https://www.sushmak.com/news daily 0.75 2017-05-19 https://www.sushmak.com/new-gallery daily 0.75 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1620662770553-1NHP25K5L6B8D1B4IJQB/image-asset.jpeg Films - ANITA - Short Film WINNER - Best International Short Film, Dublin Int'l Film Festival 2021 SPECIAL MENTION - Narrative Shorts, Atlanta Film Festival 2021 WINNER - The Gotham Awards IFP/Focus Features Showcase 2021 WINNER - Best Film Award Columbia University Film Festival 2021 WINNER - Audience Award (Prog C) Columbia University Film Festival 2021 WINNER - Grand Prix: New Talents, PÖFF Tallinn Nights Shorts Film Festival 2020. WINNER - NBR Student Grant Award 2020. WORLD PREMIERE: Venice Film Festival Orizzonti Short Film Competition 2020. Official Selection: Stockholm Int'l Film Festival 2020. Official Selection: POFF Tallinn Black Nights Shorts 2020 Official Selection: Flickerfest, Sydney, 2021 Official Selection: Vilnius International Shorts Festival 2021 Official Selection: Dublin International Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Florida Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Atlanta Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Brussels Shorts Festival 2021 Official Selection: Indie Meme South Asian FF 2021 Official Selection: Portland Int'l Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Arthouse Asia Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Indian Film Festival, LA 2021 Official Selection: Bagri London Indian Film Festival, 2021 Official Selection: Palm Springs Shorts Fest 2021 TV/VOD/Digital Distribution: - Focus Features - Canal + - Jet Blue Inflight Entertainment Written & Directed by Sushma Khadepaun Produced by Ankur Singh World Sales & Distribution Rep: Les Valseurs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1620662770553-1NHP25K5L6B8D1B4IJQB/image-asset.jpeg Films - ANITA - Short Film WINNER - Best International Short Film, Dublin Int'l Film Festival 2021 SPECIAL MENTION - Narrative Shorts, Atlanta Film Festival 2021 WINNER - The Gotham Awards IFP/Focus Features Showcase 2021 WINNER - Best Film Award Columbia University Film Festival 2021 WINNER - Audience Award (Prog C) Columbia University Film Festival 2021 WINNER - Grand Prix: New Talents, PÖFF Tallinn Nights Shorts Film Festival 2020. WINNER - NBR Student Grant Award 2020. WORLD PREMIERE: Venice Film Festival Orizzonti Short Film Competition 2020. Official Selection: Stockholm Int'l Film Festival 2020. Official Selection: POFF Tallinn Black Nights Shorts 2020 Official Selection: Flickerfest, Sydney, 2021 Official Selection: Vilnius International Shorts Festival 2021 Official Selection: Dublin International Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Florida Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Atlanta Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Brussels Shorts Festival 2021 Official Selection: Indie Meme South Asian FF 2021 Official Selection: Portland Int'l Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Arthouse Asia Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Indian Film Festival, LA 2021 Official Selection: Bagri London Indian Film Festival, 2021 Official Selection: Palm Springs Shorts Fest 2021 TV/VOD/Digital Distribution: - Focus Features - Canal + - Jet Blue Inflight Entertainment Written & Directed by Sushma Khadepaun Produced by Ankur Singh World Sales & Distribution Rep: Les Valseurs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1526980324517-O5R7C2MOA3Z09PG532MC/Foren-poster_5-29.jpg Films - FOREN Official Selection - Palm Springs International ShortFest 2017 Official Selection - IMFF 2017, Austin TX Tanu and her grandmother, inquire of a world outside the bounds of their home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1526983573506-FAPEFOZTE3JCRFVDOW6C/Screen+Shot+2018-05-22+at+6.05.04+AM.png Films A meditation on life and death; the form and the formless. Official Selection Indianapolis International Film Festival, 2012 Official Selection Asian Film Festival Dallas, 2012 Official Selection San Francisco Int’l South Asian Film Festival, 2012 Official Selection Columbus International Film + Video Festival, 2012 Official Selection Bushwick Film Festival, 2012 Official Selection Winter Film Awards, 2012 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/5b03de45352f530afd5621e4/609958738cb6ec56a6d020b3/1620662489869/ Films - ANITA WINNER - Best International Short