Short Bio of Director :Leena Yadav
Award winning Writer, Director and Producer, Leena Yadav has received accolades for her many films. Starting on the shop floor editing commercial films, Leena's strong grounding in editing spurred her journey into Telivision where
Leena directed fiction and non-fiction shows for television, including the first reality show of India (Kahin na Kahin Koi Hai). She has directed more than 200 hours of Television programming between 1995- 2002 (Sanjeevani, Goonj, Razmatazz to name a few)
Her journey in film started with SHABD (2005) starring Super stars Aishwarya Rai, Sanjay Dutt and Zayed Khan. She wrote, directed and edited the film, which bravely explores the psychology of love, marriage, creativity and freedom.
Her second film TEEN PATTI (2010) is Leena’s second film as a director & writer. Set in India and England, and starring two of the greatest living acting legends of our times – czar of the Indian film industry, Amitabh Bachchan and Academy Award Winner Sir Ben Kingsley – Teen Patti is an emotionally riveting and razor sharp thriller about greed, deception and achievements.
PARCHED (2015) has been Written, Directed and Produced by Leena and is her third film. Parched explores gender politics in a misogynistic society and is set in rural India.
Parched premiered at TIFF and got standing ovations in it’s 4 screenings. Leena won the prestigious IMPACT Award at the Stockholm International Film Festival that “support[s] headstrong filmmakers who are not afraid to bring up burning topics in contemporary society.” The film was declared ‘Best of the Fest’ at the Palm Springs international Film Fest.
‘Parched’ won the Jury award for ‘Best Film’ and Best actress Award at Festival2Valenciennes, France. Parched has till date screened in 57 festivals Worldwide and received about 31 top Awards at the various Festivals. And the journey still continues.
Parched has played in France (As ‘La Saison Des Femmes’) for over 43 weeks making it the longest running Indian Film in France. It was declared the 9th Best Film in France on Allocine.com http:// www.allocine.fr/film/meilleurs/decennie-2010/annee-
Upcoming film :
RAJMA CHAWAL: Leena Yadav attached as Writer, Director and Producer. (Release planned in Sept/Oct 2018)
-A father son story about technology and the changing face of communication. The pros and cons of talk Vs chat! This is a dramedy staring Rishi Kapoor, Anirudh Tanvar and Amyra Dastur.
Projects in the pipe line
Script by Oscar nominated screenwriter Scott B. Smith. Wonderful Films’ William Horberg is producing. Russell Smith, Michael Cleaver, and Zak Kilberg are executive producing on behalf of Convergent Media, which is financing development of the project.
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/francisco-goldman-love-story-say-her- name-movie-1202460025/
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/secret-sky-tragic-taboo- gay-love-story-set-iran-gets-indian-director-944373
Produced by Leanne Tonkes and written by Jane Hampson. The script has received development funds from the prestigious Scripted Ink.
http://scriptedink.com.au The film is also being supported by Film Victoria and has been invited to the TIFF financing market in 2018.