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Biography
Deepa Mehta was born in India and received a degree in philosophy from the University of New Delhi. She began her cinematic career writing scripts for children’s films.
In 1990, Mehta produced and directed her first feature film SAM & ME, the poignant story of an unlikely friendship between two men, both outcasts of sorts, who form a deep and permanent bond despite the fact that neither is welcome in the other’s world. SAM & ME won the very first Honorable Mention by the Critics in the prestigious Camera d’Or category at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.
In 1992, she directed a one hour episode of the YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES produced by George Lucas for ABC television. “Benares” was filmed on location in Benares, India.
In 1993, Mehta directed her second feature film CAMILLA, a Canadian/UK co-production starring (the late) Jessica Tandy and Bridget Fonda. Other cast members included Elias Koteas, Maury Chaykin, Graham Greene and Hume Cronyn. It was shot on location in Toronto, Ontario and Savannah, Georgia. CAMILLA had a world-wide release early in 1995.
Mehta directed the final episode of George Lucas’ the YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES in 1994. “Travels with Father,” was shot on location in Prague, Czech Republic and Greece.
FIRE, Mehta’s
third feature film, has won 14 international awards
to date. Based on an original screenplay, it was written,
directed and produced by Mehta.
FIRE opened the Perspectives Canada program at the 1996 Toronto International Film Festival, where it tied with FLY AWAY HOME for the Air Canada Peoples Choice Award. It was one of twenty-nine films selected from over 1400 entries, world-wide, for the prestigious New York Film Festival and at the Vancouver International Film Festival, FIRE won the Federal Express Award for Best Canadian Film as chosen by the audience. At the Chicago International Film Festival, it won two Silver Hugo Awards for Best Direction and Best Actress. In Mannheim FIRE won the Jury Award and in Paris, it was voted Favourite Foreign Film.
Most recently, it won the International Jury Prize for Best Film at the Verona International Film Festival in Italy, October 1997. FIRE has currently been sold to 33 countries world-wide. The theatrical release in North America commenced Autumn 1997, and met with a tremendous response. The film is currently being released theatrically across Europe, Australia and India.
EARTH, based on
Bapsi Sidhwa’s critically acclaimed novel, CRACKING
INDIA, is the second film in Mehta’s trilogy
of the elements, Fire, Earth and Water.
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