Uma da Cunha - Managing Partner
Uma has a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Delhi University, and taught the subject for a year at Miranda House. Her work in cinema spans programming, writing and casting. In 1966 she edited Montage – A Monograph on Satyajit Ray, which fortuitously led to her first ever film festival visit in Venice. Her association with films started for good in 1974 with the Directorate of Film Festivals, Govt. of India, as she left a prominent career as copywriter during what was advertising’s ‘golden age’. In 1978, she set out on her own, organizing film festivals and related events in India and abroad.
Over the years, she served as Hon. Secretary for Anandam Film Society and initiated Drishti, the film society in Bombay that promoted Indian art cinema, and briefly as President for the Federation of Film Societies (Maharashtra Region). Uma has been writing for leading newspapers and publications, casting for films such as Deepa Mehta's Water, Mira Nair's Kamasutra, Jane Campion's Holy Smoke, Dev Benegal's English August and Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan.
She has assisted major festivals such as those at Cannes, Berlin and Venice and more recently, Toronto and Busan. As well as, been the Founder-Advisor to several Indian film festivals held abroad (London, Los Angeles, Stuttgart). She has also held Indian film sessions at New York's Museum of Modern Art, The Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Image. In 2009, she served on the International jury for Cannes's Un Certain Regard and following year on the FIPRESCI jury at the Busan International Film Festival.
Currently, she edits the On Global Screens magazine, and writes for the online daily newspaper www.thecitizen.in.