Film, Dublin Int'l Film Festival 2021 SPECIAL MENTION - Narrative Shorts, Atlanta Film Festival 2021 WINNER - The Gotham Awards IFP/Focus Features Showcase 2021 WINNER - Best Film Award Columbia University Film Festival 2021 WINNER - Audience Award (Prog C) Columbia University Film Festival 2021 WINNER - Grand Prix: New Talents, PÖFF Tallinn Nights Shorts Film Festival 2020. WINNER - NBR Student Grant Award 2020. WORLD PREMIERE: Venice Film Festival Orizzonti Short Film Competition 2020. Official Selection: Stockholm Int'l Film Festival 2020. Official Selection: POFF Tallinn Black Nights Shorts 2020 Official Selection: Flickerfest, Sydney, 2021 Official Selection: Vilnius International Shorts Festival 2021 Official Selection: Dublin International Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Florida Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Atlanta Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Brussels Shorts Festival 2021 Official Selection: Indie Meme South Asian FF 2021 Official Selection: Portland Int'l Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Arthouse Asia Film Festival 2021 Official Selection: Indian Film Festival, LA 2021 Official Selection: Bagri London Indian Film Festival, 2021 Official Selection: Palm Springs Shorts Fest 2021 TV/VOD/Digital Distribution: - Focus Features - Canal + - Jet Blue Inflight Entertainment Written & Directed by Sushma Khadepaun Produced by Ankur Singh World Sales & Distribution Rep: Les Valseurs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1526981679362-5G70VBCZSR8Q5T3COKE4/Rotten+Egg-IFFSA-Toronto2018.jpg Films - ROTTEN EGG - Short Film Official Selection - IFFSA Toronto 2018 Sapna (9), sees her father in new light. https://www.sushmak.com/home daily 0.75 2025-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/878a4784-b60d-43e7-8b1c-308e110c0976/0F3E863E-F747-4B7A-8B8D-872FB6A939E1_1_201_a.jpg Miller - About me Sushma Khadepaun is an Indian-born writer and director based in New York City. Her stories often explore themes of immigration, home, and identity. Sushma’s short film Anita premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival in 2020, won several awards, and was acquired by Canal Plus in France. Her latest short film, Places I’ve Called My Own, received support from the CNC (France) and was pre-sold to French Televisions. Sushma is an NYFA/NYSCA Screenwriting Fellow, was a Screenwriting Resident at Yaddo in 2024, a Fellow at the Film at Lincoln Center’s Artist Academy in 2023, and was listed as one of Filmmaker Magazine‘s 25 New Faces of Independent Film in 2021. Her work has been featured on NPR, BOMB Magazine, and the Indian Express, among others. Sushma is currently developing her first feature film, Anita (based on the short), with support from SFFilm, Sundance, Film Independent, and Gotham. She is an alumna of the Film MFA Program at Columbia University. https://www.sushmak.com/news-1 daily 0.75 2025-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611518458710-KIRLXBBI00VJH7MA41AY/film-companion.jpg News - FILM COMPANION INTERVIEW, SEP 2020 A conversation with the director, a Columbia University alum, whose short film is a contender in the Orrizonti (Horizons) Short Films Section. By Baradwaj Rangan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/a954a532-7f84-40e1-9c5a-f8814375504c/Screen+Shot+2025-09-26+at+5.12.27+AM.png News - NYSCA/NYFA ARTIST FELLOW IN SCREENWRITING, AUG 2025 New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has announced the recipients and finalists of the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship program, which it has administered for the past 40 years with leadership support from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611518263103-64GZ9DMBKC2N0J3BIMP1/Indian-Express.jpg News - THE INDIAN EXPRESS INTERVIEW, AUG 2020 The Gujarati short film Anita busts the myth of the independent, expat wife and explores the toxicity of societal conditioning. By Alaka Sahani https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611517965413-IKYF1LPBJ8XVXKHVBF5C/Screen+Shot+2021-01-24+at+2.51.42+PM.png News - BOMB MAGAZINE INTERVIEW, SEP 2020 Film writer, director, and editor Sushma Khadepaun recently met with me (virtually) to discuss her recent short work, Anita, which is headed to the Orizzonti Section of the Venice International Film Festival. By Olivia Ciacci