Filmmaker Statement

Anu is a story of a woman torn between two lives and two countries, forced to confront grief by silence. I wrote the film during my own fraught immigration from India to New Zealand, trapped in a hotel room, contemplating the home I've left behind and the home that lies ahead. It is only fitting, then, that the film was co-produced by Asian/POC talent from both countries. Apart from utilising largely Asian crew and cast - a racial group 4x underrepresented in the NZ screen industry - the film was also produced, executive produced, performed and edited by women. 70% of crew roles were also held by women, including the majority of the camera department, often a predominantly-male domain. Apart from its artistic merit, I'm most proud of the film for what it stands for in its ethics ofrepresentation in New Zealand.