Private Project

Kanavu

  • Duran Jones
    Director
  • Venk Potula
    Producer
  • Lakme Iyengar
    Writer
  • Sharayu Mahale
    Key Cast
    "Indra"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Coming-of-Age
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    35mm Film
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - American Film Institute
Director Biography - Duran Jones

Duran is a 2007 graduate of Hampton University, with a BA in Broadcast Journalism. He is an accomplished independent rapper and songwriter with a keen sense of storytelling. In 2017, he completed his first short film titled BLKMGC, an urban musical based on the shooting death of Tamir Rice at the hands of police. Duran is also known for his 2011 tribute to Trayvon Martin and his subsequent interview on CNN.

Now a graduate of The American Film Institute Conservatory, his goal is to tell stories for people of color that are truthful and impact the global community. While studying at AFI he graduated from the 2020 PGA Power of Diversity workshop, where his pilot “Daywalker” received interest from Mary Parent, Gary Lucchesi and Prentice Penny. Duran was also selected as a 2021 Sundance Feature Film Producers Lab Fellow with the script "The Incredible Heist of Hallelujah Jones" written by Victor Gabriel.

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Director Statement

As an African-American, I was forced to carry the burden of a hyphen as the prefix to my nationality. Never would I be capable of being seen as just “American.” As I matured, I had to learn to navigate both sides of the hyphen. The side of me that was too African to be considered American and the side too American to be considered African. A black man, born with an identity crisis.

Vidya’s story is my story. A slightly rebellious teen who refuses to connect with their heritage for fear of becoming ‘othered.’ However, our unique identity is what makes us human, and our ancestors make that identity inseparable from who we are. Their dreams (KANAVU) are realized as our own as our identity and that lesson is passed down through generations that came before us.