Rintu Thomas

Thomas received her MA in Mass Communication from A.J.K. Mass Communication Research Centre Jamia University, New Delhi. Her Master's thesis film Flying Inside My Body{{Cite web |title=AWARDS AND JURY |url=https://mumbaiqueerfest.com/awards-and-jury/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=KASHISH Pride Film Festival |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=我心飞翔 FLYING INSIDE MY BODY – Beijing Queer Film Festival |url=https://www.bjqff.com/festival-history/2011%e5%b9%b4%e5%bd%b1%e5%b1%95-2011-film-festival/%e6%88%91%e5%bf%83%e9%a3%9e%e7%bf%94-flying-inside-my-body/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=en-US}} won numerous student documentary awards. She received her BA in English Literature from Lady Shri Ram College at Delhi University in 2006. Her professional work has won support from various organizations, including Japan Foundation's HANDs Fellowship (2016), Sundance Institute's Fellowship (2018),  Skoll Stories of Change Fellow (2019),{{Cite web |title=Skoll {{!}} Equity and Storytelling: What We’re Looking Forward to at Sundance This Year |url=https://skoll.org/2021/01/26/equity-and-storytelling-what-were-looking-forward-to-at-sundance-this-year/ |access-date=2024-05-31}}{{Cite web |date=2019-06-28 |title=From Art to Impact: How Stories Can Create Meaningful Change - sundance.org |url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/from-art-to-impact-how-stories-can-create-meaningful-change/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=en-US}} IDA Logan Elevate Honoree (2021).{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=Courage Under Fire Award: 'Writing With Fire' Team on Finding Hope in the Unlikeliest Place {{!}} International Documentary Association |url=https://www.documentary.org/online-feature/courage-under-fire-award-writing-fire-team-finding-hope-unlikeliest-place |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.documentary.org |language=en}}

