Gita Pullapilly

{{short description|American film director}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Gita Pullapilly | honorific_suffix = | image =  | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = Hindi | pronunciation = | birth_name =  | birth_date = | birth_place = South Bend, Indiana, U.S. | baptised =  | disappeared_date =  | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | burial_place =  | burial_coordinates =  | monuments = | other_names = | citizenship = American | education = B.B.A. (Finance) M.A. (Journalism) | alma_mater = University of Notre Dame Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University | occupation = Screenwriter film producer film and TV director television journalist news anchor author | years_active = 2007–present | era = 21st Century | employer = Entrepreneur | agent =  | known_for = The Way We Get By Beneath the Harvest Sky Queenpins Crook County Tulsa King | notable_works = ''Crook County'' ''Beneath the Harvest Sky'' ''The Way We Get By'' ''Queenpins'' ''Inspiration To Get You Through A F*cked Up Year'' | style = | height =  | television = ''Frontline/World'' ''P.O.V.'' ''Lifecasters'' ''Little America'' ''Tulsa King'' | title = Filmmaker | movement = | criminal_charge =  | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | children = | parents =  | mother = Elizabeth Pullapilly | father = Cyriac Pullapilly | relatives = Kavita Pullapilly (sister) Anand Pullapilly (brother) | callsign = | awards = Fulbright Scholarship WGBH Filmmaker-in-Residence Variety magazine's "10 Directors To Watch” for 2014 2015 Black List Screenwriter Euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Filmmakers Live the Dream Grant at the Gotham Awards ''Independent Magazine''{{'s}} "Filmmakers to Watch" Guggenheim Fellow Rev. Anthony J. Lauck Award by the University of Notre Dame 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholar | website = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = }}

'''Gita Pullapilly''' is an American Hollywood film and television director, screenwriter, producer, author, and former television journalist and model.

== Early life and education == Pullapilly was born in South Bend, Indiana and has family in Kerala and Belgaum, India.<ref name="Chicago Tribune-2017">{{Cite web |date=December 24, 2017 |title=Cyriac Pullapilly - South Bend, IN (1932-2017) |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/cyriac-pullapilly-south-bend-in/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Dits">{{Cite web |last=Dits |first=Joseph |title=South Bend native finds 'value' as writer, director of Hollywood comedy film 'Queenpins' |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/entertainment/2021/09/10/queenpins-south-bend-indiana-native-notre-dame-grad-gita-pullapilly-makes-hollywood-film/5764945001/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=South Bend Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gita Pullapilly's story |url=https://bizmagazine.nd.edu/issues/2016/fall-2016/showbiz/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=bizmagazine.nd.edu |language=en}}</ref> During her childhood, she frequently traveled with her father as part of an educational program, called Semester Around the World, which helped her to understand political and historical events, and learned to write stories as a journalist and filmmaker.<ref name="Chicago Tribune-2017" /><ref name="Dits" /><ref name="Chicago Tribune-2015" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marketing Communications: Web {{!}} University of Notre Dame |title=At Home in the World {{!}} Notre Dame Magazine {{!}} University of Notre Dame |url=https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/at-home-in-the-world/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240727014136/https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/at-home-in-the-world/ |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Notre Dame Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Pullapilly studied off and on in India and in the United States.<ref name="myNewYorkeye-2019">{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2019 |title=Gita Pullapilly and Aron Gaudet and India - US Film Summit |url=http://www.mynewyorkeye.com/film-news/gita-pullapilly-and-aron-gaudet-and-india-us-film-summit |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=myNewYorkeye |language=en-US}}</ref>

Pullapilly studied finance at University of Notre Dame, receiving her B.B.A. and received her M.A. in journalism at the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University.<ref name="tiff" /> She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Journalism |url=http://www.cies.org/schlr_directories/usdir05/Jour26.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121075959/http://www.cies.org/schlr_directories/usdir05/Jour26.htm |archive-date=November 21, 2013 |accessdate=March 11, 2013 |publisher=Cies.org}}</ref> She was chosen as the first filmmaker to become a Fulbright Senior Scholar to Jordan. Pullapilly is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, Class of 2019,<ref name="Gita Pullapilly">{{cite web |date= |title=Gita Pullapilly |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2700559/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |accessdate=March 19, 2016 |publisher=IMDB.com}}</ref> and has met with four US Presidents, President George W. Bush, President Joe Biden, President Bill Clinton, and President Obama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/111/crec/2009/09/30/CREC-2009-09-30.pdf|title=House of Representatives}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gita Pullapilly |url=https://www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org/scholar/gpullapilly/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Presidential Leadership Scholars |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burnham |first=Emily |date=October 23, 2014 |title=Joan Gaudet, featured in 'The Way We Get By,' dies at 81 |url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2014/10/23/living/joan-gaudet-featured-in-maine-troop-greeters-documentary-dies-at-81/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Producers return to Notre Dame |url=https://archives.nd.edu/observer/2008-10-28_v43_039.pdf |work=The Observer}}</ref>

