About Rishi

Rishi Chandna is a self-taught independent filmmaker based in India. His work is characterized by its blend of form and genre elements, emotional depth, and impactful storytelling, creating films that resonate universally. A strong believer in collaboration, persistence and an emotional investment in his craft, his cinematic practice aims for both deep connection and global reach. 

His debut short film, Tungrus (2018), a black comedy about a family divided over a pet rooster, was shown at Hot Docs, Visions Du Reel, BFI London Film Festival, IDFA and became an Oscar-qualifying short documentary after winning at Slamdance Film Festival. It also won Best Non-Fiction, Best Director & Best Editor at the 2019 Critics' Choice Awards, India. Tungrus has released online on New York Times’ OP-DOCS, PBS POV SHORTS and The Criterion Channel. His second documentary, Party Poster (2022), about the political poster culture in India, showed at Palm Springs, Krakow, DocAviv and was also launched on New York Times’ OP-DOCS. 

The Feast (‘VIRUNDHU’ in Tamil), his first work of short fiction, was awarded the Special Jury Award at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in February 2024, and has also screened at the Sydney Film Festival, Tampere Film Festival, IFFLA and others. The Feast was nominated for Best Short Film, Best Writing and Best Actor (George Vijay) at the Critic’s Choice Awards, India, 2025. 

Currently, Rishi is developing his first feature-length fiction film titled GHOL/THE CATCH (2021 Sundance Screenwriters Lab, Cannes Film Market 2021, 2021 Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum winner, 2025 Torino Film Lab). He is also distributing his new short films, The Prediction (JOGJA-Netpac Asian Film Festival, IndieMeme) & Gold Man (Mammoth Lakes Film Festival).