Reema Maya
- himanshu105
- Mar 20, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 15
Based in Mumbai
Reema Maya is a writer, director, editor, and founder of the Mumbai-based production house CATNIP Culture.
Reema discovered her passion for filmmaking early on, dedicating summers to screenwriting and directing workshops. She has explored diverse mediums—ranging from films, music videos, and commercials to video installations... for creative expression.
Recognised for her artistic vision and collaborative approach across diverse formats, Reema's notable works include ‘MOTO-LOVE’ for Royal Enfield, H&M 'Brighter Than Ever,' Puma 'Propah Lady?', Fastrack "Ruffles", among many others.
Her debut short film, Counterfeit Kunkoo, is the first Indian fiction short to be selected for the Sundance Film Festival in 15 years, premiering internationally in 2018. Representing India among only 69 short films selected from over 9,000 submissions, the 15-minute film went on to screen at more than 115 festivals and won over 37 awards, including recognitions at Clermont-Ferrand, Brooklyn, AFI Fest, Short Shorts Asia, and more.
The film, notable for its bold yet intimate storytelling, addresses pressing issues such as marital rape, housing discrimination, and a woman’s reclaiming of her sexuality. Reema’s visual approach includes shooting in authentic locations across Mumbai’s bylanes with a mix of actors and non-actors for realism.
Reema’s creative excellence has earned her features in Hindustan Times’ ‘30 Under 30’ for contributions to women’s empowerment, Harper’s Bazaar’s ‘101 Creatives to Watch’, Elle India’s ‘5 Boss Ladies Who're Changing the Indie Music Scene’, and Luxelife’s ‘The New 40’ lists. She is also a two-time TEDx speaker, was awarded the Asian Film Academy Fellowship in 2012, and represented India at the Busan International Film Festival.
Reema continued her success with the short film Nocturnal Burger, which premiered at Sundance 2023, winning 37 awards—including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress at the Critics Choice Awards in India—and achieving Oscar-qualification for Best Live Action Short.
In 2023, she founded and co-curated ‘Alp’, a short-form video festival in association with Soho House Mumbai, further cementing her position as a creative leader and advocate for storytelling innovation.
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