Acclaimed Assamese filmmaker Rima Das has received an ‘Excellence in Directing’ award from the New York Women in Film and Television for her directorial ‘Village Rockstars 2’.
The New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) is one of the most respected nonprofit organisations in the US entertainment industry, dedicated to supporting, promoting, and celebrating women working across film, television, and digital media.
The organization provides complimentary association memberships to filmmakers as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting women content creators in narrative and documentary filmmaking
Other recipients alongside Das were Suzannah Herbert for ‘Natchez’, Cherien Dabis for ‘All That’s Left of You’, Shonali Bose for ‘A Fly on the Wall’, Rachel Immaraj for her directorial ‘An Unquiet Mind’, Elena Neuman for ‘Looking UP’, Kerstin Karlhuber for ‘After All’, Lisa Cunningham for ‘Me Period’, Jackie Quinones for ‘Miles Away’, Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni for ‘Cutting Through Rocks’, and Rachel Israel for ‘The Floaters’.
“Receiving this recognition from New York Women in Film and Television for ‘Village Rockstars 2’ is deeply meaningful to me. I see this not just as a personal honour, but as a reaffirmation that stories from India, told with honesty and lived experience, can travel across borders,” the filmmaker said.
“My cinematic journey and ambitions are expansive, and this support strengthens my belief in building a more inclusive global cinema,” she added.
A sequel to Das’s critically acclaimed Village Rockstars, the film premiered globally at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival and went on to win the Kim Jiseok Award for Best Film.
Her films ‘Village Rockstars’ and ‘Bulbul Can Sing’ premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and were screened at over 120 prestigious film festivals around the world, winning over 70 Awards, including the National Film Awards in India. ‘Village Rockstars’ was also India’s Official Entry to the Academy Awards 2019.
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“At the heart of NYWIFT is community: filmmakers supporting filmmakers. We are honoured to recognize these talented creators and to welcome them into a vibrant network built on collaboration, mentorship, and shared purpose. Their work reflects the power of storytelling when artists are connected to a community that believes in their voices and champions their creative journeys,” said NYWIFT CEO Cynthia López.