==Career==

In 2007, Pullapilly was selected as a WGBH Filmmaker-in-Residence where she edited the Emmy-nominated feature documentary, ''The Way We Get By'' for PBS' POV.<ref name="POV-2009">{{Cite web |last=POV |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Filmmaker Bio {{!}} The Way We Get By {{!}} POV {{!}} PBS |url=https://archive.pov.org/waywegetby/bio |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=POV {{!}} American Documentary Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref>

''The Way We Get By was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy Awards in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=NOMINEES FOR THE 31st ANNUAL NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY® AWARDS ANNOUNCED BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES, FREDERICK WISEMAN TO RECEIVE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD | the Emmy Awards - the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |url=http://emmyonline.com/news_31st_nominations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929071439/http://emmyonline.com/news_31st_nominations |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |accessdate=February 27, 2014 |publisher=emmyonline.com}}</ref> The Way We Get By'' was awarded "Best Documentary" in the AARP's "Movies For Grownups" Awards of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.documentary.org/content/awards-roundup-february-16-21-2010 |title=Awards Roundup: February 16–21, 2010 | International Documentary Association |publisher=Documentary.org |date=February 20, 2010 |accessdate=February 27, 2014}}</ref> The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival, (SXSW), won 18 festival awards around the world, played theatrically in over 60 cities across the U.S. and aired on the critically acclaimed, independent television series P.O.V. on PBS as a prime time special. That year, she was selected as one of Independent Magazine's "Filmmakers to Watch."<ref name="Gita Pullapilly" /><ref name="Chicago Tribune-2015" /> It was released in US cinemas in July 2009 and has twice been aired by PBS television, in 2009 and 2010.<ref>{{cite web|author=Aron Gaudet |url=https://www.pbs.org/pov/films/waywegetby/ |title=The Way We Get By | POV |publisher=PBS |date=August 3, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2013}}</ref> Gaudet and Pullapilly were invited to the White House in 2009 with the three subjects of the film, Joan Gaudet, Bill Knight, and Jerry Mundy.<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2009/10/04/politics/vice-president-lauds-bia-troop-greeters/ |title=Vice president lauds BIA troop greeters |publisher=Bangordailynews.com |date=October 4, 2009 |accessdate=February 27, 2014}}</ref>

In 2012, Pullapilly was one of the creators and executive producers on the national United States PBS program, ''Lifecasters,'' which had its world premiere at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Pullapilly has received a number of grants for her projects including from ITVS, CPB, POV, MacArthur Foundation, and Fledgling Fund.<ref name="Chicago Tribune-2015" /><ref name="IMDB.com">{{cite web|url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2700559/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |publisher=IMDB.com |date= |accessdate=March 19, 2016|title=Gita Pullapilly }}</ref>

Pullapilly and Gaudet wrote, produced and directed a film entitled ''Beneath The Harvest Sky'' (formerly called ''Blue Potato''), which was also produced with her sister, Kavita Pullapilly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pullapilly joins sister for blue-chip film |date=March 1, 2013 |first=Jeff |last=Harrell |newspaper=South Bend Tribune |url=http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-03-01/entertainment/37417055_1_film-business-film-credit-peace-corps |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610105836/http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-03-01/entertainment/37417055_1_film-business-film-credit-peace-corps |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival<ref name="tiff">{{cite web |url=http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/beneaththeharvestsky |title=Beneath The Harvest Sky |publisher=Toronto International Film Festival |date=August 23, 2013 |accessdate=February 27, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903012042/http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/beneaththeharvestsky |archivedate=September 3, 2013}}</ref> and was acquired by Tribeca Films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/beneath-the-harvest-toronto-tribeca-1200937841/ |title=Tribeca Films Acquires 'Beneath the Harvest Sky' |publisher=Variety |date=December 9, 2013 |accessdate=February 27, 2014}}</ref>

Pullapilly was selected as one of ''Variety's'' "10 Directors To Watch" with filmmaker, Aron Gaudet, for 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/variety-announces-this-years-10-directors-to-watch-1200910433/ |title=Variety's 10 Directors to Watch – 2013 |publisher=Variety |date=December 2, 2013 |accessdate=February 27, 2014}}</ref> and won the "Euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Filmmakers Live the Dream Grant" at the Gotham Awards.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ramin |last=Setoodeh |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/gotham-awards-audience-award-goes-to-life-on-four-strings-1200911450/ |title=With More Stars, Gotham Awards Stay True to Indie Roots |work=Variety |date=December 2, 2013 |accessdate=February 27, 2014}}</ref>

