DIRECTORS

CHITHRA JEYARAM (She/Her) is a physical therapist turned filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas in Austin. She identifies as Tamil. Her work dismantles stereotypes by centering stories that illuminate the challenges faced by families, both biological and chosen. Her short film RAGS TO PADS tells the story of a husband who destigmatized menstruation and framed it as a societal issue not just a women’s issue. Her next film FOREIGN PUZZLE is a poignant exploration of motherhood that contrasts cancer's brutality with the resilience of dance. Her upcoming film, BECAUSE...WE ARE STILL FAMILY, examines open adoption through an immigrant lens. As the lead producer of the short documentary 'AMMA'S PRIDE,' she spearheads an innovative impact campaign to bring the film to a million people in rural Tamil Nadu. The film champions unwavering parental support for trans people and marriage quality. In addition to directing and producing, she edits - One Thousand and One Berber Nights (2023, Feature Doc), Look Like You (2022, Short Narrative), an episode for CBSN Speaking Frankly Series: Symbolic Justice (2020), and 9 Degrees (2019, Short Doc). She is an adjunct faculty at NYU and an active member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia and Bitchitra Collective. Chithra is an alumnus of Visions Du Reel RoughCut Lab, Chicken and (Egg)Celerator Lab, BGDM Artist Fellowship, Gotham Documentary Fellowship, and Jerome Foundation. Her work has been featured on 2M, PBS, CBSN, Apple TV, BlackStar, SXSW, and DOC NYC. Food is her first love, and she is an avid runner who has completed 15 marathons. She calls Chennai and New York City home.