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Strong Son film image; two men flexing their arm muscles

Strong Son

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Harvey (Mandeep Sodhi) is a bodybuilder struggling to hold himself together after moving back home to look after his elderly father (Amrit Parbhakar). Compelled by his father’s mantra — “My son is very strong” — from a young age, Harvey has developed an impressive, hardened exterior. Still, cracks begin to show as the pressure of caregiving sends him crumbling into frequent crying fits and panic attacks. Confident in his body but broken on the inside, Harvey must learn that sometimes strength means asking for help.

Ian Bawa’s feature debut is a continuation of the series of short films that examined his relationship with his father, and Parbhakar brings depth as the strong-willed and stubborn patriarch who spends his days replaying pro wrestling videos and watching his son exercise. Strong Son is an affecting story about filial duty, masculinity and the emotional gaps that can exist between first-generation immigrant parents and their children.

 

Oct 5 & 6: Filmmaker Q&A

 

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Media Partner

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Director
Cast

Mandeep Sodhi, Amirit Parbhakar, Michaela Kurimsky, Yuvraj (Raj) Singh Dhesi, Quinn Greene, Erik Athavale

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2026

Language

In English and Punjabi with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
18+
88 min
Comedy Drama Family Relations Talent to Watch
Farpoint Films, Thin Stuff Productions

Book Tickets

Tuesday October 06

12:45 pm
Guests/Q&As Hearing Assistance Subtitles
International Village 10
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Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Kyle Bornais, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, Kathleen Easton

Producer

Fritzi Adelman, Ian Bawa, Markus Henkel

Screenwriter

Ian Bawa

Cinematography

Markus Henkel

Editor

Ian Bawa, Markus Henkel, Ted Husband

Production Design

Jillian Groen

Original Music

Milos Mitrovic, Max Walter, Amine Bouzaher

Ian Bawa headshot

Ian Bawa

Ian Bawa is a South Asian filmmaker from Winnipeg, Manitoba. His award-winning short films have screened at festivals including TIFF, Slamdance, Fantasia, and Aspen Shortsfest, earning recognition from Vimeo Staff Picks, Urbanworld, and Reelworld. Bawa is an alumnus of the TIFF Filmmaker Lab, Canadian Film Centre Directors’ Lab, and TIFF Every Story Accelerator. Drawing from his own experiences, his work explores family, grief, masculinity, mental health, and cultural identity. Strong Son (2026) is his debut feature.

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