Writer-director Uttera Singh will make her feature debut with Pinch, which will have its world premiere in the International Narrative Competition at this year’s Tribeca Festival. The film marks the first Indian title to compete in the section in three years.
Set in India, Pinch is a mother-daughter dramedy that Singh not only wrote and directed but also produced and stars in. She plays Maitri, a travel vlogger living in a small apartment complex with her conservative mother, Shobha, played by Geeta Agrawal. When a troubling incident occurs during a community pilgrimage and is quietly ignored, the pair are forced to face the emotional consequences in a tense exploration of silence, tradition, and truth.
“This film shines a light on issues that society often downplays as ‘small,’” said Singh, a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts now based in Los Angeles. “There’s a darker version of Pinch, but I leaned into comedy and energy to spark conversation. The film doesn’t offer answers—it asks the hard questions.”
Pinch blends dark humor with serious themes and reflects Singh’s signature approach, which previously earned acclaim for her short film Fanny Pack, screened at more than 45 festivals worldwide.
The supporting cast includes Sunita Rajwar (Santosh), Sapna Sand, Badri Chavan, Rajiv Neema, Jahnvi Marathe, and the late Nitish Pandey.
The film was shot on location in Indore, India, with cinematography by Adam Linzey (The Animal Thing), who also co-wrote the screenplay. Color grading was handled by Natasha Leonnet (La La Land, Hidden Figures), with production design by Madhusudan N. (Stree).
The score is composed by Raashi Kulkarni (A Nice Indian Boy, Wedding Season), with sound design by Jan Bezouska (Midway, They Cloned Tyrone). Costume design is by Dipika Lal (Last Days, Jawan). Editors include Faroukh Virani, Louise Innes, and Vanessa Ruane.
The film’s producers are Faissal Sam Shaib, Jenna Cavelle, Jan Bezouska, Anirudh Singh, Akanksha Jain, Pranav Soni, Muktesh Singh, Suneeta Singh, and Uttera Singh herself.
Pinch will premiere at Tribeca Festival on June 6. A teaser for the film has also been released ahead of its debut.
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