In a moment when the terms of our documentary industry are shifting, how do we take a deep look into our challenges while still sustaining our spirit? To help us with this difficult task (to help us more forward together), we’ve commissioned a live cinema performance from filmmaker Vinay Shukla, known for navigating the impossible. As the director behind An Insignificant Man and While We Watched, Shukla is a strong creative force on the international documentary scene, recognized for hard-hitting films, his defiance of censorship and his innovative approaches to making an impact with his films. In a series of provocations equal parts sharp and irreverent, he'll take the pulse of where we are at as a documentary community and remind us why we're still here.
Biographies (submitted by the speakers):
Vinay Shukla is a prominent Indian filmmaker, producer, and key figure in the country's documentary landscape. In 2016, he co-directed his debut feature film, "An Insignificant Man," a non-fiction political thriller alongside Khushboo Ranka. The film received international acclaim, set a precedent for anti-censorship, and became the most successful documentary film in India in terms of theatrical release. Apart from filmmaking, Vinay has gained recognition as the producer of the widely acclaimed political strategy board games, "SHASN" and its sequel, "SHASN: AZADI." In 2022, Vinay's second feature film, "While We Watched," a non-fiction newsroom drama, premiered and won at the Toronto International Film Festival. It subsequently enjoyed a six-week theatrical run at the IFC Center in New York.
In a moment when the terms of our documentary industry are shifting, how do we take a deep look into our challenges while still sustaining our spirit? To help us with this difficult task (to help us more forward together), we’ve commissioned a live cinema performance from filmmaker Vinay Shukla, known for navigating the impossible. As the director behind An Insignificant Man and While We Watched, Shukla is a strong creative force on the international documentary scene, recognized for hard-hitting films, his defiance of censorship and his innovative approaches to making an impact with his films. In a series of provocations equal parts sharp and irreverent, he'll take the pulse of where we are at as a documentary community and remind us why we're still here.
Biographies (submitted by the speakers):
Vinay Shukla is a prominent Indian filmmaker, producer, and key figure in the country's documentary landscape. In 2016, he co-directed his debut feature film, "An Insignificant Man," a non-fiction political thriller alongside Khushboo Ranka. The film received international acclaim, set a precedent for anti-censorship, and became the most successful documentary film in India in terms of theatrical release. Apart from filmmaking, Vinay has gained recognition as the producer of the widely acclaimed political strategy board games, "SHASN" and its sequel, "SHASN: AZADI." In 2022, Vinay's second feature film, "While We Watched," a non-fiction newsroom drama, premiered and won at the Toronto International Film Festival. It subsequently enjoyed a six-week theatrical run at the IFC Center in New York.
