Leena Pendharkar 
Assistant Professor, School of Film and Television | Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES
Leena Pendharkar is an award-winning writer/director/producer working in new media and traditional film
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Biography
Leena Pendharkar is an award-winning writer, director and producer working in film, television and new media. She is currently in post production on her sophomore feature film, 20 Weeks, about a couple who must decide on how to move forward in their pregnancy after their baby is found to have an issue at the 20 week scan.
She recently wrote and directed the short film, Dandekar Makes a Sandwich, which won the Grand Jury Prize for short filmmaking at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick. Her feature script, Days with Dandekar, won a Tribeca All Access grant and was workshopped in the FIND Screenwriters Lab.
Her first feature film, Raspberry Magic, about a young girl’s connection to nature, with Bella Thorne and Alison Brie, screened in over 25 film festivals, and was called “heartwarming with a strong crossover appeal” by Variety, and received the Audience Award at the Philadelphia Asian American film festival. It is now available on Starz TV, DirectTV, GooglePlay, Amazon and more.
Leena has also worked extensively in new media, and her short films, sketches and web series have been featured on Funny or Die, FailBlog, Hello Giggles, the Comediva Network and many other places. Leena also does freelance video work for a number of clients, especially commercials.
She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Documentary Film/New Media from the UC-Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Leena got her start in media as a print journalist, then later in the world of documentaries, freelancing for Yahoo, PBS Frontline, A&E Biography and many other places.
Education (2)
UNC Chapel Hill: B.A., English/Public Policy Analysis
UC Berkeley: M.A., Documentary Film Production
Areas of Expertise (4)
Directing/Producing Independent Film
Directing/Producing Digital Media Web TV
Film/Media Financing
Asian American Cinema
Industry Expertise (4)
Education/Learning
Motion Pictures and Film
Research
Writing and Editing
Accomplishments (5)
Celtx Seeds Grant
September 2012 Received grant from Celtx software for So Natural sketches.
Tribeca All Access
May 2011 Development grant for sophomore feature, A Day with Dandekar.
Film Independent Screenwriter's Lab
August 2010 Sophomore feature screenplay was selected for prestigious workshop
Audience Award, Philadelphia Asian Film Festival
April 2010 For Raspberry Magic.
First Prize, Kansas City Filmmaker's Jubilee
April 2008 First prize for short film about jazz artist Lesa Terry.
Affiliations (4)
- Directors Guild of America
- Writer's Guild of America
- Film Independent
- Women in Film
Links (3)
Media Appearances (3)
Friday Short Film: Dandekar Makes a Sandwich
The Aerogram online
2016-06-10
For a limited time on Vimeo, you can watch Dandekar Makes a Sandwich, a short film about one man’s quest to make the perfect sandwich. The under-10-minute film is set at a grocery store where retiree RK Dandekar, played by Brian George (Seinfeld, Big Bang Theory), seeks out his ingredients.
Crowdfunder Pick: 20 Weeks
MovieMaker online
2016-06-01
A Los Angeles couple in their 30s, Maya Closson and Ronan Baines, must decide whether or not to move forward with their pregnancy after their baby is diagnosed with a serious health issue at the 20-week scan. Their doctor advises them of their options: They can terminate by week 23, or continue with the pregnancy. But before making any further choices, they are advised to undergo genetic testing to see if the issue is associated with any genetic syndromes. The couple can’t think straight. While they’re in love with their baby, they’re divided on what his quality of life will be, and immediately there is a huge wedge in their relationship. What follows is a roller coaster of highs and lows and a very difficult set of decisions that have to be made.
Two Riot Grrrl College Professors Are Doing Something Cool at LMU
LA Weekly online
2016-03-17
“When I first moved here, I was like, ‘Where are all the punk kids?,” says Sharon Mooney, describing coming to Los Angeles to teach at Loyola Marymount University two years ago. “The first place I saw one was at the library. I saw a girl wearing an Adicts shirt and I was like, ‘OK, I gotta hang out at the library.'”
Event Appearances (1)
Panelist: Girl Power: Behind the Lens
Grrrls on Film Loyola Marymount University
2016-03-18
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