L-R (back row) Amanda Naseem, Hemal Trivedi, Shruti Ganguly, Geeta Gandbhir, Mahnoor Euceph, Anurima Bhargava, Sarita Khurana
(front row) Rohi Mirza Pandya, Gracie Canaan, Prerana Thakurdesai, Khushali Haji Photo credit Olivia Meynadasy/ Woodstock Film Festival
Filmmakers came together in an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual support, with acclaimed filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir, affectionately known as the godmother to many South Asian documentary filmmakers or “Didi (big sister)” guiding the conversation and representing her latest project The Perfect Neighbor, which hit #1 on Netflix over the weekend. Gandbhir serves as the Executive Producer across three additional films in the festival directed by South Asian women including the world premiere of Shruti Ganguly’s The Long Walk: The Story of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Anurima Bhargava’s Teaching America, and Sarita Khurana’s The Last Resort. New York State Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha representing the mid-Hudson Valley also joined the South Asian House community.
South Asian House Founder Rohi Mirza Pandya, alongside her Box Office Guru Media partner Gitesh Pandya, introduced and moderated the filmmaker panel, featuring a lineup of dynamic storytellers whose work is redefining representation in film.
“This inaugural South Asian House at Woodstock was a resounding success!” said Mirza Pandya. “It was incredible to see so many talented artists come together to share their stories and uplift one another.”
SOUTH ASIAN PARTY at NIRVANA WOODSTOCK. 2025 Woodstock Film Festival. L-R South Asian House and Box Office Guru Media Founder Rohi Mirza Pandya and Woodstock Film Festival Head Shorts Programmer Amanda Naseem Photo by Olivia Meynadasy
Special thanks go to Woodstock Film Festival Head Shorts Programmer Amanda Naseem and Development Director Cynthia Kane for their partnership and support in bringing this collaboration to life, as well as to all festival sponsors and Nirvana Restaurant for hosting the community gathering.
“The Woodstock Film Festival is thrilled to have the opportunity to share a nurturing space for networking and collaboration among diverse creative and business leaders across the South Asian community, and we look forward to continuing to be in community together at the festival.” said Naseem.
Featured Films & Filmmakers:
Where The Light Enters You — directed by Hemal Trivedi and Matt Alesevich
The Perfect Neighbor — directed by Geeta Gandbhir
The Long Walk: The Story of the Bharat Jodo Yatra — directed by Shruti Ganguly
Teaching America — directed by Anurima Bhargava
11:11 — directed by Mahnoor Euceph
The Last Resort — directed by Sarita Khurana, produced by Prerana Thakurdesai
Zari — directed by Shruti Parekh
Skin — directed by Urvashi Pathania
Bootie’s — written by and starring Gracie Canaan; directed by Milana Vayntrub
Poreless — directed by Harrison Doran, produced by and starring Akbar Hamid, written by Fawzia Mirza
MAGID / ZAFAR — directed and written by Luís Hindman, written by Sufiyaan Salam, starring Eben Figueiredo, Gurjeet Singh, Kulvinder Ghir, Ravin J. Ganatra
St. Joe’s Hoes — directed by Khushali Haji
ALI — directed by Adnan Al Rajeev
South Asian House continues its mission to amplify South Asian voices in film, media, and entertainment, creating spaces that celebrate identity, artistry, and shared humanity.
About South Asian House (SAH):
South Asian House is a cultural platform and event collective dedicated to creating intentional, celebratory spaces for South Asian communities at major festivals and cultural events. Created by Founders Rohi Mirza Pandya and Monika Samtani.
About Woodstock Film Festival (WFF):
Founded in 2000, the Woodstock Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to nurturing emerging and established filmmakers and amplifying their creative voices through our annual festival and year-round programs that champion culture, diversity, community, education, and economic vitality across the Hudson Valley.
