Director

Manjari Makijany

Manjari Makijany is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker who's basically living the dream of working across continents and industries. Based between Los Angeles and Sydney, she's carved out an impressive career that spans both American and Hindi cinema—no small feat. Her breakout moment came with back-to-back wins in 2021 when she directed the Netflix original *Skater Girl* and the Disney Channel original *Spin*, proving she could command big-budget productions while maintaining her unique vision. Before hitting these major platforms, Makijany built serious credentials through award-winning short films like *The Last Marble* (2012), *The Corner Table* (2014), and *I See You* (2017), which showcased her storytelling chops and earned her an Emmy nomination. What sets Makijany apart is her ability to blend heart, cultural authenticity, and fresh perspectives into stories that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant. She brings a distinctly progressive sensibility to her work, championing underrepresented voices and narratives—whether it's a girl discovering skateboarding in rural Rajasthan or navigating identity through music. Her contribution to Bollywood and global cinema lies in her refusal to play it safe; she champions stories about empowerment and self-discovery that challenge conventional narratives. With *Skater Girl*, she delivered a film that felt like a love letter to India while speaking to international audiences, proving that regional stories don't need to compromise their authenticity to find a global platform.