Personal Information

Location

Los Feliz, Los Angeles

Biography

Rajeev Dassani began his career as an artist and painter, before discovering that he wanted to move beyond the still image and mix narrative and auditory elements in his work, thus he turned his focus to storytelling and filmmaking.

After studying film under the Emmy award winning director Joan Darling in North Carolina, he studied film at the University of Southern California, where he won among other awards the James Bridges Directing Award, The Barbara Corday Award and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Award. His thesis film, "A Day's Work" has played at over 50 film festivals around the world and won dozens of awards, including top prizes at the Gen Art Film Festival, AFI Dallas and the Florida Film Festival, and recently the prestigious gold medal at the Student Academy Awards.

In his spare time he co-owns a visual effects company with his twin brother currently responsible for all the VFX on the "Knight Rider" TV series on NBC.

He is currently working as a writer and director with several projects in development, including an independent feature he hopes to be shooting early next year and a feature film based on his short film, "A Day's Work".

Professional Website

http://www.masterkeyfilms.com

Personal Website

http://www.rajeevdassani.com

IMDB Page

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1472423/

Caucus Film

Film Title

A Day's Work

Film Website

http://www.daysworkfilm.com

Film Information & Synopsis

Alone in Los Angeles, Enrique doesn't speak a word of English. Forced to work as a day laborer to earn money for loved ones back home, his loyalties are put to the test when a simple job escalates into a matter of life and death.

"A Day's Work" is Rajeev Dassani's USC Thesis film.

Festival Experience

List of Awards Won for "A Day's Work"

Gold Medal for Best Narrative Film - Student Academy Awards
Audience Award - Best Short Film - AFI Dallas Film Festival
Audience Award - Best Short Film - Gen Art Film Festival in NY
Stargazer Award - Best New Talent - Gen Art Film Festival in NY
Special Jury Prize - Best Ensemble Cast - Florida Film Festival
Gold Medal - Best Film - First Look Film Festival USC
Best International Film - Short Short Film Festival - Japan
Best Short Film - LA Latino Film Festival
Best Student Film - Vail Film Festival
Best Short Film - Urban World Film Festival
Best Student Film - Method Film Festival
Audience Award - Best Film - KCET Fine Cut Film Festival
Best Cinematography - Big Bear Film Festival
Special Jury Prize - Houston Worldfest

"A Day's Work" has played at over 65 film festivals around the world, here are a select number:

Student Academy Awards Ceremony , AFI Dallas Film Festival , Milan International Film Festival - Italy , Santa Barbara Film Festival, Florida Film Festival , Gen Art Film Festival NY , Boston International Film Festival, Indianapolis Film Festival , Short Short International Film Festival - Japan , Woodstock Film Festival , Nashville Film Festival , Newport Beach Film Festival, Palm Beach Film Festival , Kustendorf Film Festival - Serbia , Byron Bay Film Festival - Australia , First Look Film Festival - USC , Shanghai International Film Festival - China

(full list available on request)

History

Member for

3 years 16 hours

Blog

View recent blog entries