Revathy wins Best Actor at IFFSA Toronto for Sayani Gupta’s Aasmani, while the filmmaker receives the South Asian Screen Excellence Award.
Vaishnavi Gavankar
October 23, 2026 / 19:49 IST
Sayani Gupta
Sayani Gupta’s directorial debut Aasmani has earned another international honour, with veteran actress Revathy winning Best Actor (International Short) at the International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) in Toronto. The recognition comes as Sayani also received the South Asian Screen Excellence Award at the festival.
Sayani Gupta’s first film as a writer and director, Aasmani, continues to attract attention internationally. The short film’s latest achievement comes from IFFSA Toronto, where Revathy was recognised for her portrayal of Asha, a grandmother whose relationship with her granddaughter forms the emotional heart of the story.
The award is particularly meaningful for Sayani, who cast the acclaimed actress in her directorial debut and has now seen her performance receive international recognition.
In Aasmani, Revathy plays Asha, whose bond with her granddaughter unfolds around their shared memories and a vintage powder-blue Fiat.
The car becomes an important part of the narrative, connecting the two characters through their relationship and personal experiences.
Revathy’s performance earned her the Best Actor (International Short) award at IFFSA Toronto, adding another achievement to her career.
For Sayani, the honour also recognises an important aspect of her filmmaking debut: bringing an emotionally driven story to the screen through its characters and performances.
The festival was equally significant for Sayani, who attended as Guest of Honour and received the South Asian Screen Excellence Award.
With both the filmmaker and her lead actress recognised at the same event, Aasmani marked a memorable moment in its international journey.
The film has previously received honours across categories including Best Director, Best Child Actor and Best Short Film.
These achievements have brought attention to Sayani’s transition from acting to directing, as well as the performances at the centre of her debut project.
According to the makers, Aasmani has already participated in 12 film festivals within two months.
Its upcoming screenings include the LA Femme International Film Festival in Los Angeles, the 55th Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival, the 15th Dharamshala International Film Festival and the 30th Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
Additional festival selections are also lined up through March 2027.
For Sayani, the film represents a new creative chapter after establishing herself as an actress. With Revathy’s latest award, Aasmani has received recognition not only for its direction and storytelling but also for the performance that anchors its narrative.
As the short film prepares for its upcoming screenings, the Toronto honour marks another milestone in Sayani’s journey as a filmmaker.
Vaishnavi Gavankar is a senior entertainment journalist with over 8 years of experience covering Bollywood, Television, OTT platforms, and regional cinema.
first published: Oct 23, 2026 07:49 pm
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