Juries
FILM CRAFT LOTUS AND NEW DIRECTOR LOTUS
JURY
Neelay Shah
Managing Director & Film Director
Dejavu
Dubai
Neelay Shah, the dynamic Managing Director at Dejavu, an acclaimed production house in Dubai, is a visionary leader shaping the creative landscape. With an illustrious career, Neelay has garnered recognition for his innovative approach and unwavering commitment to excellence. As a prolific director, he crafts compelling narratives through TV commercials, leaving an indelible mark on popular brands in the region. Neelay's passion for storytelling is evident in Dejavu's award-winning projects, solidifying their position as industry leaders. With an innate ability to blend artistry and business acumen, Neelay Shah continues to redefine the standards of production, inspiring the next wave of creative brilliance.
Emotional cinematic moments and the power of narrative film making have always inspired Neelay to work in the film industry. He started off his career as an editor on feature films in Bollywood, the biggest film industry in the world. His passion and exuberance saw him climb through the ranks. From an assistant editor to a senior cutter. Fate then took him to Los Angeles. Which is where he honed some of his other film making skills of Cinematography and Sound Design. While at film school, Neelay got himself a job at Deluxe Film Labs and worked as a negative cutter on films like Spiderman, Babel, No Country For Old Men to name a few.
His directing career started in Fall of 2011/12. Over the years he has won awards at Cannes Lions and Dubai Lynx. His client portfolio includes popular brands like Maserati, Adidas, IKEA, Emirates, Etihad, FlyDubai, Coca Cola, Power Horse, Dubai Tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism, Rajasthan Tourism, District One, Harvey Nichols, STC to name a few.
His 18+ years of editing and post production experience is what sets him apart from the rest as he has a clear vision of how to tell a story in the most creative manner. Neelay's passion for film making and editing enables him to execute a project single handedly from shoot to post production. Giving every project his personal touch from conceptualization to final delivery.