Batul Mukhtiar works as a writer/director/producer in Mumbai since more than 25 years. Her children’s film KAPHAL shot in a remote village of Garhwal with local children, won the Golden Lotus National Award for Best Children’s Film 2014 and Best Director, Live Action at the Golden Elephant ICFFI 2013. It was nominated for Best Children's Film under Children’s Jury Main Prize and Golden Slippers at Zlin FF 2014. KAPHAL and her other films, children's feature LILKEE, documentary 150 SECONDS AGO, student diplomas PHOBHABAI and NAZAR KA DHOKHA have screened at major film festivals around the world and continue to be shown in classrooms and on television. Batul has recently produced and directed a mid-length independent feature, MUMU SHELLEY. Currently, she is working on an independent feature - CARPOOL. Batul studied Film Direction & Screenplay Writing at the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune. Batul has solid experience in working on powerful films around sensitive subjects and difficult locations, including her work as producer on BAFTA-nominated documentary REAL SLUM DOG CHILDREN OF MUMBAI and Netflix’s BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES and her work as director on documentary 150 SECONDS AGO in an earthquake-devastated Bhuj. Batul served on the National Award Jury 2015 and serves on juries at FTII, NID, Films Division, CFSI, IDPA, Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, Toto Fund for Arts and MAMI Half-Ticket. Batul also writes short stories and blogs about films and books at http://batulm.wordpress.com/.