E22 • Crafting Complex, Culturally Authentic Characters • DEEPAK RAUNIYAR, dir. of ‘Pooja, Sir’ at the Venice Int. Film Festival + Busan

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle

Chapters
0:34
Past Present Feature, Hosted by Marcus Mizelle
0:52
Introducing Deepak Rauniyar, dir. of 'Pooja, Sir'
2:04
Origin Story: From Journalism to Filmmaking
6:50
Cultural Representation in Cinema
9:21
The Role of Struggles in Creativity
12:33
Finding an Audience and Provoking Conversations
16:52
The Importance of Film Labs and Mentorship
21:24
Navigating Film Financing
25:43
Personal Experiences, Inspirations, and Community Support
26:09
From Nepal to Wilmington, NC + Wilmington Film
28:21
The Evolution of Filmmaking Perspective
31:14
Husband & Wife Collaboration: Creating 'Pooja, Sir'
34:59
Capturing Real Stories on Screen + Crafting Complex, Authentic Characters
38:48
'Stray Dog' (dir. Akira Kurosawa) + 'Les Misérables' (dir. Ladj Ly)
40:59
Advice to Young Filmmakers
Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle
E22 • Crafting Complex, Culturally Authentic Characters • DEEPAK RAUNIYAR, dir. of ‘Pooja, Sir’ at the Venice Int. Film Festival + Busan
Sep 17, 2024 Season 1 Episode 22 Marcus Mizelle

In this conversation, Deepak Rauniyar - director of ‘Pooja, Sir’, which just premiered at the Venice Film Festival - shares how he found inspiration in Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Stray Dog’, and the 2019 French film ‘Les Misérables’ by Ladj Ly.

Deepak discusses his journey from journalism to filmmaking, inspired by personal experiences and the socio-political landscape of Nepal. He emphasizes the importance of cultural representation in cinema, the struggles that shape creativity, and the role of community and mentorship in the filmmaking process. 

Deepak also highlights the value of openness to criticism and the importance of connectivity in the industry.

What Movies Are You Watching?

The Past Present Feature Film Festival returns Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Eastwood Revival in Hollywood, California.

Join us for features, shorts, and convos with filmmakers, including an in-person Q&A with Shih-Ching Tsou following a screening of her acclaimed film Left-Handed Girl.

Festival lineup, schedule, and reservations coming soon.

 https://pastpresentfeature.com/film-festival/

Revival Hub is your guide to specialty screenings in Los Angeles - classics on 35mm, director Q&As, rare restorations, and indie gems you won't find on streaming. We connect moviegoers with over 200 venues across LA, from the major revival houses to the 20-seat microcinemas and more.

Visit revivalhub.com to see what's playing this week. 

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Support the show

The Past Present Feature Film Festival - Nov. 21, 2026 in Hollywood, CA - Submit at filmfreeway.com/PastPresentFeature

Listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more, as well as at www.pastpresentfeature.com. Like, subscribe, and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature