Founder Members
Sanjoy Patnaik
Sanjoy is a writer and filmmaker of repute, a JNU alumnus, trained on Film Appreciation from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
Sanjoy has scripted and directed the award-winning Odia film Shuka Asuchi (2014) depicting the pangs of displacement in the mining belts of Odisha. He has authored a scholarly book on Odia cinema entitled, Of Reels, Romance and Retakes: Social Narratives of Cinema in Odisha, Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group that bagged the prestigious Chidananda Dasgupta Memorial Award for Best Writing on Cinema in 2023. Sanjoy continues to write both on Bombay and Odia cinema in English in various print and digital media.
Subash Sahoo
Subash is an accomplished sound designer and filmmaker, an FTII alumnus with specialization in sound engineering and design. Subash bagged national film awards for his exquisite work on sound designing for Omkara and Kaminey. For the same films, Subash bagged Filmfare award and Star Screen awards respectively. For his extraordinary work in sound design, he also received the Odisha State Award for Nila Masterani, Shuka Asuchi, Hello Arshi and Mimansha.
Subash directed The Green Summer – a non-fiction on tribals of Korapur-Bolangir-Kalahandi in Odisha – jointly produced by UNDP and FTII in 2007. His directorial work reached new heights with his recent non-fiction feature Mo Bou Mo Gaon that was highly acclaimed at IFFI 2024.
Sukant Rath
Sukant is an actor of repute and a known face in the television and film space in Odisha. Sukant became a household name with his heart warming work in daily soaps like Mu Bhala Paae, Saara Aakash, Taas ra Ghara, Sanskaar, Gayatri, Jibana Jamunare Juara Uthere, Badhu, Manini, Sabitri, Kahara Hebi Mu Kandhei to name a few. For his heart rendering performance, Sukant has bagged the prestigious State Television Award as Best Actor for Badhu.
Sukant has an equally long list of films that has brought him fame as a frontline film actor in Odisha – Samaya Chakare Sansara Ratha, Mukhyamantri, Kehi Jane Bhala Lagere, Suka Asuchi, Rati Sari Sari Jauchi, Atithi, Hai Krushna, Maa ra Mamata, IPS Durga, Phalguna Chaitra, TRIKANYA, Nirnaya, Khoka Bhai Tama Pain, Ajira Rebati and many more.
Sukant didn’t stop at Odia films. He went on to act in both Hindi and English language films with Prachand and Wheels of Civilization respectively.
Ashok Palit
Ashok, as a cineaste, has been active in the film journalism sphere for over three decades. As a film society activist, he soared to eminence for his profound commitment to the art of film appreciation and the aesthetics of cinema.
He was the editor of the magazine, ‘Cine Samaya’, and has contributed to various academic journals, the Handbook of Research on Social and Cultural Dynamics in Indian Cinema (www.igi-global.com) and Academia.edu, San Francisco. He has been one of the jury members for three times in the Golden Triangle International Film Festival, Bhubaneswar, and twice as the jury of Odisha State Film and Tele Award hosted by the Government of Odisha. Ashok was also a member of the jury in the preview committee for 54 IFFI & WEB SERIES FOR 55 IFFI organised by NFDC and Ministry of I&B ministry, Government of India.
Ashok writes on cinema regularly in print and digital space.
