Asawari Jagushte, a Mumbai-based director, producer, editor, and catalyst for change, is at the helm of Star Hopper Studio, a trans-led film production company that champions narratives at the intersection of brown, queer, and women-led stories. Asawari's expertise was recognized when they served on the Direction Jury for the prestigious D&AD Awards in 2021 and 2022.
With a Masters in Film from the London Film School and a Masters in Experimental Film from Kingston University, UK, Asawari's work has achieved global acclaim. Their work travels across established platforms and cultural circuits with equal care for people and delivery.
Their directorial debut 'The Housemaids' streamed on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and USA, on Disney Hotstar, and on JioCinema. 'Bodies of Desire' premiered on NOWNESS Asia, later featured on NOWNESS and Girls in Film, and screened at Berlin Commercial, Outfest LA, and as part of BFI Flare’s Five Films for Freedom. 'After So Long // बरसों बाद,' a visual poetry project produced and edited by Asawari, is currently making its rounds in festival circuits, already gaining recognition from Nowness Asia and Girls in Film.
On the brand side, Asawari produced Disney Star’s Words of Pride and the International Women’s Day film, shaping the reusable #CtrlAltBelieve toolkit. Recognition includes Drum Grand Prix, Kyoorius Purple Elephant, Spikes Asia, and One Show Merit. Notably, Asawari has also lent their directorial skills to branded films for prominent organizations like Anat, Shaadi.com, Cipla, Unilever, VH1, and Fox Star Studios.
In immersive, they served as India producing partner on A City of Foxes with selections across Venice Immersive-linked platforms, NewImages, VRDays, and IFFR showcases. 'Dionysian Rhapsody,' a standout in Asawari's portfolio, graced screens at the ICA (UK) and Whitechapel Gallery (UK) in 2014.
Beyond filmmaking, Asawari collaborates with interdisciplinary artists and organizations, breaking the boundaries of traditional art forms to create a collective, engaging, and immersive language. Their portfolio includes collaborations with renowned entities like the British Council, Goethe Institute, Swiss Cultural Funds, Artlink, Meta Arts, The Ahhhness of Things, Shakera Ahad, Meta Arts, The Company Theatre, Serendipity Arts Festival, Clowns without Borders, and Rupesh Tillu.
As a curator, Asawari champions works from marginalized communities, co-founding a queer platform for artists, Anat, and curating film clubs, poetry, and music events. In 2020, during Pride Month, they curated a photography series titled 'Questioning Masculinities' for Social (the Bar) in partnership with One Future Collective. Additionally, Asawari plays a pivotal role in co-running the Underground Film Observatory (UFO) within Star Hopper, providing a platform for underrepresented South Asian filmmakers and artists.
Recognized as a Cultural Management in the Digital Age (2020) fellow in association with Goethe Institute, Mumbai, and ArtX Company, as well as a BeFantastic Fellow (2021) supported by Goethe-Institut Mumbai and Zentrum für Kunst und Medien ZKM, Karlsruhe, Asawari is on a mission as a trans neurodivergent filmmaker. They are dedicated to increasing representation of South Asian non-binary, trans, intersex, gender-diverse, and women in the visual culture landscape. Asawari's films and visual arts are vehicles for creating transformative, safe, and inclusive spaces that embrace diversity, innovation, interactivity, and modernity.
Current projects include 'Tenfa' (in festivals), a Himalayan short produced in collaboration with Kinnauri youth groups and finished through a global post pipeline, and the features 'Birds of a Feather' and 'Mumbai Is Burning' in post.