Mumbai: Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas has joined Pranav Bhasin’s Indian short film ‘We Were Here’ as an executive producer, lending her support to the project ahead of its Academy Awards campaign.
The film, which has won more than 20 awards on the international festival circuit, also has actor Andrew Scott and Tony Award-winning playwright and activist V on board as executive producers.
Chopra Jonas said the film’s exploration of a subject of growing relevance was what drew her to the project.
“This film offers a refreshing, witty take on a subject that feels very timely. I jumped at the opportunity to come on board as an Executive Producer to amplify this creative team and ensure their brilliant, original vision gets the spotlight it deserves,” the actor-producer said in a statement.
‘We Were Here’ centres on three retired men in a small Indian town who stage an unusual protest against machines taking over human jobs by posing as household appliances. Their protest takes an unexpected turn when one of their children joins an artificial intelligence company.
Written and directed by Bhasin, the comedy explores the impact of technology on employment and the fear of becoming irrelevant in an increasingly automated world.
The film has screened at more than 80 international festivals and won over 20 awards.
These include the Audience Award for Best Narrative Short and the Redbreast Unhidden Award at South by Southwest, as well as Best Live-Action Short Film Under 15 Minutes and Best Comedy Short at the Palm Springs International ShortFest.
Its recognition at Palm Springs secured its eligibility for Academy Award consideration.
The film also won the Canal Prize at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, where it had its world premiere.
In another milestone, The New Yorker has acquired the short film and will premiere it on the publication’s official YouTube channels.
Bhasin said it felt surreal to have the support of established names such as Chopra Jonas, Scott and V as he takes the film into the awards season.
‘We Were Here’ is produced by Yash Gonsai, Dheer Momaya and Dar Gai, and presented by SPLF Media and Aarti Lohia.