Second generation Indian filmmaker navigating generational trauma, while simultaneously disappointing my parents by passionately pursuing the arts.
Neil "Shankar" Sudhakaran is an award-winning independent filmmaker, projectionist, and sound designer from Cleveland, OH. Being a second-generation Indian/American, Neil's father is justifiably devastated for his pursuit of the arts, or at least would be if this absentee wasn’t awarded the distinguished Deadbeat Dad of the Year since 1990. Throughout the late 20th Century, Neil was reluctantly checking diversity quotas and changing hearts in Ashland, Ohio, as being “One of the good brownies.” Neil would like to thank The Grim Reaper; the two have become best buds, although Mr. Grim visits less regularly since Neil received a kidney and liver transplant. Most notably, Neil received a Cleveland Critics Circle Award for his film/projection work on Angry F@#$ at convergence-continuum. His short documentary, Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage, was selected to screen at the Oscar Qualifying 49th Annual Cleveland International Film Festival. Neil is also the founder of The Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival. Thank you to the OG 4, Rachel, Christina, and Beth, for always being my biggest fans. For more information, visit nsudock.com.
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
2025 Erie International Film Festival
Erie, PA
2025
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
Sunshine City Film Festival
Saint Petersburg, FL
2025
Best Short Documentary - Nominee
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
The North Film Festival - New York City
New York, NY
2025
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
The Cleveland International Film Festival
Cleveland, OH
2025
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
The Massachusetts Independent Film Festival
Uxbridge, MA
2025
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
Denver Indie Film Festival
Denver, CO
2025
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
Highland Square Film Festival
Akron, OH
2025
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
The OLA Film Festival
Washington DC
2025
Honorable Mention
Night of the Living Diwali
Frights! Camera! Action! Horror Screenplay Contest
2025
Best Screenplay
Night of the Living Diwali
F3: Queen City Film Festival, Film Curation, & Film Awards
Cincinnati, OH
2025
Best Ohio Screenplay
Night of the Living Diwali
The International Horror Hotel Film Festival
Bedford Heights, OH
2025
Semi-Finalist: Best Short Screenplay
Night of the Living Diwali
New York International Screenplay Awards
New York, NY
2025
Semi-Finalist: Best Short Screenplay
Night of the Living Diwali
Palm Springs Diversity Screenplay Contest
Palm Springs, CA
2025
Finalist: Best Picture
Devil's Stew
Scream Queen Film Festival
New Orleans, LA
2024
Official Selection
Intimacy Simulation Update 76.43
Nosebleeds Film Festival
Sioux Falls, SD
2024
Official Selection
Ractors
Film Basement Horror Film Awards
Los Angeles, CA
2024
Official Selection
Ractors
Short. Sweet. Film Fest.
Cleveland, OH
2024
Official Selection
Ractors
Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards
Cleveland, OH
2024
Best Picture Nominee
Ractors
The Massachusetts Independent Film Festival
Worcester, MA
2024
Official Selection
Ractors
Old Orchard Film Festival
Clarendon, VT
2024
Official Selection
Ractors
Newnan Film Festival
Newnan, GA
2024
Official Selection
Convert This
Highland Square Film Festival
Akron, Ohio
2024
Official Selection
Convert This
PANAMA HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
BELLAVISTA
2024
Honorable Mention
Convert This
Happenstance Horror Fest
Salem, MA
2024
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
Columbus, Film, Author and Photography Festival
Columbus, OH
2024
Official Selection
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
The Film Collective Short Film Festival
Bensalem, PA
2024
Honorable Mention
Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage
The Flight Deck Film Festival
New York, NU
2024
Best Short
Excerpt From Home Movie
Riservati Pictures Film Festival
London
2023
Semi-Finalist: Best Picture
Devil's Stew
The Cyprus Horror Society
Limassol
2023
Official Selection
Devil's Stew
Cabin In The Woods Film Festival
Seattle, WA
2023
Finalist - Best of Fest, Finalists - Best Short, Finalists - Best 48 Hour Film Project Short
Devil's Stew
F3: Frankly Film Fest
Cincinnati, OH
2023
Official Selection
Devil's Stew
Jersey Devil Film Festival
Asbury Park, NJ
2023
Official Selection
Devil's Stew
Film Basement Horror Film Awards
Los Angeles, CA
2023
Nominee - Best 1 Minute Film
Intimacy Simulation Update 76.43

Cleveland, Ohio
2023
Official Selection
Intimacy Simulation Update 76.43
Akron Soul Train Members Show
Akron, OH
2023
Awarded Best Film Under 1 Minute
Intimacy Simulation Update 76.43
FEEDBACK Under 5 Minute Film Festival
Toronto
2023
Official Selection
Intimacy Simulation Update 76.43
The Cut Film Series
Canton, OH
2023
Official Selection
Intimacy Simulation Update 76.43
AI International Film Festival
Park City, UT
2023
Official Selection
Intimacy Simulation Update 76.43
The Strange Days Horror Fest
2023
Official Selection
Excerpt From Home Movie
First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Hosted by @LiftOffGlobalNetwork
Pinewood Studios
2023
Nominated for Best Experimental Film in North America
Excerpt From Home Movie
Couch Film Festival
Toronto, Ontario
2023
Official Selection
Excerpt From Home Movie
Ethereal Frames Film and Art Awards
2023
Official Selection
Excerpt From Home Movie
Pittsburgh Film Festival
Pittsburgh, PA
2023
Official Selection
Ractors
Columbus Film, Author and Photography Festival
Columbus, OH
2023
Official Selection
Ractors
The Indie Gathering International Film Festival The Indie Gathering International Film Festival
Cleveland, OH
2023
Official Selection
Ractors
Baltimore Next Media Web Fest
Batilmore, MD
2023
Award Winner - Best Music
Ractors
Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival
Akron, OH
2023
Official Selection
Ractors
Festival Au Cinema
Chicago, IL
2023
Award Nominee - Best Actress
Ractors
The Atlantis Awards
Los Angeles, CA
2023
Nominee - Best Thriller
Ractors
The Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival: Thriller Picture Show
Pittsburgh, PA
2023
Official Selection
Ractors
Bicycle Shorts Film Festival
Phildelphia, PA
2023
Official Selection
Ractors
Luna Lumen Film Festival
Columbus, OH
2023
Official Selection
Ractors
2024 Erie International Film Festival
Erie, PA
2023
Birth Date
November 19, 1985
Survival is Insufficient - Emily St. John Mandel
Second generation Indian filmmaker navigating generational trauma, while simultaneously disappointing my parents by passionately pursuing the arts.
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