GRATITUDE, 26min., Canada, Comedy/Drama
Directed by Sidartha Murjani
A heartwarming comedy about appreciating what you have whether you are single, in a relationship or it's complicated.

It's Valentine's day and none of the couples coming in have a reservation, one of them suffers from OTD. The chef is giving the server shit for not being able to pronounce Shahi Paneer. A single guy comes in with a book and he has a reservation. What is he writing? why is he by himself on Valentine's day? What is OTD? How do you actually say Shahi Paneer?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13072714/?ref_=nm_knf_i3
https://www.instagram.com/gratitudealolcomedy/?hl=en

Interview with director Sidartha Murjani

1. What motivated you to make this film?
- The concept of Gratitude has always worked for me and I wanted to share it with the world in a non-preachy way but in a way to make people laugh and also realize that they can change their own mood by a simple act of Gratitude.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you
to make this film?
- 2 years

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

- Gratefully laugh :)

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
- Getting the location was one of the most difficult things to do, luckily the Chef character had a restaurant and he wanted to try acting so I told him why don't he let me use his restaurant and I can write him the chef role.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking
about your film in the feedback video?
- I was pleasantly surprised because they really got the layers of the film, there are many layers in the dialogues and the physicality of the film and everything means something, and not many people get it and they did.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
- When I realize the power of the visual medium.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
- Barfil - A bollywood feel good film about the romance between a a deaf guy and an autistic woman. It is an homage to Charlie Chaplin and the way it's done is so magical, in a span of 2 hours, you will laugh, cry and fall in love.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other
festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking
career?
- I would like to hear more feedback from the people who are in the industry who watched this film, also I would like to understand how do I as a filmmaker can benefit financially by putting my film in the Wildsound Tv app, is there any monetary benefit?

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your
experiences been working on the festival platform site?
- Film Freeway has always been fantastic!

10. What is your favorite meal?
- Anything with Avocado

11. What is next for you? A new film?
- I have another film in the festival circuit and also working on my next feature :)

Director Biography - Sidartha Murjani

A human being from planet earth, some may say otherwise :). Sidartha accidentally became a filmmaker after accidentally graduating from the acting program in Vancouver film school. He auditioned for many roles got rejected by most, accepted by a few and decided that he should start creating his own content. His first film will never be seen by the world but it was a good learning experience. His second film "The Interview" did well in the festival circuit winning a couple of awards and getting nominated for a bunch more. But awards and nominations are not what interest Sidartha, a good story does, the one that uplifts people's spirits and makes them smile, the kind of smile that comes from within.

Director Statement
Humour is one of the most underrated emotions especially when it comes to films. Making people laugh lowers their inhibition and more receptive to what you are trying to say, which is why I love comedies. Gratitude was made by a small team of wonderful humans with huge hearts, we laughed every day on set, during rehearsal and while shooting. Even if I don't get into your festival, if I made you smile and start appreciating what you got, I have achieved my goal, enjoy!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13072714/

https://www.instagram.com/gratitudealolcomedy/