Ajitpal Babbra
Ajitpal Babbra is an award-winning writer/director & producer based in London, UK. He has produced several short films over the last few years. As a writer/director, he seeks to create meaningful stories and characters he can share with the world. His films have been showcased at various film festivals around the world and have won multiple awards.
He seeks to continue to collaborate with talented individuals in the future and to grow his filmography.
Your project has entered in our festival. What is your project about?
'Infidelity' is about a man, Andy, who hires a private investigator when he suspects infidelity. The story begins right in the middle of the private investigators findings and we see how Andy navigates this information over the next 30 minutes.
What are your ambitions with your project?
The film is being entered into film festivals so my hope is it gets accepted by them and is seen by a wider audience and hopefully maybe it even wins some awards.
Tell us something about your shooting? What pleasantly surprised you?
This was the largest group of people I have collaborated with and I really enjoyed how well we worked together and how enthusiastic everyone was in the process. Shooting is always fun but can also be stressful at times, but it's one of those stresses which is rewarding and when you look back you only tend to remember the fun you had. This really is a team game and I couldn't have done it without the people I collaborate with because each person brings their own value to the projects.
For what group of spectators is your film targeted?
I really think it's a film everyone can enjoy but I would say it would appeal most to people between the ages of 20-40 given the characters are around that age group and it deals with situations people of that age may experience.
Why should distributors buy your film?
Infidelity is an edge of your seat thriller, I think it really entertains the audience and keeps them guessing.
How would you specify your work? What characterizes your film?
I would say it is a drama/thriller with film noir elements. There is a lot of mystery and psychological aspects to it which I think are thought-provoking.
Why did you decided to become a filmmaker?
As most people do, I have enjoyed films since I was a child, but what I really enjoyed was how a filmmaker could invoke emotions and explore ideas via the medium of film. So, I was always enamoured with the process behind this and of course we all know the feeling we have after watching a great film and I'd like to also create that for myself and an audience.
Who is your role model?
I have a few directors whose work I admire. If I were to choose a couple, I would choose Christopher Nolan & Quentin Tarantino. I really enjoy Nolan's work as his films are always multi-layered and intelligent. He respects the audiences intelligence and really pushes the boundaries of practical filmmaking. Tarantino has such a unique style and his films are very entertaining. Tarantino's dialogue is unique and the characters he creates are iconic.
Which movies are your favorites? Why?
I have many favourite movies. The Lion King (1994) is one of my favourites because it is so multi-layered and has so many life lessons in it which most people will miss as a child but if you watch it as an adult, it's even better. Hans Zimmer's music is sublime. I also love Batman Begins because it is such a well made movie with a unique story structure and great acting. Other films I love include, Back to the Future, The Godfather Trilogy, The Indiana Jones Trilogy, The James Bond Films, The Wolf of Wall Street, Snatch, Terminator 2, Heat, Aliens, The Thing & Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Where do you look for inspiration for your films?
Luckily, I tend to have quite a vivid imagination and think of random ideas here and there. Sometimes, I'll see something on the street and get an idea, or remember a personal situation and put a spin on it. Sometimes these ideas enter your brain for a second before you forget them so it's super important to write them down once you get the idea or it's gone forever.
Which topics interest you the most?
I enjoy topics which explore the psychology of humans, why we do the things we do. I find a lot of things I experience are experienced universally by everyone else so it is likely if I make a film about something I'm interested in, then others will have had similar thoughts. For example, in 'Infidelity', I'm sure most people have been paranoid about a partner at some point however miniscule that thought may have been.
What do you consider your greatest achievement in your career?
Hopefully that moment is still to come, but I have won a few awards for my films and have had them showcased in cities such as Los Angeles and London. Receiving an award at the British Film Festival in December 2023 was pretty special. To be honest, even though it's not my greatest achievement, completing my short film 'Joggers' was a proud moment because it was my first short film after the pandemic, and everything had gone up a notch (equipment, cast, crew, soundtrack, editing etc) and so it was great going through that process and completing it.
What do you consider most important about filming?
Organisation is key. You are always fighting time on any shoot, so the more you can plan beforehand, the easier the shoot day is.
Which film technique of shooting do you consider the best?
Every film is different. It depends on the story you are trying to tell and what technique or method will help you convey that to the audience. Sometime cameras have to be very still and sometimes you can get away with handheld here and there if it serves the story. Usually, if it is done well the audience will just feel the story and not notice anything technical.
