Mira Nair

This, despite big names like Hilary Swank (playing the title role in Mira Nair's Amelia and the lead in Conviction), Naomi Watts (playing ex-CIA spy Valerie Plame in Fair Game) and British star Sally Hawkins (of Made in Dagenham), and despite generally favorable reviews across the board.

Francine LeFrak: The Mysterious Disappearance of Hollywood's Trailblazing Women Francine LeFrak 2011

This, despite big names like Hilary Swank (playing the title role in Mira Nair's Amelia and the lead in Conviction), Naomi Watts (playing ex-CIA spy Valerie Plame in Fair Game) and British star Sally Hawkins (of Made in Dagenham), and despite generally favorable reviews across the board.

Francine LeFrak: The Mysterious Disappearance of Hollywood's Trailblazing Women Francine LeFrak 2011

For those to whom the Taraporevala name resonates familiar, she's written the screenplays for such Mira Nair gems as Salaam Bombay and Mississippi Masala, and the coming of age Little Zizou was her directorial debut.

E. Nina Rothe: "Exotic Observations": Zenobia Shroff Joins SPANK at the UCB Theater E. Nina Rothe 2011

This, despite big names like Hilary Swank (playing the title role in Mira Nair's Amelia and the lead in Conviction), Naomi Watts (playing ex-CIA spy Valerie Plame in Fair Game) and British star Sally Hawkins (of Made in Dagenham), and despite generally favorable reviews across the board.

Francine LeFrak: The Mysterious Disappearance of Hollywood's Trailblazing Women Francine LeFrak 2011

Kapoor himself is best known to international audiences as the sleazy uncle Tej Puri we all loved to hate in Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding, though among world cinema enthusiasts he is renowned for being a pioneer of New Wave indie Indian cinema, making films that deal with contemporary human relationships in the ever changing landscape of modern day India.

E. Nina Rothe: Reinventing The Bard: Rajat Kapoor's Hamlet -- The Clown Prince Tours the UK E. Nina Rothe 2011

For those to whom the Taraporevala name resonates familiar, she's written the screenplays for such Mira Nair gems as Salaam Bombay and Mississippi Masala, and the coming of age Little Zizou was her directorial debut.

E. Nina Rothe: "Exotic Observations": Zenobia Shroff Joins SPANK at the UCB Theater E. Nina Rothe 2011

Writes Susan Fales-Hill: Diva is a horribly overused word these days, and so often misapplied to people with negligible talent and horrendous manners, but the ladies in this case were stunning exemplars of the breed: Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden, groundbreaking director Mira Nair, Emmy award winner Lynn Whitfield, and eternally beautiful Leslie Uggams were all on hand.

Liz Neumark: Can You Feel the Love? Liz Neumark 2011

Mira Nair sounded the ultimate grace note when she summed up the spirit of the Apollo: "If we don't tell our own stories, no one else will."

Liz Neumark: Can You Feel the Love? Liz Neumark 2011

This year, DFI also announced that it will partner with world cinema filmmaker Mira Nair to bring to the big screen the highly anticipated cinematic version of Mohsin Hamid's bestselling novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

E. Nina Rothe: Doha Tribeca Film Fest 2011: Nadine Labaki's Latest, Antonio Banderas, and the Wonder of Black Gold E. Nina Rothe 2011

Kapoor himself is best known to international audiences as the sleazy uncle Tej Puri we all loved to hate in Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding, though among world cinema enthusiasts he is renowned for being a pioneer of New Wave indie Indian cinema, making films that deal with contemporary human relationships in the ever changing landscape of modern day India.

E. Nina Rothe: Reinventing The Bard: Rajat Kapoor's Hamlet -- The Clown Prince Tours the UK E. Nina Rothe 2011