asmita.pal98@gmail.com

I began making films to be able to keep a record of the world around me. As a child, my first films were an attempt to record my family. As I grew older, filmmaking became a means to negotiate with my past, with childhood trauma, with my silencing. Now, it is as much a means for me to look deeply within as it is a tool to understand the world I live in. Although I started out as a fiction filmmaker at film school, of late, I found the space of documentary filmmaking to be a unique opportunity for experimentation without any rules. From there I developed an interest to play with form and structure to push the boundaries of how stories can be conveyed. Today, my filmmaking practice lies somewhere between the boundaries of fiction and non-fiction. I adhere to the rules of both and neither – borrowing whatever is needed that serves the story the best.

As a storyteller, I harbour a deep curiosity about the diverse ways people live their lives. I consider it my life’s purpose to capture the narratives of people who live differently. The ultimate destination in my films is to explore the different ways that life can be lived and arrive at a universal common ground – a promise of shared humanity, however small, to show that we are all one.

At present, I am working on a personal documentary where I delve into my concerns about becoming a mother in a world fraught with war, injustice and unprecedented climate change – all of which stands to be inherited by future generations. The daunting task of loving and nurturing life in times of uncertainty strikes a chord within. Through this film I hope to grapple not only with my personal concerns but a common question that many are struggling with.

Filmography:

• One Day I Asked / short documentary / 2025 / as writer, director, cinematographer, editor
• A Very Clear Sunrise / short documentary / 2025 / as writer, director, cinematographer, editor
• Verandah / short fiction / 2023 / as writer, director
• Nest / short fiction / 2023 / as writer, director
• Pickle / short fiction / 2022 / as writer, director, editor
• On Looking / short documentary / 2022 / as writer, director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer
• Mud on My White Clothes / short documentary / 2021 / as writer, director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer
• On Flying / short documentary / 2021 / as writer, director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer
• You Fit Into Me / animation / 2019 / as writer, director, animator, cinematographer

Festivals and Awards:

• Verandah / Rochester International Film Festival / Short Film / Rochester, United States / 2025 / Official selection
• Verandah / OneShot Terrassa City of Film Festival / Categoria Senior / Terrassa, Spain / 2024 / Official selection
• Nest / Ahmedabad International Children Film Festival / Student Film / Ahmedabad, India / 2024 / Official selection