International Film Festivals
Film Festivals are a vital link in the chain of global film culture. The film screenings and discussions give audiences the ability to hear a rich diversity of voices, often with opportunities to speak to the filmmakers and characters or witnesses of the stories directly. Attending Film Festivals keeps the excitement alive for cinematic experiences and inspires audiences to share the energy and emotions.
Since her first experience in 1976 as a student volunteer at the International Film Festival in Mumbai, Rashmi has had the opportunity to not only attend and experience the thrill of attending international Film Festivals, but also get actively involved in helming pivotal roles at leading Film Festivals in Toronto, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Mumbai.
Festival Director
FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) Film Festival & Film Forum, India
2016 & 2018
Rashmi spearheaded the first International Film Festival organized by the FLO Mumbai
Chapter on Women Empowerment, Gender Sensitivity and Social Change. This unique Festival
was supported by UN Women, Films Division, Colors TV and several Partners.
Over three days at the 35 International and Indian Features, Documentaries and Shorts were screened along with Workshops on Gender Impact through Film & Media conducted by experts from TISS, Population First and ITVS.
For the first time in India, a Global Symposium on Gender in Media was held concurrently with Festival in partnership with the reputed Geena Davis Institute and ITVS, USA.
Advisory Board, Curator, Moderator
Men Against Violence & Abuse (MAVA) - Samabhav Travelling Film Festival, India
2023
Actively involved as a Curator and Moderator, Rashmi serves on the Advisory Board for a unique travelling Film Festival on gender diversity, aimed at young college and university students across India, organised by Men Against Violence & Abuse (MAVA)
Manager, MIFF HUB
Films Division - Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), India
2014 & 2016
Invited by the Director General of Films Division, Rashmi initiated and managed the business-oriented HUB for documentaries at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), organised bi-annually by Films Division of India.
For the first time, the MIFF HUB served as a B2B platform where one-on-one meetings and Round Table discussions were coordinated with international and local experts on international funding, online distribution platforms, crowd sourcing and Festival strategy for documentaries and short films.
Manager, Mumbai Film Mart (MFM)
MAMI, Mumbai Film Festival, India
2010 – 2013
Rashmi was appointed to helm the first Film Mart in Mumbai, the Indian film industry hub, with a focus on attracting new buyers from Non-traditional Markets for Indian Cinema, resulting in breakthrough theatrical Indian film releases in Japan, Taiwan, and S Korea
Jury Manager
Hot Docs, Toronto, Canada
2007 – 2013
Given the opportunity to meet legendary documentary filmmakers, programmers and critics at Hot Docs, the world’s largest documentary Film Festival, Rashmi hosted international and local Jury members, assisted with Jury Deliberations, formulated Jury Statements and assisted in coordinating the prestigious Awards Ceremony
Industry Manager & Industry Events Producer
Abu Dhabi International Film Festival, UAE
2008 & 2009
For the first time in Abu Dhabi, Rashmi set up the Industry Department at the International Film Festival and & hosted over 300 international and regional Industry Delegates. Rashmi worked closely with the Abu Dhabi Film Commission for the concurrently held ‘Circle Conference’ and organized Workshops on Music Composition and Film Preservatio.
In the earlier edition, as the Industry Events Producer, Rashmi coordinated Panel Discussions on Cinema Verite – Reel Woman Power with Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon and Catherine Deneuve, Environmental Filmmaking with the WildScreen Festival and a Live televised Debate on MOST (Muslims On Screen & Television).
An active member of WIFT (Women in Film & Television) in Toronto, Rashmi launched the WIFT Chapter in UAE.
Manager, Industry Operations & Senior Festival Producer
Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), UAE
2005 & 2007
Rashmi managed the Industry operations and lounge for the international and regional Industry delegates. She organised the Industry Events, networking sessions, expert consultations, workshops and the daily schedule communications.
In 2005, as Senior Producer, Rashmi directed and coordinated a multi-camera coverage of the entire Film Festival along with the Filmworks crew and daily broadcast on the Showtime Network. She also produced the DIFF Sponsor Curtainraiser and Finale video.
