eNews
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Shaunak Sen to head Tasveer Film Festival jury
Mumbai: Tasveer, the premier South Asian film festival in the United States, has revealed the jury for the 19th annual Tasveer Film Festival (TFF), which runs from 17 to 20 October 2024. Known for showcasing bold and diverse South Asian voices, the festival has earned its place as one of the most important cultural events for South Asian cinema in North America, particularly after receiving Oscar-qualifying status in 2023.
This year’s jury is led by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Shaunak Sen (All That Breathes) and includes a roster of notable industry figures including Geeta Vasant Patel, Emmy-nominated director of House of the Dragon and Ahsoka; Omi Vaidya, the beloved Indian-American actor and filmmaker from 3 Idiots; and Elham Ehsas, BAFTA-nominated and Oscar-shortlisted director of Yellow. Also serving on the jury are Kanak Mani Dixit, a leading journalist and civil rights activist from Nepal, and Samia Zaman, a prominent Bangladeshi producer and president of the International Film Initiative.
Other key members include Beena Sarwar, a Pakistani-American journalist and human rights advocate; Arshad Khan, an award-winning filmmaker based in Canada (Abu); Saket Saurabh, an acclaimed cinematographer; and Priya Vashist, a professor and filmmaker focused on queer South Asian stories. The jury will be led by Chaitanya Sareen, an executive producer behind acclaimed films such as Meet the Patels and Yellow.
“I have long admired Tasveer’s unwavering commitment to amplifying South Asian voices worldwide. It is a privilege to return to Tasveer as president of the 2024 Film Festival jury and contribute towards this important mission.” said Shaunak Sen, president of the 2024 jury.
The Tasveer Film Festival has grown significantly, with nearly 500 submissions this year from countries including the UK, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the U.S. A total of 110 films have been selected, with a strong focus on themes of female empowerment, LGBTQIA+ issues, resilience, and immigrant stories. The films will spotlight underrepresented perspectives, with unique explorations of masculine emotions, elderly experiences, and euthanasia.
The festival will culminate in an award ceremony on October 20 at Seattle’s PACCAR IMAX Theater. Categories include best feature narrative, Best documentary, Best short narrative, and audience choice awards. Notably, the winning short film will become eligible for consideration at the 2025 Academy Awards. Last year’s winner, Yellow (directed by Elham Ehsas), was shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
