NYWIFT Blog

By Mariana Valencia

Welcome to NYWIFT, Rima Das!

Rima Das is an Indian filmmaker whose distinctive cinematic voice blurs the line between fiction and lived experience.

A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a Brand Ambassador for the Toronto International Film Festival’s Share Her Journey initiative, she has written, directed, shot, produced, and edited acclaimed independent films including Village Rockstars (2017), Bulbul Can Sing (2018), Tora’s Husband (2022), Village Rockstars 2 (2024), and Not a Hero (2026).

Her films have premiered at Toronto, Berlin, and Busan, screened at more than 150 international film festivals, and received over 75 awards. Village Rockstars won India’s National Film Award for Best Feature Film and was India’s official submission to the Academy Awards.

In our interview, Rima discusses her leap into storytelling, her journey in filmmaking, and how her Northeast Indian roots motivate her creative work. 

New NYWIFT Member Rima Das

Could you give our readers a brief introduction to yourself?

Cinema has become my life over the past decade. I’m an independent filmmaker from Assam in Northeast India, and storytelling has become my way of understanding the world around me. I grew up in a small village, and filmmaking was never my dream. I moved to Mumbai hoping to become an actor, but that journey unexpectedly led me to filmmaking. I couldn’t attend film school, so I learned through instinct, observation, and by making my own films.

My work explores identity, belonging, coming of age, human relationships, and the quiet ways people hold on to hope. Over the years, I have written, directed, produced, shot, and edited my own films because independent filmmaking demanded it. Those experiences helped me discover my own cinematic voice. Today, I look forward to collaborating more widely, exploring new genres and languages, and continuing to tell stories with the same emotional honesty that has always guided my work.

Rima Das on set filming.

What brought you to NYWIFT?

For a long time, filmmaking felt like a solitary journey. Over the years, I have met filmmakers across the world who are asking similar questions, facing similar challenges, and striving to create meaningful work. That is what drew me to NYWIFT, a community that believes storytelling becomes richer when more voices have a seat at the table.

I have always believed we need greater representation of women across every aspect of filmmaking, especially women of color, Indigenous women, independent women, and voices from underrepresented communities. Representation is only the beginning. We also need mentorship, equitable opportunities, fair pay, healthier work environments, and women genuinely supporting one another. Strong communities create stronger storytellers, and I am happy to be part of that through NYWIFT.

NYWIFT Member Rima Das

What aspects of your Indian identity and background have motivated the stories you want to tell?

Growing up in a small village in Assam shaped both my worldview and my storytelling. I was surrounded by rivers, open skies, fields, and people whose stories rarely found their way onto cinema screens. I also grew up in a deeply patriarchal society where many choices, from what I could wear and where I could go to what career I could pursue, what I could dream of, and even whom I could love, often required constant negotiation. Those experiences continue to shape the women and relationships I portray in my films.

Later, I moved to Mumbai to pursue acting, carrying not only a dream but also a search for my own identity. My stories are inspired by the rhythms of everyday life, the silences between conversations, the humor, resilience, and the deep connections people have with nature, one another, and their dreams. At the heart of many of my films are women, their dignity, vulnerability, resilience, and desire for independence.

Rima Das on set

What characteristics of the Indigenous world make you gravitate toward those stories?

I am drawn to communities that share a deep relationship with nature, tradition, and collective memory. There is immense richness in their folklore, music, dance, language, and oral traditions that carry history across generations. I am fascinated by the balance between preserving traditions and adapting to a changing world because that is where deeply human stories emerge.

I am also inspired by the strong sense of belonging, interdependence, vulnerability, and community found in many Indigenous cultures. These qualities remind us of ways of living that are becoming increasingly rare, and I always try to approach such stories with humility, listening first and representing them with honesty and respect.

Rima Das on set for Village Rockstars.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of being a filmmaker who also produces, writes, and edits?

The greatest reward is the freedom to create something deeply personal. Every story demands a different approach, so depending on the subject, cast, scale, and available resources, I decide how best to bring it to life. For me, writing, directing, producing, shooting, and editing naturally flow into one another. Taking on multiple roles helped me build my own voice, but it also taught me the value of collaboration.

Today, I enjoy working closely with fellow artists. Having experienced every stage of filmmaking helps me communicate more openly and clearly with collaborators, and I believe creative partnerships open new possibilities and help me continue growing as a filmmaker.

Rima Das hands on, on set.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far in your career?

I have learned that there is no single right way to make films. Every filmmaker eventually discovers their own process. Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, I have learned to create one. I always try to have a Plan A, B, and C because filmmaking rarely unfolds exactly as planned. While developing one project or raising finance for a larger film, I keep working on another.

Staying creatively active has been one of the most valuable lessons of my career. I have also learned the importance of taking risks, trusting my instincts, and remaining resourceful. You are your greatest asset, so never stop learning, surround yourself with people you trust, and build a community that supports you. Above all, I have realized that curiosity is a much better companion than certainty, and patience remains the greatest lesson cinema continues to teach me.

NYWIFT Member Rima Das.

What project(s) are you currently working on that our readers should be on the lookout for?

While continuing to tell stories that are emotionally grounded and deeply human, I am also exploring genres such as psychological horror, musicals, romance, thrillers, and young adult films. My latest feature, Not a Hero, premiered at the Berlinale, where it received a Special Mention from the Children’s Jury, and is continuing its international festival journey ahead of its theatrical release.

I am currently developing Bollyland, set in Mumbai and centered on the dreams, friendships, and relationships of young women; Malati, My Love, a romantic drama exploring the complexities of love and relationships; an untitled psychological thriller about a middle-aged woman doctor; and another feature currently being shot in the tea gardens of Assam, along with a few more stories that are still taking shape.

I feel this is a new phase in my journey, one that allows me to explore new worlds while staying rooted in the emotional honesty that has always shaped my cinema.

Connect with Rima Das via email rima.films@gmail.com, on Instagram at @rimadas13, and on her website www.rimadas.com to learn more about her and her projects. 

(All images courtesy of Rima Das)