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OUR TEAM



Haril Shukla

Festival Chairman

Haril Shukla, a national award-winning filmmaker, has been active in the entertainment industry for the past 28 years. He is actively involved in the development of the Indian cinema industry as Director of the Mumbai Independent Film Foundation. He recently served on the preview committee (International Cinema) for the 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India, organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Haril's short film "U Turn" advocating women's empowerment won a Special Mention award from the National Human Rights Commission (Govt. of India), as well as other national and international recognition. He was a key faculty member at ICE (Institute for Creative Excellence), a Balaji Telefilms project.

He began as a Production Manager and worked his way up to Head of Production at prestigious companies including Network 18, Miditech, and ZEE TV Network. To satiate his artistic desires, he pursued a career in direction, working as a Director/Creative Director for companies such as Ventures Direct Television and the Creative Channel. Throughout his artistic career, he has directed countless travel shows, chat shows, cookery shows, fashion programs, serials, over 200 documentaries, and short films on a wide range of national and social issues.


Arhima Sharma

Festival Director

Arhima Sharma is a dedicated female filmmaker who has worked in the Indian entertainment industry for more than ten years. Her drive for innovation and diligence have allowed her to work on high-profile projects for major production firms, including the upcoming film "Emergency" with Manikarnika Films, the web series "Akka" with Yash Raj Films, the web series "Jubilee" with Reliance Entertainment, and "Jugg Jugg Jeeyo" with Dharma Productions, to mention a few. Her collaborations with Fremantle Media India, Essel Vision, and Balaji Telefilms further highlight her adaptability and proficiency in a variety of formats and genres.

Her claim to fame came with the Marathi feature film "Aaron", which received international acclaim as an official entry for screening by the Government of Maharashtra at the Cannes Film Festival. Arhima served as the Maharashtra Government's official representative as the film's associate producer. Shecreated the short film "U Turn", which received a Special Mention award from the National Human Rights Commission of India, as well as numerous national and international film awards.

In addition to her work in mainstream entertainment, Arhima has made significant documentary films for the Government of India and other institutions, showcasing her ability to delve into complex topics with depth and sensitivity.

Aside from her production accomplishments, Arhima is the co-founder of the Mumbai Independent film Foundation, a platform dedicated to assisting independent filmmakers and cultivating a dynamic cinema culture in Mumbai. Her unrelenting attention to her art, as well as her enthusiasm for socially relevant storytelling, have helped her establish herself as a prominent and influential person in the Indian cinema industry.

Umesh Dubey

Creative Director

A Successful first-generation entrepreneur, Umesh Dubey has been a role model for lots of new-generation entrepreneurs. His hard work, and the ability to convert disaster into opportunity, helped his company achieve the status of a recognized export house by the Government of India in 1996, thus making him one of the youngest garment manufacturer & exporter of those times. He has represented India as an official delegate of FICCI and Govt. of India for numerous conferences all over the world. An avid single digit golfer, co-sponsor for many golf tournaments all over India, Umesh is a proud father of two child prodigies who are among the top 20 golf players in India at a young age of 14 years. His philanthropic activities include promotion of Ayu Dham - an old age home as a Founder member. Adding to that, various Welfare activities and medical aid to ground staff of several golf courses. With his artistic flare for writing, Umesh satiates his urge through poems and ghazals, and is a popular invitee in a lot of cultural events.

Deepak Khandelwal

Business and Management consultant

Deepak Khandelwal spearheads Delhi based Management Consulting firm THE SOLUTION PROVIDERS. With over 23 years of experience in different areas of consulting, Deepak has handled numerous diversified products and projects for successful business development. The Solution Providers is committed to provide business-consulting services of the highest quality. Since 1995 Deepak has assisted many businesses, large and small with every aspect of business development and Consulting.

Sudhanshu Nogai

Technical Consultant

Sudhanshu Nogai, a seasoned IT project management expert with 15+ years of experience, drives digital transformations with THE SOLUTION PROVIDERS. Holding B.Tech and MBA degrees, he optimizes operations, streamlining processes to boost efficiency by 30% across diverse domains (Travel, Insurance, Media, Defence, FinTech/POS, Transportation, Manufacturing, Sales Tracking etc). Sudhanshu develops impactful products adopted by renowned organizations (American Express, Fortis, MTR, GM Cabs etc) and delivers real-time tracking solutions, empowering data-driven decision-making. His expertise enhances operational efficiency, drives digital transformation, and fosters business growth.

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