San Banarje
San Banarje is a multiple award-winning American independent filmmaker, cinematographer, producer, screenwriter, editor, photographer and an actor. He was born in Kolkata, India and now lives in Houston, Texas.[1]
| San Banarje | |
|---|---|
 San Banarje | |
| Occupation | Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Producer, Actor, Editor |
Personal life
San Banarje was born in a refugee camp in Calcutta called Lake Camp. Banarje lived only a couple of blocks from the house of Academy Award winning director Satyajit Ray who inspired him immensely along with Brian De Palma, Woody Allen, Krzysztof Keislowski, Martin Scorsese, Vittorio De Sica, Michael mann, Clint Eastwood, Jean-Luc Godard, Stanley Kubrick, Rainer Fassbinder and many other.
After moving to Houston, San and Trisha Ray started their production company 'Lake Camp Productions' named after the refugee camp where San grew up and then founded an actor's studio called 'Next Actor Studio'. San and Trisha also run the 'Next Samaritan Project', a non-profit that they started in 2012 to promote health awareness and distribute essential commodities to the homeless, most importantly shoes to the barefoot in third world countries such as India.
When San is not working in films, he teaches Cinematography, Filmmaking, Editing and Film study at Next Actor Studio in Houston.
Films
In 2001, San worked as an actor in a lead role in a film directed by Trisha Ray and produced by the two of them.
In 2004, San started full time work behind the camera while also acting. In 2005, San worked alongside one of his favorite actors Lou Diamond Phillips in Sony Pictures' Striking Range.
In 2007, San shot the film Money in Houston, Paris, Cannes and Kolkata in a dogma style.
In early 2009, San and Trisha Ray went to Calcutta to shoot the feature 'Sugarbaby' with thespian Soumitra Chatterjee.
In summer 2009, he shot a short 'Terracotta' with Trisha Ray while the couple were traveling cross-country USA.
In winter 2009, he shot the thriller Bodhisattva in Calcutta which he co-wrote with Trisha Ray, directed, shot, produced and acted in.[2] The film won platinum remi award at the Houston Worldfest International Film Festival, Best of the Fest at Gulf Coast Film Festival, Best Foreign Film at Alexandria Film Festival, Best Film at Bare Bones Film Festival where San received an Indie Auteur award.[3]
In summer 2011, San co-produced the film "Inside Out" with producing partner and writer Brian Stewart.
A month later, he wrote and directed the film The Nowhere Son starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Trisha Ray and himself in the lead. Eminent movie critic Joe Leydon named the film in his list of 'Five Not to Miss Movies at Worldfest 2013'.[4] The film also garnered rave reviews when screened at Hoboken International Film Festival.[5]
In 2012, San wrote and directed the short 'Semper Fi' based on true events of an unarmed young marine reservist who was shot and killed by his girlfriend's father who was set free due to Texas law of self-defense.
In Summer 2013, San directed, shot and produced a thriller "The Shadow Behind You", which he co-wrote with Trisha Ray.
This was followed by his 2013 Fall film 'Artisse' written by Brian Stewart, that he shot and co-produced.
In 2013 winter, San shot and co-produced the film 'Sex, Marriage and Infidelity in New York' for debuting director-writer Richard Finger, a columnist for Forbes with actors Shannon Tweed and Charlie O'Connell.
Voluntary Works
In 2005, Banarje along with some of his friends volunteered in a homeless shelter in Houston to help several victims of Hurricane Katrina, which he considers as his biggest life lesson.
While visiting Kolkata, upon learning from a newspaper that a Medical student needs financial help to finish his studies, Banarje got in touch with the student and sponsored him till he did not need help anymore.
Awards
In 2013, The Nowhere Son, written and directed by San and produced by San and Trisha Ray was listed as one of '5 don't miss movies at Worldfest 2013' by eminent movie critic Joe Leydon.
In 2012, Bodhisattva directed by San and co-written and co-produced by San and Trisha Ray received "The Best of Festival" at the Gulf Coast Film Festival.[6]
In 2012 San's short film 'Semper Fi' won Gold Remi at the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival.[7]
In 2012 the Christian film 'Inside out' that San produced along with producing partners Brian Stewart and Trisha Ray won Gold Remi Award at the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival.
In 2011, San's dogma feature "Money" shot in Houston and Paris got the Silver Remi in the experimental/dogma category at the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival.[8]
In 2011, San's thriller 'Bodhisattva' shot in Calcutta, India got Bronze Palm at the Mexico International Film Festival.[9]
In 2011, San won the "Indie Auteur Award" at the Bare Bones Film Festival for his film Bodhisattva. The film has also won Best Foreign Film at this festival.[10]
In 2011, San's thriller Bodhisattva got nominated for 'Best Screenplay' and 'Best Thriller' at Staten Island International Film Festival in New York.[11]
In 2010, Banarje's foreign film Bodhisattva won the Best Foreign Film at Alexandria Film Festival,[12]
In 2010 'Bodhisattva' won Platinum Remi at Worldfest Houston, and received nominations for Best screenplay, direction, feature at Hoboken International Film Festival.[13]
In 2008, San's short film "The Enemy Inside" received Honorable mention at the Bayou City International Film Festival.[14]
References
- ↑ Bollywood meets Houston: Bodhisattva gets its world premiere - 2010-Apr-17 - CultureMap Houston
- ↑ Soumitra in and as 'Bodhisattva'
- ↑
- ↑ 'The Nowhere Son' - Joe Leydon's top five not to miss movies
- ↑ Interview with Garden State Journal about 'The Nowhere Son'
- ↑ Coast Winners List
- ↑ Worldfest 2012
- ↑ Worldfest 2011
- ↑ Mexico International Film Festival Bronze Awards List
- ↑ Bares Bones Film Festival
- ↑ Staten Island Films Nomination 2011
- ↑ And The Winners Are… : AlexandriaNews
- ↑ Indian Film Bodhisattva wins at Hoboken Film Fest
- ↑ Bayou City Film Festival