Priyanka Suryaneni
Filmmaker
"Capturing stories through my camera lens to craft a profound and immersive experience that emotionally connects and engages the viewers is what draws me toward visual storytelling. I believe a compelling narrative possesses the unique power to transcend geographical, cultural, and identity boundaries. My stories center on character-driven narratives, shedding light on individuals and communities that are invisible or unheard. Through my work, I aim to amplify their voices"
About
Priyanka Suryaneni is an Indian-origin media entrepreneur, documentarian, and visual storyteller. She has a rich background in multi-lingual and multi-media production, with extensive experience in fiction and non-fiction. Growing up in a family deeply committed to social activism and grassroots leadership, Priyanka was inspired to forge a career in media.
Her current body of work represents the culmination of over a decade and a half of filmmaking expertise and a deep dedication to addressing social justice concerns. She focuses on creating character-driven, verite-style, and experimental documentaries. Her journey in visual storytelling commenced as an assistant director in Bollywood, India. Eventually, she founded her own production company, Pensar Creations. Priyanka has produced television shows, short fiction narratives, documentaries, corporate videos, and Ad films.
As a Bay Area resident, she now operates as a freelance professional. She also creates short and micro-documentaries for her YouTube channel, "Shift Focus Narratives," that shed light on critical social justice issues and amplify the voices of local artists, grassroots movements, and underrepresented communities. In addition, Priyanka is actively engaged in independent documentary projects, spotlighting the South Asian experience in the Bay Area.
Demoreel
This short reel highlights my video work around racial justice during my time as a USC Annenberg Graduate Fellow. I covered protests, LAUSD, the criminal justice system, and policing in L.A.