Interview: Reema Maya – Nocturnal Burger (Short)

Each year, Sundance receives more than ten thousand short film submissions, making it nearly impossible to secure a spot. However, for Mumbai-based filmmaker Reema Maya, lightning struck twice: first with “Counterfeit Kunkoo” in 2018 and then again in 2023 with “Nocturnal Burger.” Both films come from a personal place and space – one was within close range and the other from the peripheries of society. Reema Maya’s cinema is firmly grounded in social realism, delving into activism and political themes while addressing the challenges faced by women across different age groups in a world that can be hostile to them. What sets her work apart is her refusal to engage in victim-blaming, shaming, or simplifying her characters into one-dimensional portrayals. Her approach results in a form of cinema that exudes immense power. Prior to our conversation, I had the chance to see just how impactful this artist is – I nearly broke when she gave the words of wisdom that is: “treasure your traumas.” I wanted to get a sense of where the project idea came about, how she wrote her characters and some of the visual and narrative strategies she employs here.