Amish Srivastava

My recent hour-long documentary film, Jamala: Songs of Freedom, received the Golden Dolphin Award at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2024 in Cannes, France. It has also been screened at prestigious forums such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., under the “Extraordinary Cinema” banner, and the Aspen Security Forum.

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One of these coverings was Hell and Hope, an hour-long documentary which I shot, wrote, edited, and narrated. Hell and Hope follows the journey of five Yazidi girls who escaped ISIS captivity and sought refuge abroad. This film has been featured at several international festivals such as the Venice TV Awards in Italy, the Peloponnisos International Documentary Festival in Greece, the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU awards) in Tokyo, and the Social World Film Festival in Italy.

Trailer:

Biscut, a 35-minute short film and my first fictional piece, was picked up by the Hotstar-Disney OTT platform and remained top-rated for two weeks whilst competing against full feature-length films. The short film follows the story of Bhoora, a poor Dalit (lower caste) man condemned to a daily struggle for survival, who turns a collective curse into a formidable force for change.

I conceptualized and am currently directing “Women India Ki,” a 12-part series examining the status of women in India. Inspired by the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata at her workplace—a presumed safe space—the series explores the meaning of safety for women in India today. Our all-women crew travels through 23 cities across 10 states and Union territories, from Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala. Along the way, they delve into the complexities of womanhood—its triumphs, trials, and struggles—while addressing the critical question: “Are women safe in India?”

In 2010, I conceptualized and launched VOA’s Media Lab, a department now thriving in its 15th year. Its innovative programs and ideas are utilized by over 35 VOA language services across multiple platforms, including the acclaimed programs VOA-60, Red Carpet, Penalty Box, and Let’s Play Elections.

Created multiple low-cost, modern, trendy studios that enable smaller operations to produce innovative programming without the constraints of traditional TV operations.

I edited the hour-long documentary *Fire in the Land of Snow*, which investigates the causes of 118 known self-immolations in Tibet since 2009. Integrating smuggled videos, firsthand accounts, and interviews with experts, scholars, and officials, the film offers an in-depth look at Tibet’s recent history and the forces driving one of the largest waves of political self-immolations in history. The documentary won multiple awards and was featured in eleven film festivals worldwide.