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{{Short description|Indian filmmaker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rintu Thomas
| birth_place = Kottayam, India
| alma_mater = A.J.K. Mass Communication Research Centre, Lady Shri Ram College
| occupation = Filmmaker
| years_active = 2009 - present
| website =
}}

'''Rintu Thomas''' is an Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker and director-producer from India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-05 |title=#IDADocAwards: Courage Under Fire Award - Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh |url=https://www.documentary.org/awards2021/honorees/rintu-thomas-sushmit-ghosh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117003854/https://www.documentary.org/awards2021/honorees/rintu-thomas-sushmit-ghosh |archive-date=2022-01-17 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-02-13 |website=International Documentary Association |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oscars 2022: Writing With Fire Directors Screamed, Jumped, Hugged When Nomination Was Announced|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/oscars-2022-writing-with-fire-directors-screamed-jumped-hugged-when-nomination-was-announced-2757834 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220213/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/oscars-2022-writing-with-fire-directors-screamed-jumped-hugged-when-nomination-was-announced-2757834 |archive-date=2022-02-13 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-02-12|website=NDTV.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Her Peabody-winning documentary ''[[Writing with Fire]]'', co-directed with [[Sushmit Ghosh]], is the first Indian feature documentary to be nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bolly Buzz: 'Writing With Fire' makes it to The Academy Awards nomination, Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar's wedding festivities to take place in multiple destinations - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/bolly-buzz-writing-with-fire-makes-it-to-the-academy-awards-nomination-farhan-akhtar-and-shibani-dandekars-wedding-festivities-to-take-place-in-multiple-destinations/articleshow/89457565.cms |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220213/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/bolly-buzz-writing-with-fire-makes-it-to-the-academy-awards-nomination-farhan-akhtar-and-shibani-dandekars-wedding-festivities-to-take-place-in-multiple-destinations/articleshow/89457565.cms |archive-date=2022-02-13 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-02-12|website=The Times of India|date=9 February 2022 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oscars 2022: India's 'Writing With Fire' Nominated In Best Documentary Feature Category|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/newsmo/video/oscars-2022-india-s-writing-with-fire-nominated-in-best-documentary-feature-category-1911458-2022-02-10 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220213/https://www.indiatoday.in/newsmo/video/oscars-2022-india-s-writing-with-fire-nominated-in-best-documentary-feature-category-1911458-2022-02-10 |archive-date=2022-02-13 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-02-12|website=India Today|date=10 February 2022 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film also won the Audience Award and Special Jury Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at [[2021 Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hailu |first=Selome |date=2021-11-19 |title=CAA Signs 'Writing With Fire' Directors Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh (EXCLUSIVE) |language=en-US |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/caa-rintu-thomas-sushmit-ghosh-writing-with-fire-1235115651/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213212509/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/caa-rintu-thomas-sushmit-ghosh-writing-with-fire-1235115651/ |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|access-date=2022-02-13}}</ref> Thomas is also known for directing ''Timbaktu'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-04-03 |title=Let's do Timbaktu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/lets-do-timbaktu/article4577181.ece |access-date=2024-05-31 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Timbaktu – PSBT |url=https://psbt.org/films/timbaktu/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> a short documentary which won the [[National Film Awards|National Film Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=60th National Film Awards Announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=93879 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref> for the [[National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film|Best Environment Film]] at the [[60th National Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://psbt.org/films/timbaktu/ | title=Timbaktu – PSBT }}</ref> and [[Dilli (film)|''Dilli'']], which was awarded Best Documentary at the [[Jaipur International Film Festival]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.whatshot.in/delhi-ncr/movie-screening-timbaktu-dilli-e-371312 | title=Movie Screening: Timbaktu + Dilli in Delhi NCR, AntiSocial | What's Hot }}</ref> She is the co-founder of the award-winning production company, Black Ticket Films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=criticalcollective.in |url=https://criticalcollective.in/SpecialProjectEssayListing.aspx?id=1471 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=criticalcollective.in}}</ref> In 2021, she was awarded the IDA Courage Under Fire Award<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-14 |title=37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards Announces 2021 Honorees {{!}} International Documentary Association |url=https://www.documentary.org/press-release/37th-annual-ida-documentary-awards-announces-2021-honorees |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.documentary.org |language=en}}</ref> for her body of work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Courage Under Fire Award - Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh {{!}} International Documentary Association |url=https://www.documentary.org/awards2021/honorees/rintu-thomas-sushmit-ghosh |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=www.documentary.org |language=en}}</ref>

== Education ==
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''<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 Foundation|Skoll]] Stories of Change Fellow (2019),<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> IDA Logan Elevate Honoree (2021).<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Career ==
Thomas, along with long-standing partner, Sushmit Ghosh has directed and produced over 150 short documentaries under their Black Ticket Films banner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rintu Thomas {{!}} IMDbPro |url=https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm4045125/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=pro.imdb.com}}</ref> Her short documentary [[Dilli (film)|Dilli]] premiered at the [[NASDAQ]] in [[Times Square]], [[New York City]] in 2011<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> The Atlantic,<ref>{{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}}</ref> The Guardian,<ref>{{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}}</ref> The Financial Times,<ref>{{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}}</ref> Le Monde, [[The Hollywood Reporter]],<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Variety,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> Deadline,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> No Film School,<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[The Asahi Shimbun]] among others.

Thomas serves as a mentor for several international film labs and has served as a jury member for [[IFTA Film & Drama Awards|Irish Film & Television Academy Awards]], [[International Documentary Association]] Awards, Points North Fellowship<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam]] Academy, IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund, Alternativa Film Awards,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> [[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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> One of the first reviews was [[The Washington Post]] describing it as "The most inspiring journalism movie – maybe ever".<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[IndieWire|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".<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> The New York Times chose it as a Critics' Pick<ref>{{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}}</ref> and the film obtained nominations for Best Documentary from the [[Grierson Awards]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[International Documentary Association]] Awards<ref>{{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}}</ref> and [[Producers Guild of America]] Awards.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Along with winning 40 awards, it is India's first documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In India, the documentary film premiered at the [[Dharamshala International Film Festival]]<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> on 5 November 2022.

Following the New York premiere of the documentary at [[Doc NYC]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> in November 2021, the documentary had a theatrical release in the United States,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> with the opening weekend at the [[Film Forum]] in New York. In August 2023, it had a theatrical release in Japan,<ref>{{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}}</ref> across 50 Japanese theatres in 22 prefectures.

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Worked As
|-
|2010
|In Search of My Home
|Director, Producer
|-
|2011
|[[Dilli (film)|Dilli]]
|Director, Producer
|-
|2012
|Timbaktu
|Director
|-
|2021
|[[Writing With Fire]]
|Director, Producer, Editor
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Rintu}}
[[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]]

Rintu Thomas - Revision history

RaymondLoewentha: Started A Post