SUMI MATHAI

Sumi Mathai is an advertising professional turned filmmaker based in India. She began her film career with the short film Detour, which received the Special Jury Mention at the Mumbai Film Festival. Ullarivu (The Awakening) is her second short film, which she wrote, directed, and produced through crowdfunding. Ullarivu had its world premiere at the Mumbai Film Festival, followed by selections at various prestigious film festivals, including Oscar-qualifying ones.

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She is passionate about telling stories of young girls and women, who are often at the precipice of epiphanies and self-actualisation. Through her storytelling, she hopes to inspire women to fiercely participate in life and the world around them. Currently she is developing multiple projects; a series project that was selected for the Episodic Storytelling Workshop conducted by Film Independent’s Global Media Makers in collaboration with NFDC’s Film Bazaar, and a feature film that was selected for Pitch Fest 2022 by the Screenwriters Association of India.