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 CEO of Visionary Minds PR & Media, and a New York award winning Actress, Writer, and Journalist.
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