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Deepa Mehta headshot + I Am Sirat film still

In Conversation with Deepa Mehta

Director of I Am Sirat

VIFF Talk

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Join us in conversation with the Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta as she delves into many aspects of her internationally celebrated career.

Deepa is a visionary storyteller who challenges conventions and breaks down barriers. Known for her Elements Trilogy, Fire (1996), Earth (1998), and Water (2005), she will also share insights on her newest film I Am Sirat, which premieres at VIFF this year. The documentary is a uniquely collaborative work made with the film’s co-director and star Sirat Taneja, who shares her experience as a transgender woman in India.

This talk will be moderated by award-winning actor, writer and director Agam Darshi.

 

Media Partner

Guest
Date

Sept 30

Time

3:30 pm

Venue
90 min

Book Tickets

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Guest

Deepa Mehta headshot

Deepa Metah

Director

Deepa Mehta is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker whose emotionally resonating work is known to be provoking and challenging. Her films have played major film festivals around the globe and been distributed in over 75 countries. Her films include The Elemental Trilogy: Fire, Earth and the Oscar-nominated Water, Bollywood/Hollywood, Heaven on Earth, Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, Beeba Boys, Anatomy of Violence, and recently Funny Boy, which won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score at the Canadian Screen Awards. Deepa has directed numerous TV episodes that include Netflix’s Leila, Apple TV’s Little America and Showtime’s Yellowjackets.

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