Thomas, along with long-standing partner, Sushmit Ghosh has directed and produced over 150 short documentaries under their Black Ticket Films banner.{{Cite web |title=Rintu Thomas {{!}} IMDbPro |url=https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm4045125/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=pro.imdb.com}} Her short documentary Dilli premiered at the NASDAQ in Times Square, New York City in 2011{{Cite web |date=2011-03-31 |title=Robin Raina Foundation Founder Robin Raina to Ring the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell to Mark the Film Premiere of "Dilli" |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42357863 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=NBC News |language=en}} and won 22 international awards including 10 Best Short Documentary Awards. Films directed by Thomas has been screened at several top-tier international film festivals and global platforms including the United Nations Climate Change Conference and Lincoln Center for Performing Arts. Her work has been profiled by The New York Times, Washington Post,{{Cite news |last=Rezaian |first=Jason |date=2021-02-04 |title=Opinion {{!}} The most inspiring journalism movie — maybe ever |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/01/india-writing-with-fire-khabar-lahariya-journalism/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Time Magazine,{{Citation |title=Time (magazine) |date=2024-05-25 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Time_(magazine)&oldid=1225558670 |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=en}} The Atlantic,{{Cite web |last=Dutt |first=Yashica |date=2022-02-14 |title=The Oscar-Nominated Film That Offers a Master Class in Journalism |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/02/writing-with-fire-documentary-dalit-women/622079/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}} The Guardian,{{Cite news |last=Clarke |first=Cath |date=2021-07-29 |title=‘Stop patronising me and give me an interview’: the female journalists speaking up for India’s poor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jul/29/stop-patronising-me-and-give-me-an-interview-the-female-journalists-speaking-up-for-indias-poor |access-date=2024-05-31 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The Financial Times,{{Cite web |title=How a film about fearless Indian female reporters made it to the Oscars |url=https://www.ft.com/content/802a4423-1f7a-499f-b0e8-a556e6a00c70 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.ft.com}} Le Monde, The Hollywood Reporter,{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Inkoo |date=2021-02-01 |title=‘Writing With Fire’: Film Review {{!}} Sundance 2021 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/writing-with-fire-film-review-sundance-2021-4123315/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=2022-03-17 |title=‘Writing With Fire’ Directors on Their Oscar-Nominated Doc’s Inspiring Subjects: "There’s a World of Possibilities That They’re Creating" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/oscars-writing-with-fire-documentary-directors-interview-1235112282/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=McVey |first=Ciara |date=2022-03-12 |title=The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘A Seat at the Table’: Documentary Feature |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/video/thrs-a-seat-at-the-table-documentary-feature/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Variety,{{Cite web |last=Hailu |first=Selome |date=2021-11-19 |title=CAA Signs ‘Writing With Fire’ Directors Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/caa-rintu-thomas-sushmit-ghosh-writing-with-fire-1235115651/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kiang |first=Jessica |date=2021-02-05 |title=‘Writing With Fire’ Review: Rousing, Inspirational Tribute to the Pride of Grassroots Indian Journalism |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/writing-with-fire-review-1234900179/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Deadline,{{Cite web |last=Sadarangani |first=Sunil |date=2023-01-11 |title=As Oscar Nomination Voting Nears, Documentary Films from India Gain Prominence On The Global Stage |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/documentary-films-from-india-gain-prominence-gain-prominence-all-that-breathes-the-elephant-whisperers-news-1235217758/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Matthew |date=2022-03-21 |title=‘Writing With Fire’ Writes Oscar Ticket With Story Of Courageous Indian Women Journalists: "You’re Now A Part Of History" |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/writing-with-fire-oscar-nominated-documentary-music-box-films-directors-sushmit-ghosh-rintu-thomas-interview-news-1234982996/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Matthew |date=2022-01-31 |title=Oscar-Shortlisted ‘Writing With Fire’ Documents Indian Women Journalists Who Beat The Odds To Create Reporting Powerhouse |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/writing-with-fire-music-box-films-documentary-directors-rintu-thomas-sushmit-ghosh-interview-news-1234922781/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} No Film School,{{Cite web |title=How Two Indian Directors Defied the Odds and Exposed the Caste System {{!}} No Film School |url=https://nofilmschool.com/how-two-indian-directors-defied-odds |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=nofilmschool.com |language=en}} The Asahi Shimbun among others.

Thomas serves as a mentor for several international film labs and has served as a jury member for Irish Film & Television Academy Awards, International Documentary Association Awards, Points North Fellowship{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Elena |title=Points North Fellowship |url=https://pointsnorthinstitute.org/artist-programs/points-north-fellowship/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Points North Institute |language=en-US}} International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam Academy, IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund, Alternativa Film Awards,{{Cite web |last=Vourlias |first=Christopher |date=2023-12-04 |title=Alternativa Film Project Marks Close of First Edition With Award Ceremony Feting Social-Impact Films From Central Asia |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/alternativa-film-project-awards-1235820236/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Alternativa Film Project – Celebrating Artistic Merits and Social Impact |url=https://alternativa.film/awards.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=alternativa.film}} UNESCO film programme for young adults.

Thomas' first feature-length documentary, Writing With Fire, premiered on 29 January 2021 in the Sundance Film Festival's World Cinema Documentary Competition.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-02 |title=2021 Sundance Film Festival Awards Announced - sundance.org |url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/2021-sundance-film-festival-awards-announced/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |language=en-US}} One of the first reviews was The Washington Post describing it as "The most inspiring journalism movie – maybe ever".{{Cite news |last=Rezaian |first=Jason |author-link=Jason Rezaian |date=1 February 2021 |title="Opinion: The most inspiring journalism movie — maybe ever" |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/01/india-writing-with-fire-khabar-lahariya-journalism/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Indiewire's Kate Erbland in her review of the documentary wrote, "Armed with eagle-eyed filmmakers and compelling subjects, the film deftly blends the (inextricably linked) personal and professional sides of the journalists' work, offering up a wide-ranging look at a vital outlet with so many stories to tell…the result is profound".{{Cite web |last=Erbland |first=Kate |date=2021-02-03 |title='Writing with Fire' Review: Sundance World Cinema Doc Winner Is a Fearless Fight for Real News |url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/writing-with-fire-review-sundance-documentary-1234614357/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}

