SHE SPOTLIGHT: Ankita S Pandey on Building Bold, Female-Led Stories for a Global Audience

Ankita S Pandey

Producer / Founder, Gaia Film ProductionBased in London, UK

@ankitaenvisions / @gaiafilmproduction

In this SHE SPOTLIGHT with Ankita S Pandey, a London-based producer and founder of Gaia Film Production, whose work centres on socially driven, character-led storytelling that challenges perspectives while remaining deeply human.

With a background in architecture, Ankita has built her path into film through discipline, resilience and a commitment to telling stories that give voice to women who are often unheard or misunderstood.

She is currently developing a slate of female-led projects, including her debut feature DAAL, a psychological thriller exploring trauma, power and unconventional forms of reclamation.

Ankita, tell us about your journey into film and the voice you are building through your work.

I come from a middle-class background in India, where storytelling was never seen as a career, but it was always my way of understanding the world. My journey into film has been shaped by both discipline and defiance, training as an architect while quietly building my path as a producer.

I am drawn to stories that explore power, trauma and the lived realities of women, particularly those who are often unheard or misunderstood. My work sits at the intersection of social truth and cinematic intensity, aiming to challenge perspectives while remaining deeply human.

Through Gaia Film Production, I am building a body of work that centres strong, complex female protagonists and globally resonant narratives. For me, filmmaking is not just about storytelling. It is about creating space for voices that are rarely given power, and ensuring they are seen and felt on a global stage.

What are you building right now, and why does it matter?

I am currently leading my debut feature film, DAAL, a psychological thriller centred on a woman shaped by trauma who reclaims power in unconventional ways. The film is in its final stages and positioned for international sales and distribution.

Alongside this, I am building a slate of projects that continue to explore complex human psychology and female-led narratives, including Room Without Doors and Harry.

This matters to me because I want to create stories that are not only engaging but necessary. Stories that reflect the emotional and social realities many women experience but are rarely portrayed with depth.

My goal is to build a production company that consistently delivers bold, globally relevant cinema with both artistic and commercial value.

What is something about your journey that people may not see from the outside?

What people often do not see is the distance between where I started and where I am now.

Coming from a conservative background, being the first woman in my family to make independent choices meant navigating resistance, uncertainty and expectations that did not align with my ambitions.

I built my path without industry connections, balancing a full-time career in architecture while developing my work in film, often without a clear roadmap. There were moments of doubt, but also a constant inner conviction that I was building something bigger than myself.

That journey has shaped how I approach storytelling, with honesty, resilience and a deep understanding of what it means to fight for your voice. It is that lived experience that drives the stories I choose to tell.

What does Cannes represent to you at this stage of your journey?

Cannes represents a defining moment of transition, from building to being seen on a global stage. It is where conversations turn into real opportunities and long-term partnerships.

At this stage in my journey, I am coming with clarity and intent: to position DAAL with the right international partners and to align with people who believe in bold, female-led storytelling.

More than anything, I see Cannes as a space to step into visibility, not just for one film, but for the kind of work and voice I am building through Gaia Film Production.

What does building collective power mean to you in practice?

To me, building collective power means creating an ecosystem where women are not just present, but actively shaping narratives, decisions and opportunities.

In practice, that looks like collaborating with people who are aligned in vision and intent: producers, sales agents, creatives and partners who value strong storytelling and long-term growth.

I am particularly interested in connecting with collaborators who are committed to bringing female-led, globally relevant stories to wider audiences, and who are open to building meaningful, sustained partnerships rather than one-off projects.

I am at a point where my focus is on building something long-term and globally resonant through Gaia Film Production. I am open to conversations that go beyond a single project and evolve into meaningful collaborations.

“I believe the most impactful work comes from clarity of vision and the right alignment of people.” - Ankita S Pandey