How would you rate/What is your opinion about current filmmaking?
There is a bit of negativity of films of this era but great movies are still being made. I do believe films of the 1990s were the most consistent in terms of quality but really, every other decade has had great films. It is also great that more people are able to make films without needing a lot of money because there is a lot of talent out there and previously having a budget bottleneck was denying these artists a voice and now many more people can pick up (or even rent) a camera, lights, get a few friends together and make something good.
What can disappoint you in a movie?
It's funny but before making movies I was far more critical but now I know how much effort and time is put into making one, things that go wrong etc, I have much more respect for the craft, and I am way more forgiving than I used to be. I can enjoy most movies but I suppose if I had to choose one thing, then it would be a poor ending because it can really sour an movie experience. Sometimes that can ruin a whole movie for people, but I tend to try to look at the film as a whole and can appreciate a good film even if it has a poor ending.
Who supports you in your film career?
I am fortunate to have supportive friends and family. I think they can see what it means to me and so really support in promoting me and giving encouragement. This was especially true before 2022 when I was on the verge of quitting but certain friends and family really pushed me to go to the next level and I'm glad they did.
What are the reactions to your film? (opinion of spectators, film critics, friends and family)
I have been lucky that the reaction to my films have been overwhelmingly positive so far. My films have been selected by multiple film festivals and have won quite a few awards. The audience have really accepted my films and have asked for more. I have tried my best to make the films to the best of my ability, even thinking about them in detail at each stage of development and pre-production as well as watching edits closely like I am an audience member so that I can see where there are weaknesses and things that need to be improved in scripts, shots, edits etc. Of course, I always work with those I collaborate with to get the best end result, I definitely couldn't have done it without them. I think a combination of all these things give each film a better chance of being well received.
Have you already visited any of the prestigious film festivals?
I have been to Palm Springs International Short Film Festival in California and to the British Film Festival in London where I had a great time with other filmmakers and watched some good films. It's really nice to have a community of like minded people with the same interests and passions. I plan to visit some more film festivals next year hopefully with Infidelity!
What are your future plans in filmmaking carriere?
I have another short film on the way but my future plans include moving into feature filmmaking. That destination would be great but I have also learned along the way, that the journey really is such a rewarding experience and I really try to enjoy every minute of it.
Learn more about Ajitpal Babbra
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13120087/He seeks to continue to collaborate with talented individuals in the future and to grow his filmography.
Your project has entered in our festival. What is your project about?
'Infidelity' is about a man, Andy, who hires a private investigator when he suspects infidelity. The story begins right in the middle of the private investigators findings and we see how Andy navigates this information over the next 30 minutes.
What are your ambitions with your project?
The film is being entered into film festivals so my hope is it gets accepted by them and is seen by a wider audience and hopefully maybe it even wins some awards.
Tell us something about your shooting? What pleasantly surprised you?
This was the largest group of people I have collaborated with and I really enjoyed how well we worked together and how enthusiastic everyone was in the process. Shooting is always fun but can also be stressful at times, but it's one of those stresses which is rewarding and when you look back you only tend to remember the fun you had. This really is a team game and I couldn't have done it without the people I collaborate with because each person brings their own value to the projects.
For what group of spectators is your film targeted?
I really think it's a film everyone can enjoy but I would say it would appeal most to people between the ages of 20-40 given the characters are around that age group and it deals with situations people of that age may experience.
Why should distributors buy your film?
Infidelity is an edge of your seat thriller, I think it really entertains the audience and keeps them guessing.
How would you specify your work? What characterizes your film?
I would say it is a drama/thriller with film noir elements. There is a lot of mystery and psychological aspects to it which I think are thought-provoking.
Why did you decided to become a filmmaker?
As most people do, I have enjoyed films since I was a child, but what I really enjoyed was how a filmmaker could invoke emotions and explore ideas via the medium of film. So, I was always enamoured with the process behind this and of course we all know the feeling we have after watching a great film and I'd like to also create that for myself and an audience.
Who is your role model?
I have a few directors whose work I admire. If I were to choose a couple, I would choose Christopher Nolan & Quentin Tarantino. I really enjoy Nolan's work as his films are always multi-layered and intelligent. He respects the audiences intelligence and really pushes the boundaries of practical filmmaking. Tarantino has such a unique style and his films are very entertaining. Tarantino's dialogue is unique and the characters he creates are iconic.
Which movies are your favorites? Why?
