Height Markers

Pranay Noel is a Canadian narrative filmmaker with a BFA and MFA in Film Production from York University. His works are social realist character-driven drama/comedies often centred around coming of age stories. Born in Mumbai, raised in Mississauga, identity, legacy and environment are key themes in his work. His undergraduate thesis film Murder Balloon, played at the Tel Aviv Student International film Festival. The film follows an 11 year old boy’s journey to gain the acceptance of his new domineering friend through pulling off increasingly troublesome neighbourhood pranks. Pranay’s MFA thesis film Height Markers, profiles a mother and son on his last day home before moving out, as they are haunted by the memory of their late husband and father. Told in long master shots and with an emphasis on local environment and landscapes, the film sows the seeds for a directorial method rooted in prioritizing performances and engaging with real environments. Pranay is inspired by the work of Kenneth Lonergan, Mike Leigh, Kelly Reichardt, Edward Yang, John Casavettes, and the Dardenne brothers. He has a low-budget, improvisational shooting sensibility and loves camcorders.