Mahesh Pailoor | Director

Mahesh Pailoor is an award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Raised in a seaside town in Maine to immigrant Indian parents, Mahesh’s films often grapple with divergent notions of South Asian identity. His work has been championed at festivals and institutions, including SXSW, Cannes Lions and the Smithsonian. Pailoor directed and co-wrote the acclaimed independent feature film “Brahmin Bulls” which The New York Times praised as a “warm debut”. He has also directed multiple episodes of marquee shows like NBC’s “The Blacklist” and CBS’s “S.W.A.T.” showcasing his versatility across genres. Mahesh is an alumnus of the NBC Emerging Director Program, Disney’s TV Directing Program, Berlinale Talent Campus, and Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab and Project:Involve. He is a graduate of NYU Tisch and earned an MFA in directing from the American Film Institute. Pailoor’s latest feature “Paper Flowers” is based on the viral Huffington Post article, “Thank You, Cancer” and captures an Indian American’s poetic meditation on mortality after a terminal cancer diagnosis, further representing an evolving diaspora experience.

Asit Vyas | Producer

Asit Vyas is an entrepreneur with a journey that spans acting, restaurant franchises, and the world of cinema. He was a franchisee of Burger King restaurants in San Jose and Pizza Hut in Connecticut and Rhode Island. While building his career as a fast-food franchisee, he pursued his cinematic passion by studying filmmaking, which led him to “Zara Si Bhool (A Small Mistake),” a Bollywood feature made in Hollywood, available on Amazon Prime.

As his children headed off to college, he embraced a career shift. He sold his franchise business and completed UCLA’s prestigious Producer’s Program, reigniting his dedication to the entertainment industry. Today, he is actively engaged in producing his second feature, “Paper Flowers.” While living in Los Angeles with his wife, he takes pride in parenting a son and daughter pursuing medical careers with their wonderful spouses. His journey embodies enduring passion, dedication, and a celebration of diversity, whether in restaurants, films, or cherished family moments.