I have many favourite movies. The Lion King (1994) is one of my favourites because it is so multi-layered and has so many life lessons in it which most people will miss as a child but if you watch it as an adult, it's even better. Hans Zimmer's music is sublime. I also love Batman Begins because it is such a well made movie with a unique story structure and great acting. Other films I love include, Back to the Future, The Godfather Trilogy, The Indiana Jones Trilogy, The James Bond Films, The Wolf of Wall Street, Snatch, Terminator 2, Heat, Aliens, The Thing & Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Where do you look for inspiration for your films?
Luckily, I tend to have quite a vivid imagination and think of random ideas here and there. Sometimes, I'll see something on the street and get an idea, or remember a personal situation and put a spin on it. Sometimes these ideas enter your brain for a second before you forget them so it's super important to write them down once you get the idea or it's gone forever.
Which topics interest you the most?
I enjoy topics which explore the psychology of humans, why we do the things we do. I find a lot of things I experience are experienced universally by everyone else so it is likely if I make a film about something I'm interested in, then others will have had similar thoughts. For example, in 'Infidelity', I'm sure most people have been paranoid about a partner at some point however miniscule that thought may have been.
What do you consider your greatest achievement in your career?
Hopefully that moment is still to come, but I have won a few awards for my films and have had them showcased in cities such as Los Angeles and London. Receiving an award at the British Film Festival in December 2023 was pretty special. To be honest, even though it's not my greatest achievement, completing my short film 'Joggers' was a proud moment because it was my first short film after the pandemic, and everything had gone up a notch (equipment, cast, crew, soundtrack, editing etc) and so it was great going through that process and completing it.
What do you consider most important about filming?
Organisation is key. You are always fighting time on any shoot, so the more you can plan beforehand, the easier the shoot day is.
Which film technique of shooting do you consider the best?
Every film is different. It depends on the story you are trying to tell and what technique or method will help you convey that to the audience. Sometime cameras have to be very still and sometimes you can get away with handheld here and there if it serves the story. Usually, if it is done well the audience will just feel the story and not notice anything technical.
How would you rate/What is your opinion about current filmmaking?
There is a bit of negativity of films of this era but great movies are still being made. I do believe films of the 1990s were the most consistent in terms of quality but really, every other decade has had great films. It is also great that more people are able to make films without needing a lot of money because there is a lot of talent out there and previously having a budget bottleneck was denying these artists a voice and now many more people can pick up (or even rent) a camera, lights, get a few friends together and make something good.
What can disappoint you in a movie?
It's funny but before making movies I was far more critical but now I know how much effort and time is put into making one, things that go wrong etc, I have much more respect for the craft, and I am way more forgiving than I used to be. I can enjoy most movies but I suppose if I had to choose one thing, then it would be a poor ending because it can really sour an movie experience. Sometimes that can ruin a whole movie for people, but I tend to try to look at the film as a whole and can appreciate a good film even if it has a poor ending.
Who supports you in your film career?
I am fortunate to have supportive friends and family. I think they can see what it means to me and so really support in promoting me and giving encouragement. This was especially true before 2022 when I was on the verge of quitting but certain friends and family really pushed me to go to the next level and I'm glad they did.
What are the reactions to your film? (opinion of spectators, film critics, friends and family)
I have been lucky that the reaction to my films have been overwhelmingly positive so far. My films have been selected by multiple film festivals and have won quite a few awards. The audience have really accepted my films and have asked for more. I have tried my best to make the films to the best of my ability, even thinking about them in detail at each stage of development and pre-production as well as watching edits closely like I am an audience member so that I can see where there are weaknesses and things that need to be improved in scripts, shots, edits etc. Of course, I always work with those I collaborate with to get the best end result, I definitely couldn't have done it without them. I think a combination of all these things give each film a better chance of being well received.
Have you already visited any of the prestigious film festivals?
I have been to Palm Springs International Short Film Festival in California and to the British Film Festival in London where I had a great time with other filmmakers and watched some good films. It's really nice to have a community of like minded people with the same interests and passions. I plan to visit some more film festivals next year hopefully with Infidelity!
What are your future plans in filmmaking carriere?
I have another short film on the way but my future plans include moving into feature filmmaking. That destination would be great but I have also learned along the way, that the journey really is such a rewarding experience and I really try to enjoy every minute of it.
Learn more about Ajitpal Babbra
YouTube Channel Link with short films: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4LYPQ5tbTZ600ELhC0LI2A
Website: ajitpalbabbra.com
Instagram: @ajitpal_b