https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611503911482-OSLCXJYV2TE3DQ3IYLSV/Screen+Shot+2021-01-24+at+10.58.18+AM.png News - LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA WORLD PREMIERE, JULY 2020 Short Film ‘Anita’ will have its World Premiere In Competition at the Venice International Film Festival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611519328033-3W95DQW3O7Q4TRT47MVC/POFF-logo.jpeg News - PÖFF SHORTS GRAND PRIX: NEW TALENTS AWARD, NOV 2020 The filmmaker achieves her ambitions with the film’s precise composition, sensitive performances and escalating tensions.” - Jury Statement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611500516305-IU457XWURFZ6SPEJX7ZU/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-24%2Bat%2B9.49.00%2BAM.jpg News - THE GOTHAM FOCUS FEATURES STUDENT SHOWCASE AWARD, JAN 2021 Short Film ‘Anita’ will be showcased on Focus Features’ Digital Platforms as well as Jet Blue’s InFlight Entertainment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611501127307-780KIZI5E3AZSMA4XA4K/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-24%2Bat%2B10.10.48%2BAM.jpg News - TFL NEXT FILM DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP, JUNE 2020 Feature Script SALT - Part of the Torino Film Next Development Workshop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1620738618621-B4FLUWAGQGE5UIAQUAU7/2021+ATLFF+Narrative+Short+Honorable+Mention-black.png News - ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL HONORABLE MENTION, MAY 2021 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/8c22e84b-e384-4a76-a485-bdf0e4071ff1/Gotham+Week-Hollywood+Reporter.png News - GOTHAM WEEK PROJECT MARKET SELECTION, OCT 2025 New Feature Project, Places I’ve Called My Own, selected for the Gotham Week Project Market: Shorts to Feature Section. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1620744462958-ZHSIILE3VN4PCH01631M/VMDIFF_laurels_BestInternationalShort-black.png News - DUBLIN INT’L FILM FESTIVAL BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT MAR 2021 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/4b5d362c-c07b-49ee-8751-755c504b71fd/Screen+Shot+2023-10-06+at+8.34.15+PM.png News - Film Independent Artist Development Showcase JULY 2023 Short Film ANITA was selected to screen as one of five films at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/c0089807-3563-4165-8d56-75f066fa95a9/Screen+Shot+2023-10-06+at+8.52.07+PM.png News - Film at Lincoln Center Artist Academy Participant OCTOBER 2023 Sushma Khadepaun was one of eight participants at the Artist Academy which supports emerging filmmakers on their professional journeys. The Academy included panels and screenings during the 61st New York Film Festival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/03a9ad5c-b14b-4ff1-810b-00a9e1d0f6bb/Screen+Shot+2021-12-31+at+10.26.10+AM.png News - 25 New Faces Of Independent Film OCTOBER 2021 Sushma Khadepaun was listed in Filmmaker Magazine’s coveted annual list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1627409179860-KFD4G0OODM9LKPEJV3LH/NPR+Weekend+Edition_ANITA.png News - NPR WEEKEND EDITION FEATURES ‘ANITA’ JULY 2021 Writer-Director Sushma Khadepaun interviewed by NPR’s Lulu Garcia-Navarro for the Weekend Edition Series on Excellent Student Short Films. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611519784170-89Q6YMTA02APT27R5393/NBR-logo.png News - NBR STUDENT GRANT AWARD, OCT 2020 Short Film ‘Anita’ named NBR Student Grant Winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611518721015-8DOK8YXY0BKHE58YX2ZV/Firstpost_logo.jpg News - FIRSTPOST INTERVIEW, SEP 2020 First Gujarati short, Anita, to premiere at Venice Film Festival explores patriarchy beyond borders. By Udita Jhunjhunwala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1620738931288-YAH0RAAK95SG9DF2SFVF/CUFF-Best+Film.png News - COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY FILM FESTIVAL BEST FILM, MAY 2021 Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1611503591931-H50YNR1BO89AGCZVE1R4/westridge+winners+spring+2020+combo+1200x1200.jpg News - SFFILM WESTRIDGE GRANT WINNER, JUNE 2020 Feature Project SALT wins the SFFILM Westridge Grant for Screenwriting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a40e6dd8dd041e2077dd6dd/1628823550624-YOCTQEW2WCJ4YMBDZI96/Screen+Shot+2021-08-12+at+10.59.05+PM.png News - CINESTAAN: ANITA REVIEW FEB 2021 Shattering the construct of the independent, progressive NRI couple