Chandra Pemmaraju
Chandra Pemmaraju[1] is a film writer and director of Indian origin based out of New York. He is best known for writing, producing & directing May Beetle,[2] Kissing Miss Jones,[3] and Love Lies and Seeta,[4] a New York-based independent feature film.
Chandra Pemmaraju | |
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Occupation | Filmmaker |
Early life and career
Pemmaraju's interest in creative fields over the years has been expressed in the form of short plays that he wrote & directed while in India. A film enthusiast and strong desire to pursue movie making as a medium to create and express art has made him to take the plunge in 2008, switching from a financial services career in to filmmaking. Since then he had made short films, and independent films, that have been well received at various international film festivals in the United States and India.
He has written, produced, and directed May Beetle, Kissing Miss Jones and worked in the screenplay department, production management for the internationally acclaimed film Life! Camera Action... that won numerous awards and wide critical acclaim. His debut feature film, Love Lies and Seeta, which played in various international film festivals was released in India and US. Later he worked as the creative associate on a Bollywood film Happy Ending starring Saif Ali Khan immediately after he collaborated as the creative director on an American comedy feature Midnight Delight. He was also invited to curate a Bollywood Night in the New Filmmakers Festival in New York.
Filmography
Year | Name | Producer | director | Screenwriter | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | May Bettle | Yes | Yes | Yes | (short film) |
2009 | Kissing Miss Jones | Yes | Yes | Yes | (short film) |
2012 | Life! Camera Action... | No | No | No | (feature film) creative director |
Love Lies and Seeta | Yes | Yes | Yes | (feature film) won several accolades | |
2014 | Happy Ending | No | No | No | (feature film) creative associate / 2nd unit director and behind the scenes director[5] |
2015 | Selfie | No | Yes | Yes | (telefilm) a segment from the TV series Darr Sabko Lagta Hai / creative associate |
2016 | Midnight Delight | No | No | No | (feature film) assistant director / creative director |
2017 | A Gentleman | No | No | No | (feature film) creative associate |
2020 | Stay Safe, Baby! | Yes | Yes | Yes | (short film) |
Festivals & nominations
May Beetle (2008)
- Premiered at the New Film Makers Film Festival, Anthology Archives in New York City
Kissing Miss Jones (2009)
- Premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival 2009
- New Film Makers Film Festival, New York
- Indian International Film Festival of Tampa Bay 2010
Love Lies and Seeta (2012)
- Official Selection at the NFDC Film Bazaar, International Film Festival of India 2011, Goa India
- Closing Night Feature at the Indian International Film Festival of Tampa Bay 2012, Florida
- Official Selection at the Spring Film Festival 2012 – New filmmakers 2012, New York City
- Official Selection at the Riverside International Film Festival 2012, California
- Honorary Mention Award at the Los Angeles New Wave International Film Fest 2011, USA
- Official Selection at the Mumbai Film Mart, Mumbai Film Fest, India
- Official Selection at the Art of Brooklyn Film Fest 2012, USA
- Nominated for the Best Film, Best Direction, Best Actress & Actor in leading role at the World Music and Independent Film Festival, Washington DC 2012
- Award of Excellence for Best Feature & Best Direction at the Indie Fest
References
- "Internet Movie Database". IMDB.
- "May Beetle on IMDB". IMDB.
- "New Filmmakers Screens – Kissing Miss Jones". Broadway World. 6 October 2009.
- "'Love Lies & Seeta' for India Int film festival". Times of India. 7 February 2012.
- "Happy Ending". IMDB.