Finch director Zia Mandviwalla tells her story on The Creative Relay

The multi-dimensional creative storyteller Zia Mandviwalla is the latest guest on Smith and Western’s podcast, The Creative Relay.

Interviewed by Beth O’Brien, head of innovation at The Monkeys, the award-winning writer, director and filmmaker talks about her humble origins as a storyteller, which she traces back to a lifelong habit of staring at strangers.

Raised in Dubai to Indian parents, Mandviwalla’s love for film-making evolved from an innate sense of curiosity rather than a familiarity with the artform.

Says Mandviwalla: “At the time, Dubai was a ghost town. There was no English-speaking cinema. All of the films I watched came on terrible, heavily censored boot-legged VHS. Basic Instinct was 20 minutes long.”

It was not until after graduating from university in New Zealand with a degree in English and History that she stumbled upon the perfect outlet for her story-telling talents.

Says Mandviwalla: “I borrowed a camera and made a little film one weekend in my back garden. And enough people said enough good things about it that I thought this is what I can do.”

That discovery has set Mandviwalla off on a path that has led to her being nominated for best short film at Cannes and Sundance, as well as the opportunity to direct multiple episodes of the Emmy nominated Netflix series, Chef’s Table.

Constant throughout this journey has been Mandviwalla’s keen observational eye, ever-searching to define her subject’s place in the world. It’s a process that also helps the film-maker on a more personal level.

Says Mandviwalla: “It’s my life’s work to find out where I fit, where I belong.”

For podcast producers Smith & Western, the opportunity to peek inside such an insightful creative mind was enthralling.

Says Paul Dunne, host: “What a joy to hear a great story-teller tell her own story. Zia has a real knack for making sense of things.”

This latest episode of The Creative Relay is available to download now on all popular platforms, or at thecreativerelay.com.