Amish Srivastava

Professional Experience

I’ve shared a selection of my work on this website -- amishsrivastava.com

Voice of America (VOA), Washington, D.C.
Senior Journalist / Producer /Director/ Video Editor 2007–Present

Reported news, shot, produced, directed, and edited international award-winning documentaries and short films.
Built the VOA India digital team from the ground up—recruiting reporters, editors, and field producers—and led the launch of a dynamic social media and digital presence for Voice of America in India.
Developed low-cost studio concept for under-resourced teams/bureaus

Indian TV News Networks
Producer / Reporter / Executive Producer | 1995–2007

Reported extensively for leading Indian broadcasters

Reported on Iraq War from Iraq, Kuwait, and Turkey—the only Indian journalist to report from all three theatres.

Covered Kargil War, Afghanistan transition after Taliban, Indian and U.S. elections

Anchored and produced field-based news coverage on conflict, elections, and society

Download my Resume

IMDB profile

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.

Trailer:

Full Film:
https://youtu.be/82WZp2onCx4

Hell and Hope

Hell and Hope is a one-hour documentary I shot, wrote, co-reported, edited, and narrated, following five Yazidi girls who escaped ISIS captivity. It was featured at several international festivals, including the Venice TV Awards, the Peloponnisos International Doc Fest in Greece, the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Awards in Tokyo, and the Social World Film Festival in Italy.

Trailer:

Full Film:
https://vimeo.com/343052765

Reporting on US Election

Silicon Valley is home to some of the world’s leading tech corporations, including Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. Many Indians live in this region and work in these influential companies. In the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, Kamala Harris—who is of Indian origin—is the Democratic Party’s candidate, while Donald Trump represents the Republican Party. VOA India’s Amish Srivastava spoke with several Indian residents to learn which issues matter most to them in this election.

Biscut (Fictional Short Film)

Biscut is a 35-minute short film and my first work of fictional storytelling. It was picked up by the Hotstar-Disney OTT platform, where it remained top-rated for two weeks, competing against full-length feature films in India. The film tells the story of Bhoora, a poor Dalit man facing daily struggles for survival, who transforms a collective curse into a powerful catalyst for change.

Women India Ki (Docu Series)

Women of India (Women India Ki)

I am directing and producing Women of India, a 12-part documentary series investigating women's safety in India. The series was inspired by the tragic rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata. With an all-women crew, we journey through 23 cities across 10 states—capturing the lived experiences, daily challenges, and remarkable resilience of Indian women. At its core, the series poses a critical question: Are women truly safe in India today?

Media Lab (Lab For Innovative Ideas)

In 2010, I conceptualized and launched VOA’s Media Lab—a creative innovation hub that has grown into a thriving department now in its 15th year. Its original formats and storytelling approaches are now adopted by over 35 VOA language services across platforms. Notable programs developed under Media Lab include VOA-60, Red Carpet, Penalty BOX, Qubanaha, and Let’s Play Elections, among many others.

Installing Small, Low-cost Studios

I developed a studio model designed to empower smaller VOA language services. This flexible, cost-effective setup enables teams to produce high-quality, innovative programming without the limitations of traditional broadcast infrastructure.

The Failed Migration (Short Doc)

A 28-minute short documentary that follows Afghan singer Javid Karezi, who experienced success until the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. The Taliban banned all music, prompting Javid and his family to flee to Quetta, Pakistan, where they lived for eight months. He struggled to support his family due to a language barrier and limited job opportunities, ultimately deciding to return to Kabul. Now, under Taliban rule, he faces depression.

Fire in the Land of Snow

I edited the award-winning documentary Fire in the Land of Snow, a deep dive into the 118 self-immolations in Tibet since 2009. Using smuggled footage, firsthand testimonies, and expert interviews, the film explores Tibet’s recent history and the forces behind this unprecedented wave of political protest. It screened at eleven film festivals worldwide.

Reporting In India

The Last Dance of Kocho And It’s Missing Girls (Creative Short Doc)

A 12-minute film that tells the story of the Yazidi girls kidnapped by ISIS from the village of Kocho, Iraq, in 2014. Most remain missing. As one of the first films to explore their stories in depth, it features haunting watercolor portrayals by Syrian American journalist Lukman Ahmad.

India’s Shackled Press (Feature Story)

India’s Shackled Press follows Raihanath, wife of jailed journalist Siddique Kappan, as she raises three children alone in a small Indian town. With no income, she wages a determined fight for her husband’s fair trial—arrested while on assignment to report on the rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman.

Education

Direction, New York Film Academy – 2019

Screenwriting, UCLA Extension – 2009

Postgrad Diploma in Mass Communication, IIMC – 1996

Masters (Composite History), Lucknow University – 1995

Graduation (Economics, Political Science, History), Lucknow University – 1993

Awards and Achievements

Cannes Corporate and Media Awards, Cannes, France – 2024

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Awards, Tokyo – 2019

Venice TV Awards, Celebrating Television Masterpieces – 2019

Peloponnisos International Documentary Festival, Kalamata, Greece – 2020

VOA Gold Medal & Equivalent Awards – 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019

Webby Awards, International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences - Webby Honoree

New York Festivals, USA - Silver Medal

Gracie's Awards, USA -

Calcutta International Cult Film Festival – 2020

Beyond Earth Film Festival, India – 2020

Social World Film Festival, Italy – 2019

Eurasia International Film Festival – 2020

Woodpecker International Film Festival, India – 2020

News Coverage

Top 5 Coverages:

U.S.-Iraq War (2003): Reported on the ground from Iraq, Kuwait, and Turkey.

Post-Taliban Afghanistan (2003): Covered the country’s transition, including an exclusive interview with General Rashid Dostum at Sheberghan Fort.

India-Pakistan Kargil War (1999): Reported directly from the frontlines in Kargil, Dras, and the Mushkoh Valley.

Indian General Elections: In-depth political reporting from across India.

U.S. Presidential Elections: Covered multiple election cycles with a global perspective.