In 2015, Pullapilly and her writing partner, Aron Gaudet were jointly appointed Guggenheim Fellows to support their current movie project, titled ''Crook County''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dave |last=McNary |date=April 9, 2015 |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/beneath-the-harvest-sky-directors-tapped-as-guggenheim-fellows-1201469666/ |work=Variety |title='Beneath the Harvest Sky' Directors Tapped as Guggenheim Fellows |accessdate=June 10, 2015}}</ref> In December 2015, Pullapilly and Aron Gaudet were recognized on the 2015 Black List for having one of the best unproduced screenplays of that year for "Crook County".<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=The 2015 Black List of Unproduced Screenplays |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/640953-the-2015-black-list-of-unproduced-screenplays |accessdate=February 27, 2014 |work=comingsoon.net}}</ref>

In January 2016, the University of Notre Dame Alumni Board awarded Pullapilly the Rev. Anthony J. Lauck Award, which is given to a graduate for outstanding accomplishments or achievements as a practicing artist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mendoza.nd.edu/why-mendoza/news-and-events/news/63746-filmmaker-gita-pullapilly-fin-99-wins-university-award/ |publisher=The University of Notre Dame |date= |accessdate=February 27, 2014 |title=Archived copy |archive-date=March 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331000945/http://mendoza.nd.edu/why-mendoza/news-and-events/news/63746-filmmaker-gita-pullapilly-fin-99-wins-university-award/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2018, Pullapilly and her film partner, Aron Gaudet, were mentees in the Half Initiative, shadowing on the FX television series, American Horror Story. Ryan Murphy launched Half aiming to make Hollywood more inclusive by creating equal opportunities for women and minorities behind the camera.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.halfinitiative.com/mentees |title=2018 Half Initiative Mentees |publisher=Half Initiative |date= |accessdate=October 25, 2018}}</ref>

In 2019, Pullapilly and Gaudet launched the India- US Film Initiative. The goal is to bring Hollywood and Indian filmmakers together to share best practices, ways to increase opportunities for talented storytellers, and innovative techniques for quality filmmaking.<ref name="myNewYorkeye-2019" />

Pullapilly and Gaudet are known for their innovative "servant leadership" model in their directing that has garnered positive media attention and exposure. Their innovative model and leadership techniques are being adapted for film and television productions around the world.

In 2020, Pullapilly and Gaudet directed their feature comedy, Queenpins, starring Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell Baptiste, Vince Vaughn, and Paul Walter Hauser.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/vince-vaughn-paul-walter-hauser-join-kristen-bell-leslie-jones-comedy-queenpins-1202979333/|publisher=Deadline |title=Gita Pullapilly and Aron Gaudet and Queenpins |date= |accessdate=July 5, 2020}}</ref> Queenpins was one of the most profitable, feature comedies in the last decade, selling the domestic rights to Paramount+ for over $20 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Mike Fleming |date=June 14, 2021 |title=STXfilms' Kristen Bell Coupon Clipping Scam Comedy 'Queenpins' Sells US For $20M+ To Paramount+ & Showtime |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/kristen-bell-coupon-clipping-scam-comedy-queenpins-stxfilms-north-american-deal-21-million-to-paramount-plus-showtime-1234775010/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |title=Paramount+, Showtime snap up US rights to STX comedy 'Queenpins' |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/paramount-showtime-snap-up-us-rights-to-stx-comedy-queenpins/5160509.article |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, they directed their film, "David Armstrong," that 101 Studios produced starring Jeremy Renner and Billy Bob Thornton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/jeremy-renner-sackler-family-purdue-pharma-opioid-epidemic-movie-david-armstrong-cannes-market-1235029569/|publisher=Deadline |title=Gita Pullapilly and Aron Gaudet and "Untitled Sackler Project" |date= |accessdate=January 5, 2020}}</ref> In 2022, Pullapilly and Gaudet wrote their first book, "Inspiration To Get You Through a F*cked Up Year."<ref name="h344">{{cite book |last1=Gaudet |first1=Aron |title=Inspiration to Get You Through a F*cked Up Year |last2=Pullapilly |first2=Gita |isbn=978-0-940121-99-7 |page=}}</ref>

In 2023, Pullapilly and Gaudet directed an episode of Little America for Apple TV, and in 2025, they directed two episodes of Season 4 of Tulsa King starring Sylvester Stallone for 101 Studios and Paramount+.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 14, 2022 |title=Emmy-nominated Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly to pack on the Indian flavour Little America Season 2 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/english/emmy-nominated-aron-gaudet-and-gita-pullapilly-to-pack-on-the-indian-flavour-little-america-season-2/articleshow/92878658.cms |access-date=December 31, 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Pullapilly and Gaudet are the directors of the 2026 upcoming action-revenge thriller Wild World, starring Isabel May.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=October 31, 2024 |title='1883' Star Isabel May in Talks to Lead Revenge Thriller 'Wild World,' Cornerstone Selling at AFM (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/isabel-may-lead-thriller-wild-world-1236194984/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=February 5, 2025 |title=Berlin: TikTok Star Avani Gregg Joins Michiel Huisman, Ingrid Torelli in Social Media Thriller 'Breathe Deep |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tiktok-star-avani-gregg-joins-michiel-huisman-ingrid-torelli-in-shark-survival-thriller-breathe-deep-1236127627/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

