co-Presented by EnActe Arts and SJSU King Library, in Collaboration with Bhasha Centre. The South Asian New Works Festival brings together emerging playwrights, performers, and storytellers to celebrate the richness of South Asian voices in the heart of the Bay Area.&nbsp; This festival showcases original new works that explore identity, migration, tradition, and belonging. Through theatre, film, and visual arts, the festival creates space for artists to develop bold new stories while inviting audiences into a shared creative journey.&nbsp; More than a performance series, it&#39;s an invitation to build community&mdash;one story, one voice, and one stage at a time. -------Event Schedule 10:00 AM &ndash; 10:45 AM | Guest Check-In Location: 2nd Floor Foyer 10:45 AM &ndash; 11:00 AM | Welcome &amp; Opening Remarks Location: Rm. 225 11:00 AM &ndash; 1:00 PM | Staged Reading #1: &ldquo;Lost Waters&rdquo; Location: Rm. 225A compelling new theatrical script exploring memory, identity, and environmental themes through a live staged reading. 11:00 AM &ndash; 1:00 PM | Film Screening #1: &ldquo;Seat at the Table&rdquo; Location: Rm. 213Directed by Sarita Khurana and edited by Sunita Prasad, this documentary work investigates representation, community leadership, and women claiming space. 1:00 PM &ndash; 1:30 PM | Lunch Break Location: DHC 1:30 PM &ndash; 2:15 PM | Artist Talks Location: DHCFeatured visual artists Ria Sharma and Priyanka Rana discuss their creative processes, materials, and cultural inspirations. 2:30 PM &ndash; 4:30 PM | Staged Reading #2: &ldquo;Phantasmagoria&rdquo; Location: Rm. 225A bold, imaginative new play reading that weaves surreal storytelling with deep personal and socio-cultural reflection. 2:30 PM &ndash; 4:30 PM | Film Screening #2: &ldquo;Burqa Boxers&rdquo; Location: Rm. 213Directed by Alka Raghuram, this powerful documentary follows young Muslim women in Kolkata breaking barriers through boxing. 4:30 PM &ndash; 4:45 PM | Closing Remarks Location: Rm. 225

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for joining us for The South Asian New Works Festival, co-presented by EnActe Arts and the South Asians in Silicon Valley (SASV) initiative at SJSU King Library, in collaboration with Bhasha Centre. We are thrilled to have you join us for a day of compelling new theater, impactful film, and expressive visual art as we bring community together through the arts.<h3 fr-original-style="" id="isPasted" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">Your Event Details</h3><ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Time: 9:00 AM &ndash; 5:00 PM (Drop-ins welcome throughout the day)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Location: SJSU King Library (2nd Floor Foyer, Rm. 225, Rm. 213, &amp; DHC)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Address: 150 E Fernando St, San Jose, CA 95112</li></ul><h3 fr-original-style="" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">Festival Schedule Highlights</h3><ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">9:00 AM &ndash; 10:45 AM: Guest Check-In &amp; Welcome (2nd Floor Foyer)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">11:00 AM &ndash; 1:00 PM:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Staged Reading: &quot;Lost Waters&quot; by Nayantara Nayar (Rm. 225)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Film Screening: &quot;Seat at the Table&quot; (Dir. Sarita Khurana) + Q&amp;A (Rm. 213)</li></ul></li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">1:00 PM &ndash; 2:15 PM: Lunch Break &amp; Artist Talks with Ria Sharma &amp; Priyanka Rana (DHC)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">2:30 PM &ndash; 4:30 PM:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Staged Reading: &quot;Phantasmagoria&quot; by Deepika Arwind (Rm. 225)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Film Screening: &quot;Burqa Boxers&quot; (Dir. Alka Raghuram) + Q&amp;A (Rm. 213)</li></ul></li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">4:30 PM &ndash; 4:45 PM: Closing Remarks (Rm. 225)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">All Day: Visual Arts Showcase featuring Ria Sharma &amp; Priyanka Rana (DHC)</li></ul><h3 fr-original-style="" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">Arrival &amp; Parking Tips</h3><ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Check-In: Please head straight to the 2nd Floor Foyer of SJSU King Library upon arrival to check in and pick up your program.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Parking: Parking is available at the 4th Street Garage (corner of 4th St. and San Fernando St.) or nearby street parking.</li></ul>If you have any questions before the event, feel free to contact us. We look forward to sharing this creative journey with you! Warm regards,Linh PhanEnActe ArtsDirector of Sales, Marketing, and Communications

Co-Presented by EnActe Arts and SJSU King Library, in Collaboration with Bhasha Centre. The South Asian New Works Festival brings together emerging playwrights, performers, and storytellers to celebrate the richness of South Asian voices in the heart of the Bay Area.  This festival showcases original new works that explore identity, migration, tradition, and belonging. Through theatre, film, and visual arts, the festival creates space for artists to develop bold new stories while inviting audiences into a shared creative journey.  More than a performance series, it's an invitation to build community—one story, one voice, and one stage at a time. -------Event Schedule 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM | Guest Check-In Location: 2nd Floor Foyer 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM | Welcome &amp; Opening Remarks Location: Rm. 225 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Staged Reading #1: “Lost Waters” Location: Rm. 225A compelling new theatrical script exploring memory, identity, and environmental themes through a live staged reading. 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Film Screening #1: “Seat at the Table” Location: Rm. 213Directed by Sarita Khurana and edited by Sunita Prasad, this documentary work investigates representation, community leadership, and women claiming space. 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break Location: DHC 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM | Artist Talks Location: DHCFeatured visual artists Ria Sharma and Priyanka Rana discuss their creative processes, materials, and cultural inspirations. 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Staged Reading #2: “Phantasmagoria” Location: Rm. 225A bold, imaginative new play reading that weaves surreal storytelling with deep personal and socio-cultural reflection. 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Film Screening #2: “Burqa Boxers” Location: Rm. 213Directed by Alka Raghuram, this powerful documentary follows young Muslim women in Kolkata breaking barriers through boxing. 4:30 PM – 4:45 PM | Closing Remarks Location: Rm. 225

Enacte Arts Inc

The South Asian New Works Festival

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library

General Admission

Free