Finding Your Voice in Film

Name: Finding Your Voice in Film
Start: 2025-03-01T16:30:00+05:30
Location: Above The Habitat: Mumbai

Schedule

Sat, 01 Mar, 2025 at 04:30 pm

UTC+05:30

Location

Above The Habitat: Mumbai | Mumbai, MH

Unlock the Secrets of Filmmaking with Anand Patwardhan, Vinay Shukla, Khushboo Ranka and Sarvnik Kaur! Join us for an unforgettable afternoon where acclaimed filmmakers — Anand Patwardhan (Jai Bhim Comrade, Ram Ke Naam), Vinay Shukla (While We Watched), Khushboo Ranka (An Insignificant Man) and Sarvnik Kaur (Against The Tide) — share their journeys, creative processes, and advice for breaking through in the world of cinema. Leading the dialogue is the celebrated podcast host Thom Powers, known for engaging conversations with the world’s top storytellers. The event will unfold in two parts. First, Anand Patwardhan, Khushboo Ranka, and Sarvnik Kaur will join Thom Powers for a conversation. This will be followed by a discussion between Vinay Shukla and Thom Powers. This is a must-attend event for aspiring filmmakers, cinephiles, and anyone passionate about storytelling. Filmmakers: Anand Patwardhan is a legendary filmmaker who has spent over four decades exposing injustice, religious extremism, and authoritarianism in India. His fearless films, including Bombay: Our City (1985), In the Name of God (1992), War and Peace (2002), and Reason (2018), have won global acclaim while facing censorship at home. Honored with retrospectives at MoMA, BFI, and major festivals, his work has inspired a new generation of Indian filmmakers, many of whom credit him for shaping their vision. Undeterred by threats, he continues using cinema as a powerful weapon for truth, justice, and resistance. Vinay Shukla is an award-winning filmmaker whose documentaries have become some of the most watched in the last decade. An Insignificant Man (2016) captured the rise of Arvind Kejriwal, while While We Watched (2022) won the Peabody Award for its urgent exploration of independent journalism with Ravish Kumar. His films have defined the political zeitgeist of their times, and he has pioneered bold distribution strategies to ensure they reach audiences at home and across the globe. Beyond filmmaking, Vinay is also the producer of Shasn, India’s biggest political strategy board game, which has gained a devoted following worldwide. Khushboo Ranka is a Mumbai-based filmmaker known for An Insignificant Man (2016), India’s highest-grossing political documentary, which premiered at TIFF, BFI, and over 55 international festivals, winning multiple awards. She co-wrote the National Award-winning Ship of Theseus (2012) and directed India’s first VR documentary, Right to Pray (2016). She also produced Shasn, India’s biggest political strategy board game, and While We Watched (2022), a Peabody-winning documentary on Ravish Kumar. Beyond filmmaking, she actively works to strengthen India`s documentary ecosystem through IndiaDocs, expanding opportunities for emerging filmmakers. IndiaDocs is focused on mobilizing resources for Indian non-fiction, from cinematic documentaries to social media storytelling. Her latest project in fiction is a pulpy, noir-inspired detective series. Sarvnik Kaur is a filmmaker and writer whose work delves into themes of identity, ecology, and social change. Her documentary Against the Tide premiered at Sundance and won the Special Jury Award for Vérité Filmmaking, earning global acclaim for its intimate and powerful storytelling. With a background in both fiction and non-fiction cinema, Kaur crafts narratives that challenge perceptions and bring marginalized voices to the forefront. Thom Powers is a leading voice in the documentary film world. As the Documentary Programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and co-founder of DOC NYC, the largest documentary festival in the U.S., he has played a pivotal role in championing non-fiction storytelling. He also hosts the acclaimed podcast "Pure Nonfiction", where he engages with some of the most influential filmmakers of our time. With decades of expertise, Powers continues to shape the global documentary landscape. IMPORTANT ADMISSION INFORMATION: This event is free and open to all. While our goal is to make this invaluable conversation accessible to as many people as possible, reserving a spot does not guarantee admission. Seating is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, and entry will only be permitted while seats remain available. We strongly encourage you to arrive early to secure your place. When: Saturday, 1 March Where: Above The Habitat, 4th Floor, Hotel Unicontinental, Railway Station, Rd No. 3, near Khar, Khar, Ram Krishna Nagar, Khar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400052.