Shruti Parekh
Shruti Parekh is an award-winning writer/director and editor who tells intimate stories of self-discovery and subversion. Her work spans narrative and documentary film, journalism, animation, and music videos.
Shruti was recently named in MovieMaker Magazine as one of Austin Film Festival’s 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025. Her narrative short film, ZARI, was produced as a winner of the CAPE/Janet Yang Productions Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge. Since then, ZARI has won eight top awards including the Grand Jury and Audience Awards at NewFest and Best LGBTQ+ Short at Cannes American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers Showcase. Zari was shortlisted for an Iris Prize and was selected to be part of of the NewFest/AMC+ Future of Film program. Shruti’s previous short film, ESPERANZA, played in over 20 film festivals around the world, won four awards, and is now streaming on PBS. Shruti’s newest narrative short, HOMEBODY, was a recipient of the 2024 NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music, and Theatre.
Previously, Shruti worked as a video journalist for Gizmodo Media Group and produced, shot, and edited award-winning social issue-focused news content that garnered millions of views, including the viral “Racist History” series. As a freelance filmmaker, Shruti has created digital content for clients such as Food & Wine Magazine, Yellowbrick, NYLON, WIRED and many nonprofit organizations.
Shruti got her start as the assistant to acclaimed director Mira Nair on her 2013 film The Reluctant Fundamentalist and as an Assistant Editor on three award-winning feature documentaries. Shruti has also directed many music videos which have been featured on platforms such as Remezcla, Jezebel, Rolling Stone India, and 2DopeBoyz.
Shruti has a BA from Brown University and an MFA in Directing from UCLA. She is based in Brooklyn, NY.