Pullapilly is a notable speaker on the film industry and has spoken at numerous events, including Film Independent, The Gotham Film & Media Institute, the Toronto International Film Festival, SXSW, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and Tribeca.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Producers at the Table |url=https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/producers-at-the-table/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Film Independent |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roddel |first=Shannon |title=Award-winning producers return to discuss storytelling |url=https://news.nd.edu/news/award-winning-producers-return-to-discuss-storytelling/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241108122713/https://news.nd.edu/news/award-winning-producers-return-to-discuss-storytelling/ |archive-date=November 8, 2024 |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Notre Dame News |language=en-US}}</ref> She and Gaudet have been interviewed by major news outlets including the ''New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, CNN, NBC, The Hollywood Reporter, ABC, Variety, CBS and Forbes.<ref name="POV-2009" /><ref name="New York Times-2009">{{cite news |date=November 1, 2009 |title=Gita Pullapilly and Aron Gaudet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/fashion/weddings/01VOWS.html?_r=0 |accessdate=June 10, 2015 |work=New York Times}}</ref>''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ewing |first=Jeff |title=Interview: Chatting The 'Queenpins' Comedy Caper With Its Leads And Filmmakers |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffewing/2021/09/16/interview-chatting-the-queenpins-comedy-caper-with-its-leads-and-filmmakers/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211022013519/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffewing/2021/09/16/interview-chatting-the-queenpins-comedy-caper-with-its-leads-and-filmmakers/ |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |access-date=December 31, 2025 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=John |date=September 28, 2021 |title='Queenpins' Review: Deals, Discounts and Delinquency |url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/television/queenpins-kirsten-bell-kirby-howell-baptiste-vince-vaughn-aaron-gaudet-gita--pullapilly-joel-mchale-counterfeiting-11632863283 |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Independent Film Festival Boston is full of choices - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2014/04/19/independentfest-full-choices/lEs3m61xESW7CpqY48Wa9L/story.html |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>''<ref>{{Cite web |title=For Aron Gaudet, growing up in Maine was no Vacationland. But Jackson Hole is a different story - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/lifestyle/aron-gaudet-growing-up-maine-was-no-vacationland-jackson-hole-is-different-story/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>''<ref name="Chicago Tribune-2015">{{Cite web |date=June 23, 2015 |title=Filmmaker Gita Pullapilly talks about telling the stories that matter |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/06/23/filmmaker-gita-pullapilly-talks-about-telling-the-stories-that-matter/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Hilary |date=October 5, 2021 |title='Queenpins' Writer-Directors on True Elements Behind Coupon Scam Comedy and Value of Loopholes |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/queenpins-writers-directors-interview-true-story-ending-1235025503/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Anthony |date=December 18, 2013 |title=10 Directors to Watch: Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly Paint the 'Sky' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/features/10-directors-to-watch-aron-gaudet-and-gita-pullapilly-paint-the-sky-1200970691/ |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Pullapily spent significant time as a child with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India with her family. When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Pullapilly wrote a tribute about the lessons she learned from the saint.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mother Teresa's Light |url=https://archives.nd.edu/Observer/v31/1997-10-14_v31_037.pdf |work=The Observer}}</ref> She credits Mother Teresa for encouraging her to trust her intuition. Mother Teresa told her, "It's all in your heart. You'll know all the answers to life because it's all in your heart. But you have to be open to receiving it."<ref name="Chicago Tribune-2015"/> Her father, Cyriac Pullapilly was the author of a book on the Italian cardinal and ecclesiastical historian Caesar Baronius, a copy of which he presented to Pope John Paul II, as well as ''The New Testament of the Inclusive Language Bible'', a gender-inclusive translation reflecting contemporary linguistic usage.<ref name="Chicago Tribune-2017" />

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|2700559}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pullapilly, Gita}} Category:Living people Category:People from South Bend, Indiana Category:University of Notre Dame alumni Category:Medill School of Journalism alumni Category:American documentary film producers Category:American women screenwriters Category:American documentary film directors Category:1977 births Category:Film directors from Indiana Category:21st-century American women Category:American women documentary filmmakers Category:American film directors of Indian descent Category:American women writers of Indian descent Category:American journalists of Asian descent Category:American people of Malayali descent Category:Syro-Malabar Catholics