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Nisha Pahuja(1978- present) is an Independent Canadian Filmmaker. Born in New Delhi and raised in Toronto, Ontario. This writer/artist/director got into film through studying English lit, working in social services and working as a documentary researcher [1]. This filmmaker is currently a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow, which is a foundation which promotes the well being of humanity through various initiates and conferences led by individuals such as policy makers and scholars. [2]. Nisha's film debut was in 2003 in "Bollywood Bound", and more recently she produced a film "The World Before Her" (2012) which explored the diverse lifestyles of Women competing to become Miss India and juxtaposing it with Hindu Nationalists fighting for their beliefs [3].
Early Life
Nisha moved from India to Canada with her family when she was 3 years old. While growing up Nisha faced adversity as she was bombarded with a new "western lifestyle, "In the West, one always lives with the shame of being Indian or brown. You always try to hide your identity and your culture. But the film helped me discover myself. It taught me to get over the shame of not being white and that being Indian could be very beautiful and very heroic, just like the movies," [4]. Nisha also attributes her interest in film to the fact that she "grew up on a staple diet of Hindi films and was always awed by what Indian films had to offer to girls growing up in the West. I saw young Indo-Canadians making a beeline for pageants and film shows, claiming their stakes in the game of fame. Fame, that they could find only in the bright arc lights and beneath the greasepaint of Bollywood" [5]
Career
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, English Language and Literature from the University of Toronto, this filmmaker became increasingly interested in the film medium. [6] Nisha started her career working as a researcher with Canadian filmmakers John Walker and Ali Kazimi [7]. Nisha moved from her homeland to Toronto, Canada, but she still maintains close ties with India and visits regularly. Nisha began her own film making career and sought after characters who revealed things about our world in a broader context [8]. Nisha's films are both a success back in her homeland and in North America, making her an international name. Instead of choosing a traditional Bollywood path, Nisha is quoted as saying "I have no plans to venture into Bollywood as I like directing real subjects" [9]
The Kickstarter Iniative
The creation of Nisha's most critically acclaimed film would not have been successful if not for the generous fundraiser support it got through an online Kickstarter fund. The World Before Her was a film that sparked the interests of a few international broadcasters in Toronto [10]; however, it seemed impossible to create due to financial restrictions. In order to pursue her dream Nisha created a kickstarted with the goal of reaching $50,000 in order to screen the film across India and to various social workers to spark change [11]. On the official site Nisha writes "It’s simple. Most documentary filmmakers have one goal—that by sharing their films they can affect some kind of change. Every now and then we get lucky. We find a story that captures the zeitgeist and has potential to become a lightning rod for discussion, introspection and real change. That’s what we have with The World Before Her" [12]. The initial kickstarted has surpassed its original goal by reaching $57,000, and the site has since revamped their goals to create more positive change by kicking off a 6 month campaign starting on National Women's Day (March 8) to screen the film across the country [13]
Awards and Nominations
Nisha's third film The World Before Her received the most attention as it won:
"Best Canadian Feature Documentary (2012) at the Edmonton Film Festival,
"Best Documentary" (2012) at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
"Best Foreign Film" (2012) Traverse City Film Festival
"Special Jury Mention" (2012) at the San Diego Asian Film Festival
"Best Documentary Feature" (2012) at the Tribeca Film Festival
"VFCC" Award for Best Screenplay at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle (2012)
"Best Documentary" (2012) at the Warsaw International Film Festival
[14].
This film also had nominations in:
Zurich Film Festival (2012) for "Best Documentary"
Genie Awards (2012) for "Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary"
Canadian Screen Awards (2013) "Best Feature Length Documentary"
Santa Barbara Film Festival (2013) "Social Justice Award for Documentary Film"
[15]
Filmography
- Bollywood Bound (2003)
- Diamond Road (2007)
- The World Before Her (2012)
Bibliography
External Links
TIFF "The World Before Her
"The World Before Her" Official Website
Filmmaker Magazine Article
References
- ^ Indiewire, 2012
- ^ The Rockerfeller Foundation, http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bellagio-center
- ^ IMDB, 2014
- ^ "Bollywood Calling" http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/jun/22nisha.htm
- ^ "Bollywood Bound" http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/jun/22nisha.htm
- ^ https://ca.linkedin.com/pub/nisha-pahuja/11/1a9/a25
- ^ Robinson, T., (2012) Transcending Tribeca: Nisha Pahuja of The World Before Her A.V. Club
- ^ Indiewire 2012
- ^ IBN http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-world-before-her-director-nisha-pahuja-says-she-doesnt-want-to-direct-bollywood-films/480972-8-269.html
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/help-comes-in-small-measures/article6098595.ece
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/help-comes-in-small-measures/article6098595.ece
- ^ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/411325600/the-world-before-her-india-campaign
- ^ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/411325600/the-world-before-her-india-campaign
- ^ IMDB
- ^ The World Before Her