Apurva Asrani
Apurva Asrani is a National Award & Filmfare Award winning film editor and screenwriter based in Mumbai, India. He is best known for editing films like Satya (1998) and Shahid (2013) and for writing the acclaimed human rights drama Aligarh (2016). Apurva's most recent work is the hit Amazon series Made In Heaven, where he edited the work of its creator, Zoya Akhtar. He is also an influential voice in the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ in India.
Rupak Ginn
Actor & writer Rupak Ginn holds a degree in English literature from Harvard University and an MBA from Columbia University. Best known for his seven seasons on USA Network's "Royal Pains," Rupak has also starred off-Broadway and in numerous tv shows and films. The winner of an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation screenwriting award, Rupak is the author of an upcoming spy thriller series of novels set in India.
Mehreen Jabbar
Mehreen is a critically acclaimed Pakistani-American director & producer. Her two decade long career includes TV series, TV films, short films & two features. She’s earned many accolades & awards for her work. Mehreen's 1st feature film, ‘Ramchand Pakistani,’ premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008. It was awarded the FIPRISCI Prize by the International Federation of Film Critics, the Satyajit Ray Award at the London Film Festival and was screened at MOMA in New York for a week long run. It was released theatrically in Pakistan, India & UK with digital distribution in the US. Her 2nd feature film, ‘Dobara Phir Se,’ filmed in New York and Karachi had a theatrical release in Pakistan, the UK, USA and the UAE in December, 2016. It was also showcased at the Seattle South Asian Film Festival, the Chicago South Asian Film Festival and the Issaquah International Film Festival, Seattle. Her short feature, ‘Lala Begum,’ won Best Screenplay at the DC South Asian Film Festival & Best Film at the Pakistan International Film Festival.
She has been a member of the National Board of Film Censors in Pakistan, a founding member of the KaraFilm Festival & a founder member of the NGO WAR (War Against Rape). She was invited to the Maisha Film Lab in Uganda - a non-profit training lab founded by director Mira Nair to be a directing mentor. She is the recipient of several awards for her work & has served as a jury member in many local & international film festivals.
Arshad Khan
Arshad Khan is an award-winning, Canada-based filmmaker of Pakistani origin. He is a filmmaker, film festival director and film educator. He is interested in presenting diverse stories of marginalized peoples and tries to help amplify those voices. Khan's films deal with issues of class, race, sexuality and social justice.
Mahesh Pailoor
Mahesh Pailoor is an award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He directed and co-wrote the independent feature film, BRAHMIN BULLS, starring Sendhil Ramamurthy, Roshan Seth, Academy Award® Winner Mary Steenburgen, and Academy Award® Nominee Michael Lerner. The film screened at festivals worldwide and was released theatrically in the US and UK. The New York Times deemed it "a warm debut" and the Village Voice called it an "accomplished first feature." Pailoor's other work has won awards and been showcased at SXSW, Cannes Lions, the Sundance Channel and the Smithsonian. Pailoor is an alumnus of the ABC/DGA Directing Program, Berlin Talent Campus, Project Involve and the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab. He is also a director for the annual ABC Discovers Talent Showcase. Pailoor grew up in Maine, is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and earned an MFA in directing from the American Film Institute, where he was awarded the Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award.