the language of cinema
unites hearts and souls
in a symphony
of shared narratives.

Ritesh Sharma is an Indian screenwriter, director and producer from Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. He started his career as an actor and has worked extensively as a theatre educator, writer, director and performer for almost seventeen years.
To this date he wrote, directed and acted in around 200 street, experimental and stage theatre performances. He also worked as a theatre facilitator and conducted workshops for schools, colleges and various NGOs.

With the believe in theatre as a powerful tool for self-awareness and social change he founded the organisations “Ahwaan Foundation” and "Steps for Change".
For his active participation in various social issues such as human trafficking, women, and children’s rights he was awarded with the "Change loom” award.

In 2008 he discovered cinema as another powerful medium for storytelling.
He wrote, directed and produced his first two feature documentaries that were screened at festivals around the world.
Followed by two short films he wrote and directed his debut feature film “Jhini Bini Chadariya” (“The Brittle Thread”). The movie had its World Premiere at 34th Tokyo International Film Festival 2021, its Indian Premiere at (IFFK) 26th International Film Festival of Kerala and also won best debut feature film at the New York Indian Film Festival.

Recently Ritesh worked as a 2nd Unit director as well as Acting Coach in Dibakar Banerjee's upcoming movie “LSD 2”.
Currently he is working on his next feature film.

Filmography

Laal Maati (Red Soil) Short, 2018
This is the story of a tribal’s struggle, his dreams and his fight against a syndicate.

Award: Best short film, Virgin Spring Cinefest, 2018

Screenings
Kolkata People’s Film Festival,2018
Filmingo International Short Film Festival,2018
Jagran Film Festival,2018
2nd Nagaon International Short and Documentary Film Festival ,2018

Khalish (The Pain) Short, 2015
Everyday violence in the household plagues the childhood of a girl. The helplessness and anxiety that arises from such an experience builds in her as she grows up. Her aversion to authority manifests itself in extreme outcomes later.

Screenings
Goa Short Film Festival (2015)
Bangalore International Short Film Festival (2015)

Rainbows are Real Documentary Feature, 2014
A movie based on Transgenders, the 'in-betweens' that are shunned by society.
The film captures small to larger than life movements in their lives, giving us a peak into their world.

Screenings
International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (2014)
Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (2014)
Boston LGBT film Festival (2014)
Bangalore Queer Film Festival (2014)
Vibgyor International short and documentary film festival (2014)

The Holy Wives Documentary Feature, 2010
The film brings out the lives of three different communities who have been victimized in the name of caste based sexual exploitation in India through stories of their life, struggle and their dreams of a dignified life of their children.

Award: Best Film, Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival, 2011

Screenings
Vienna International Human Rights Film Festival (2010)
One World Documentary Film Festival for Human Rights (2010) Jeevika Film Festival (2010)
DocMIAMI International Film Festival (2010) VIBGYOR International Film Festival (2010)

JHINI BINI CHADARIYA Debut Feature, 2021
Headstrong, feisty street dancer Rani works hard to care for her daughter while reclusive weaver Shahdab discovers a new world in his friendship with an Israeli tourist. Exploring the love and hate dimensions amidst the ancient city of Varanasi, their cultural and political identities come to the fore. Will the luminous fabric of our diversity soon turn into an iron curtain, dividing those who belong & those who don’t?