By Tammy Reese
During the 40th edition of The Sundance Film Festival, I had the incredible opportunity to interview Shivani Rawat, founder of ShivHans Pictures, a fellow member of NYWIFT and a producer of the thought-provoking film, Love Me. This captivating film explores a unique premise — long after humanity’s extinction, a buoy and a satellite meet online and unexpectedly fall in love.
What sets Love Me apart is its whimsically philosophical and shape-shifting structure. The film ingeniously weaves together elements of the real, the virtual, and the surreal to create an immersive storytelling experience. As viewers delve into this extraordinary love story between two non-human entities, they are taken on a journey that challenges their perceptions of connection and intimacy.
Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun appear in Love Me by Sam Zuchero and Andy Zuchero, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. Photo by Justine Yeung.
Rawat’s involvement as a producer brings her expertise in supporting innovative and boundary-pushing projects to the forefront. Through her collaboration with the talented team behind Love Me, she has helped bring this ambitious concept to life on screen.
As I spoke with Rawat about her role in bringing Love Me to fruition, it became evident that this film pushes boundaries not only in terms of its narrative but also in its exploration of human emotions through non-human characters. It serves as a testament to the power of storytelling to transcend traditional boundaries and provoke contemplation on our place in an ever-evolving digital world.
NYWIFT Member Shivani Rawat
Love Me is undoubtedly a standout entry at The Sundance Film Festival, offering audiences a unique blend of imagination, emotion, and introspection. As we continue to navigate an increasingly interconnected world where technology plays an ever-growing role in our lives, films like Love Me serve as poignant reminders that love knows no bounds — even when it exists between entities far removed from traditional notions of humanity.
Please enjoy our interview here:
Shivani is also executive producer on Hit Man and a producer on Winner which played at the Sundance Film Festival. Hit Man’s release date on Netflix was announced last week for June 7th.
More great news we are thrilled to share! For the Academy Awards, along with the documentary To Kill a Tiger being nominated, another project that received a nomination, with Shivani as Executive Producer was Golda, starring Helen Mirren (dir. Guy Nattiv), which received a nomination for Best Makeup & Hairstyling.
Shivani is crushing it!
Tammy Reese
Tammy Reese is a Central New York award winning Actress/Writer/Journalist. She is also a Filmmaker and Publicist.
Related Posts
NYWIFT @ Sundance: In Conversation with Amanda Culkowski
During the 40th edition of The Sundance Film Festival, Tammy Reese interviews fellow NYWIFT member Amanda Culkowski, the Executive Producer of As We Speak, a thought-provoking documentary that delves into the intersection of art and justice. Focusing on Bronx rap artist Kemba, the film sheds light on the alarming trend of rap lyrics being weaponized within the United States criminal justice system and beyond.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Hyon Jung “Helen” Lee
In this edition of our Meet the New NYWIFT member segment, we have the pleasure of introducing Hyon Jung Lee, affectionately known as Helen. Helen is not only the executive producer but also the talented writer behind the thought-provoking short film, Bible Camp. This captivating film delves into the lives of young immigrants at a backwater camp who face daily microaggressions from the locals. Through her writing, she sheds light on the challenges faced by young immigrants and encourages dialogue surrounding issues of discrimination and prejudice. We are thrilled to have Helen as a member of our beloved NYWIFT community. Her unique perspective and creative talent contribute greatly to our mission of supporting and empowering women in the entertainment industry. Here is our exclusive interview with Helen, where she shares insights into her creative process, challenges faced during production, and her hopes for the impact Bible Camp will have on its viewers.
READ MORENYWIFT at Sundance: In Conversation with Valda Witt
Many children – and more than a few adults – dream of long-distance space exploration. But what about the real human toll of that kind of journey? The new documentary The Longest Goodbye, which debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, takes a poignant look at the fundamentals of day-to-day reality in space: the isolation, confinement, and lack of privacy and social contact. Executive producer Valda Witt spoke to us about the project, her childhood dreams of space travel, favorite moments making the film, and getting to know scientists and astronauts in a deeply personal way.
READ MORENYWIFT at Sundance: In Conversation with Caitlin Gold
NYWIFT member Caitlin Gold is the Co-Founder and Co-Head of Film, a private equity fund dedicated to financing narrative and documentary films directed by women. The fund’s tagline is “Films by women make more money, but Hollywood isn’t making them….” Thanks to Gold and her colleagues, that very well may change! Their most recent feature is the Australian film Shayda, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in the World Dramatic Competition and won that category’s Audience Award. Gold spoke to us about Shayda’s path to the screen, funding work by women, and what’s next on her horizon.
READ MORE
Comments are closed