Ritesh Batra

Ritesh Batra is a BAFTA Awards-nominated writer-director, named one of Variety’s Ten Directors to Watch. His film, OUR SOULS AT NIGHT, starring Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, and Matthias Schoenaerts, released on Netflix. Before that, Batra directed THE SENSE OF AN ENDING for BBC and FilmNation. THE LUNCHBOX, was supported by Sundance and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Rail d’Or. It was one of the best-reviewed films of the year, nominated for the 2015 BAFTAs for “Best Film Not In The English Language.” The Los Angeles Times described THE LUNCHBOX as “charming in a delicate and unforced way.” The Wall Street Journal called the film,“a sumptuous treat.” His feature film, PHOTOGRAPH, premiered at the 2019 Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals. He is currently working on an adaptation of the novel A Fine Balance, and a stage musical at the Lincoln Center Theater.

Reshma Shetty

Reshma Shetty is a graduate of the famed opera department at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Immediately following graduation, she garnered the lead role of "Priya" in A.R. Rahman and Andrew Lloyd Webber's first Broadway National Tour of BOMBAY DREAMS. Shetty then opened to rave reviews in her Off-Broadway debut at The New Group, starring in Ayub Khan-Din's RAFTA RAFTA. Her work on stage immediately parlayed into her next success as she burst on to the small screen in USA's flagship series ROYAL PAINS as one of television's first female South Asian series leads. ROYAL PAINS aired for a staggering 8 seasons of over 100 episodes. The very next season, Reshma starred as a series regular in Jason Katim's CBS drama, PURE GENIUS. Most recently Reshma starred as the lead in one of 2022’s most successful Hallmark Christmas Countdown movies, JOLLY GOOD CHRISTMAS. Additional television and film credits include recurring on MONARCH (FOX), BLINDSPOT (NBC), Netflix's SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER, INSTINCT (CBS ), ODD MOM OUT (Bravo), HAPPYISH (Showtime), MADAM SECRETARY (CBS), CSI MIAMI (CBS), 30 ROCK (NBC), and co-starring in the feature film ALLEGIANCE.

Reshma was one of the first beautiful faces of Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty line and Dove's face for India. She continues to work with various organizations dedicated to public service meant to raise awareness and combat prejudice and discrimination. Some of her favorite organizations include Shanti Bhavan, Lend-A-Hand India, New York's New Abolitionists. Most fondly, she partnered with Apne Aap Women Worldwide, a grassroots Indian organization, where Reshma had the opportunity to speak at the United Nations on empowering girls and women to prevent sex trafficking.

Gitesh Pandya

Box Office Guru is the leading agency specializing in outreach to the large South Asian moviegoing audience in North America for film releases. Gitesh Pandya launched it in 2001 with the US theatrical release of his own film production American Desi and the company has been hired by all American studios and distributors plus Bollywood distributors ever since when releasing films which have South Asian talent or themes. BOG creates and executes marketing plans incorporating publicity, media, community outreach, and influencers to engage the South Asian moviegoing audience so films can maximize their box office potential. Gitesh has worked on over 400 film releases in the US for companies such as Disney, Fox, Sony, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros., Focus, MGM, Amazon, Lionsgate and many more.

Hiba Irshad

Hiba Irshad is a key figure in the South Asian music and entertainment industry. Notably, she served as the Head of Original Music at JioSaavn, a global leader in South Asian streaming music. During her 7+ year tenure, she was one of the founders of Artist Originals, the first female-led South Asian label. Under her leadership, the label conceptualized global collaborations with legendary artists like U2, Tiesto, Nas, and Marshmello.Beyond her accomplishments in the entertainment sector, Hiba is a dedicated advocate for social justice, humanitarian causes, and the advancement of female careers within the industry. Last March, she joined Gold House as their Director of Brand Partnerships. In this role, she remains at the forefront of building strategic partnerships and leading the South Asian strategy for the organization.