It was the first Indian film to win a Peabody Award, and the jury described the winner as one of "the most compelling and empowering stories released in 2022 across broadcasting and streaming media".{{Cite web |last=Plowman |first=Katherine |date=2023-07-13 |title=83rd Annual Peabody Awards Announced |url=https://peabodyawards.com/stories/83rd-annual-peabody-awards-announced/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=The Peabody Awards |language=en-US}} The New York Times chose it as a Critics' Pick{{Cite news |last=Girish |first=Devika |date=2021-11-25 |title=‘Writing With Fire’ Review: Speaking Truth to Power |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/25/movies/writing-with-fire-review.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} and the film obtained nominations for Best Documentary from the Grierson Awards,{{Cite web |title=Grierson Trust reveals final nominations for 50th British Documentary Awards |url=https://realscreen.com/2022/09/21/grierson-trust-reveals-final-nominations-for-50th-british-documentary-awards/ |access-date=2024-05-31}} International Documentary Association Awards{{Cite web |date=2024-05-14 |title=Nominees Revealed for the 37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards {{!}} International Documentary Association |url=https://www.documentary.org/press-release/nominees-revealed-37th-annual-ida-documentary-awards |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.documentary.org |language=en}} and Producers Guild of America Awards.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-10 |title=PGA Award Nominees for Documentary Motion Pictures |url=https://producersguild.org/pgaawards-nominees-docmotionpic/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Producers Guild}} Along with winning 40 awards, it is India's first documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award.{{Cite news |date=2022-02-08 |title=India's ‘Writing With Fire' makes it to Oscars, nominated for Best Documentary Feature |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/indias-writing-with-fire-makes-it-to-the-final-nominations-list-at-oscars-for-best-documentary-feature/articleshow/89433943.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-05-31 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}} In India, the documentary film premiered at the Dharamshala International Film Festival{{Cite web |author=Scroll Staff |date=2022-10-29 |title=Dharamshala film festival returns for a physical edition and cine-love in the hills |url=https://scroll.in/reel/1036115/dharamshala-film-festival-returns-for-a-physical-edition-and-cine-love-in-the-hills |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Festival |first=Asian Film |date=2022-11-01 |title=10 Films you shouldn’t miss at the Dharamshala International Film Festival |url=https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2022/11/01/films-you-shouldnt-miss-dharamshala-international-film-festival-2022/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Asian Film Festivals |language=en}} on 5 November 2022.

Following the New York premiere of the documentary at Doc NYC{{Cite web |title=WRITING WITH FIRE |url=https://www.docnyc.net/film/writing-with-fire/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=DOC NYC |language=en-US}} in November 2021, the documentary had a theatrical release in the United States,{{Cite web |title=Film Forum · In-Person Q&As with WRITING WITH FIRE Filmmakers Rintu Thomas & Sushmit Ghosh, Co-presented by Brown Girl Doc Mafia |url=https://filmforum.org/events/event/writing-with-fire-qas-11-28 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Film Forum |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Film Forum · WRITING WITH FIRE |url=https://filmforum.org/film/writing-with-fire |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Film Forum |language=en}} with the opening weekend at the Film Forum in New York. In August 2023, it had a theatrical release in Japan,{{Cite web |title=映画『燃えあがる女性記者たち』公式WEBサイト |url=https://writingwithfire.jp/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=writingwithfire.jp |language=ja-JP}} across 50 Japanese theatres in 22 prefectures.

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• {{instagram|rintuthomas}}
• {{IMDb name|4424010}}
• [https://www.tfiny.org/filmmakers/detail/sushmit_ghosh Sushmit Ghosh], Tribeca Film Festival

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Indian documentary filmmakers

Category:Lady Shri Ram College alumni

Category:Jamia Millia Islamia alumni