Watch a recording of the Masterclass with filmmakers Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh in conversation with SDI Director, Noe Mendelle, about the Oscar shortlisted WRITING WITH FIRE. More information about screenings, streaming and awards on the film’s website.
Reporting from a social environment built to divide based on caste and gender, a fearless group of journalists maintain India’s only women-led news outlet. The women of Khabar Lahariya (‘Waves of News’), all from the Dalit (‘low-caste’) community, prepare to transition the newspaper from print to digital even though many of their reporters don’t have access to electricity at home. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her team of investigative journalists confront some of India’s biggest issues – exposing the relentless discrimination against women and amplifying the voices of those who suffer from the oppressive caste system. WRITING WITH FIRE chronicles the astonishing determination of these local reporters as they empower each other and hold those responsible for injustice to account. Reaching new audiences through their growing platform, the women of Khabar Lahariya redefine what it means to be powerful in this timely and inspiring documentary.
Rintu Thomas is an award-winning director-producer from India whose work is supported by the Sundance Institute, Chicken & Egg Pictures, IDFA, SFF Film Fund, Doc Society, Tribeca Institute, Finnish Film Foundation and Bertha Foundation, among others. Rintu is 2021 IDA Courage Under Fire Award honoree, an IDA Logan Elevate grantee and a Sundance Fellow. Her debut feature documentary, Writing With Fire, won two awards at Sundance ‘21 (Audience Award and Special Jury Award: Impact for Change). Described by The Washington Post as “The most inspiring journalism movie – maybe ever”, Writing With Fire has played at over 90 festivals and won 25 international awards. Rintu lives between New Delhi and a quaint mountain-town in North India.
Sushmit Ghosh is an award-winning director and cinematographer from India whose work has been supported by the Sundance Institute, Tribeca Institute, Doc Society, SFF Film Fund, IDFA, The Bertha Foundation, Sorfond and the Finnish Film Foundation, among others. Sushmit is a 2021 IDA Courage Under Fire Award Honoree and a Sundance Fellow. Five years in the making, Sushmit’s debut feature documentary, Writing With Fire is a double Sundance award winner. Hailed by IndieWire as ‘profound’, ‘insightful and inspirational’ by The Hollywood Reporter, the film has been a festival favourite winning 25 awards, including with 10 Best Documentary Awards through the year. In 2009, Sushmit co-founded Black Ticket Films, a production company invested in the power of storytelling. With a strong eye on social justice stories, Black Ticket Films’ award-winning slate of films are being used as advocacy, impact and education tools by institutions across the world. In his spare time, you’ll find Sushmit motorcycling and hiking through the Himalayas.
