Sailaja Bandyopadhyay

Sailaja Bandyopadhyay Founder/ Producer/ Director “ We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” - Mother Teresa Sailaja Bandyopadhyay is an Independent Filmmaker based in Houston, Texas. Directing and producing are equal parts art and science. With more than 20 years of production planning, strategy development, and project management experience, Sailaja has a strong foundation in the science of communication which she utilizes as the Co-Founder and Senior Partner of Times & Images. Films were not a big part of Sailaja’s childhood growing up in India, and it wasn’t until recently that she developed an appreciation for the artistic possibilities of film to advance her feminist and philanthropic passions. Her focus is on developing strong, honest characters and tracing their journey within a realistic yet poetic style. ​ Sailaja is a strong proponent for increasing diversity in storytelling and supports various organizations that focus on women producers and directors, planting the seeds for a diverse and inclusive filmmaking landscape. She has been selected to serve as a member of Alliance of Women Directors (AWD), Women in Film (WIF), Women of Color Unite (WOCU), and Women Make Movies (WMM). Her first short 'Inheritance' has travelled extensively to 30+ festivals around the world, winning awards for Best Short Film, Best Female Director, Best First Time Director and selected as a Finalist at festivals including the Cannes World Film Festival, Barcelona International Film Festival, Prague International Monthly Festival, Independent Shorts Awards, Varese International Film Festival, and Milan Gold Awards. In addition, Sailaja has more than two decades of experience in community service and has fundraised for many foundations benefiting women and helping micro-budget businesses in India. She is honored to have been selected to serve as one of the Board of Directors for the United Nations Association, USA (UNA-USA) in Houston. A storyteller at heart, she enjoys stories of courage, strength, and honest human relationships.