Varsha Panikar is a Mumbai-based filmmaker, poet, and multi-disciplinary artist. They are also the co-founder, Artistic Director, and Creative Producer at Star Hopper, a trans-led film production company working at the intersection of film and culture to create narratives that are brown, queer and women led.

Drawing from their own lived realities, their creative journey finds its roots in challenging the status quo, culminating in narratives that transforms and spark conversations around marginalised and underrepresented South Asian narratives. Blending mediums and formats, they prioritise authenticity and authorship of stories, constantly questioning who has the right to record and be recorded. With over a decade's involvement in Mumbai's advertising sphere, Varsha recognises the enduring power of storytelling in reshaping perspectives, infusing fresh ideas, and inspiring hope, which is more precious now than ever.
 

Varsha's film works have reached global stages, with appearances at over 60 prestigious film festivals like BFI Flare, Fringe! Queer Fest UK, Outfest LA, and Berlin Commercials. Their works have found home on platforms including Nowness Asia, Nowness, Disney+ Star, Otherness Archive, MTV, GiF, and Directors Notes. Their film "Bodies Of Desire" gained prominence through #FiveFilmsForFreedom 2021 by BFI Flare and the British Council, securing accolades such as the Best Internations Short Special Jury Award at RIO Festival De Cinema LGBTQIA+ 2021, and Best Music Video award at the Global Indian Film Festival.

Varsha's artistic work extends to the realms of poetry, zines, photography, and performance - featured in esteemed magazines and a diverse range of publications across regions. Their photo-poetry zine 'My Body Is A Prison,' part of the Origami Folds series, gained acclaim from curators like Zine Club Chicago, State University Of New York's Sojourner Truth Library, Queer Zine Library, and Grrrl Zine. Their contributions have also appeared  in publications like The Lipstick Politico, Munich Zine, Nerve Zine, Forbidden Verses, The Rights Collective, SASS, One Future Collective, The Local Color Zine, and Pinjratod. Their photo-poetry zine ‘Whispers To My Shadows’ and selections from their mixed-media anthology ‘Bodies Of Desire’ were exhibited at the ‘Queer Futures Archives’ at Parramatta Riverside Theater, Sydney.

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Also a BeFantastic C³ Fellow (2021), supported by Goethe-Institu Mumbai and Zentrum für Kunst und Medien ZKM, Karlsruhe, Varsha is excited about the limitless possibilities of technology in creating innovative and immersive storytelling. Additionally, Varsha curates moving-image sessions and co-runs the Underground Film Observatory (UFO) within Star Hopper, elevating works of under-represented South Asian artists.
 

In their down time, Varsha does voice-overs, performs spoken-word, experiments with analog image-making and nerds out on all things horror. Varsha is currently working on a queer graphic novel for children. For collaborations and inquiries, you can contact them on varshapanikar@gmail.com or starhopper.in@gmail.com

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