Kantarama studied Music and Theatre in Geneva, Switzerland, where she also completed a Masters in International Relations. While in Switzerland, she worked in theatre and started producing and directing short form content for a local news channel. Soon she felt the need to move to New York and work on more ambitious projects. Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, she went back to school and received another Masters Degree, in Film Production this time. She is now directing films and works on various projects in the production department.
Kantarama screened her work in North America, Europe and Africa, garnering praise in 2011 with her nomination for Best Swiss Film (Lucerne International Film Festival), in 2012 with her nomination for Best Female Filmmaker (West Chester Film Festival), in 2013 for her Outstanding Producing Award (Lawebfest), Audience Choice Award (IFFCA), Best Web Series Award (LA Comedy Fest), and again in 2014 for her Best Directing Award (Lawebfest) .
Her directorial experience includes:
TAPIS ROUGE – Feature film in post-production. THE ELEVATOR – Lucerne International Film Festival, nominated for Best Swiss Film, West Chester Film Festival, nominated for Best Female Filmmaker Award, SAG Short Film Showcase, New York No Limits Film Festival, Coney Island Film Festival, New Filmmakers New York, Ecran Mobile Switzerland, CinéTransat Switzerland and distributed by Amazon and iTunes. CHECK – NewFilmmakers Festival in New York (USA), Bare Bones Film Festival (USA), Cannes Short Film Corner (France), the Worldwide Shortfilm Festival Marketplace (Canada) and the Rwanda Film Festival (Africa). Concept videos such as LOST ANGEL LESS (Classik), PINOT IN THE GRASS (CaramelBrown), VEUILLEZ VEILLER SUR VOS REVES (Les Nubians), UNTITLED (CaramelBrown) and LEILA – for Swarovsky and Tank Magazine (UK). She co-directed an original play called BIGGER THAN I and directed the video project that was incorporated to that play. (June 2009 in New York City, off-off Broadway and Fringe Festival 2012). She currently works at the development of her next project, a new series for Swiss TV.
Her production experience includes:
Set work for studio movies (MEN IN BLACK 3), television shows (PERSON OF INTEREST, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, SUITS, PORTLANDIA), independent movies (SAVANNAH, SILENT HOUSE, GENERATION UM…, PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND); Producer work for independent movies (BE THE MONSTER, KISMET); Production Managing of Music Videos, Commercials, Reality TV and Documentary (ANTHRAX WAR).
Kantarama Gahigiri’s Official Website