Neha Aziz is a Pakistani-born writer, director, film programmer, and podcaster living in Austin, TX. From 2017 to 2020, Neha worked at SXSW as a member of the Communications team. She currently works as the Artistic Director for the Austin Asian American Film Festival, Film Programmer for rePRO and the Cleveland International Film Festival, in addition to being the Communications Manager for the Asian American Documentary Network (A - DOC). In 2021, she was named an iHeartRadio NextUP fellow for their inaugural podcast program; her show, PARTITION (limited series) debuted in August 2022 and has been featured on Apple Podcasts, NPR, The Austin Chronicle, The 19th News, The Austin American - Statesman, The RepresentASIAN Project, Asian Founded, and more. In 2023, Neha was one of five recipients of the WAVE Grant from Wavelength Productions, a grant and one-year mentorship given to first-time female/non-binary directors of color. Her short, SO, THAT HAPPENED marked her directorial debut and is currently on the festival circuit. She is a writer for the PBS Digital Series ROOTS OF RESISTANCE and is in development on a number of projects.
Detailed Breakdown:
- (00:00) // Chris Bio Intro
- (02:31) // First short film
- (03:11) // Film curator / now film director
- (03:52) // Working at festivals
- (07:36) // Writing for PBS Digital Series
- (08:07) // Starting a podcast
- (18:53) // Journalism background
- (24:31) // Writing narrative
- (29:12) // Film the short film
- (30:23) // Film School
- (32:59) // I found out what I really wanted to do
- (36:59) // What I learned from filming the short film
- (43:42) // The Next Film
- (46:17) // AFI Workshop for Women
- (48:12) // Should programmers have made a film
- (59:30) // A lesson you learned at film school
- (01:01:55) // A moment that you look back on that changed your life
- (01:04:40) // Programming background as a filmmaker
- (01:08:34) // Your favorite mistake you made
Links and Resources:
Podcast Overview:
On the "After Film School" podcast, we delve into essential topics for transitioning from film school to professional life. Our episodes provide practical advice on securing jobs, crafting your career path, and exploring opportunities like post-school film clubs. Tune in for insights into job prospects, strategies for job searching, and guidance on maximizing your potential after graduation.
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