Crew Biographies

Paul Mayeda Berges - Director/Writer

THE MISTRESS OF SPICES is Paul's feature directorial debut. It is the fourth film he has co-written with his partner Gurinder Chadha. Their first film, WHAT'S COOKING? (2000), was the Opening Night Film of the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. The film won numerous international awards and was Nominated for a Humanitas Prize and Best British Screenplay at the London Film Critics' Circle Awards. It also won Best British Director for Chadha in the London Critics' Awards.

Their second film, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (2002), is the highest grossing British-financed, British-distributed film ever in the UK box-office. The film topped the box-office in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and South Africa, and won audience awards at the Toronto, Locarno and Syndey film festivals. It received a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), a BAFTA Nomination for Best British Film, a European Film Academy Nomination for Best Film, and a Writers Guild of America Nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Their third film, BRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2004), was the first film ever to open at Number One in the UK and India on the same day.

Paul is the former Director of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. He has made documentaries on the Japanese American community and taught film production to high school students. He was born in Los Angeles and studied film at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Deepak Nayar - Producer

For over a decade now, Deepak Nayar has been one of the most prominent and successful Independent Film Producers. He has worked with some of cinema's most respected Directors and his global success has earned him countless nominations and awards.

He began his career in his native India, collaborating with the Merchant Ivory group on films such as Heat & Dust and The Deceivers before moving to Los Angeles, to carve out his place in the competitive world of Hollywood.

The first Features from his US based company Kintop Pictures were David Lynch's critically acclaimed Lost Highway and Wim Wender's award winning The End Of Violence. It was his continued work with Wenders that led him to a "Best Documentary" Academy Award nomination for The Buena Vista Social Club, as well as a Grammy nomination for their 2001 long form music video Teatro starring Willie Nelson. Not to mention producing Wender's Million Dollar Hotel, starring Jeremy Davies, Milla Jovovich and Mel Gibson, which premiered at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival and won the Silver Bear award.

Deepak Nayar's television producing credits are similarly note worthy, including David Lynch's ABC series On The Air and the HBO anthology Hotel Room. Additionally he produced the Fox pilot White Dwarf for Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope, as well as the CBS series Second Chances and Hotel Malibu.

Nayar has a particular ability for nurturing new talent and has been behind the directorial debuts of a number successful Directors. In 1999 he produced Harlem Aria for first time director William Jennings starring Damon Wayans and Paul Sorvino, along with Mahesh Mathai's award winning first feature Bhopal Express. In 2002 he produced Matt Dillon's directing debut, City of Ghosts starring Gerard Depardieu, James Caan and Natasha McElhone.

Gurinder Chadha - Producer / Writer

Gurinder Chadha began her career as a BBC news reporter. She went on to direct award-winning documentaries for the British Film Institute, BBC and Channel Four.

Her first feature Bhaji on the Beach won numerous international awards including jury prizes at Locarno and several audience favorite film awards. It received a BAFTA Nomination for 'Best British Film of 1994' and Gurinder won the Evening Standard British Film Award for 'Best Newcomer to British Cinema'.

In 1995 she directed Rich Deceiver, a two-part drama for the BBC watched by 11 million viewers.

Whats Cooking? the Opening Night Film of the 2000 Sundance Film Festival, was the first British script to be invited to the Sundance Institute's Writer's Lab. The award-winning film - starring Alfre Woodard, Mercedes Ruehl, Julianna Margulies, Kyra Sedgwick and Joan Chen - was voted joint audience award winner in the New York Film Critics' 2000 season (tied with Billy Elliot), and Gurinder won the award for Best British Director in the London Film Critics' Circle Awards.

Bend It Like Beckham is the highest grossing British-financed, British- distributed film, ever in the UK box-office. The award-winning film was a critical and commercial success internationally, topping the box-office charts in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and South Africa , and winning audience favorite film awards at the Locarno, Sydney and Toronto film festivals. The film

received a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), a BAFTA Nomination for Best British Film, a European Film Academy Nomination for Best Film, and a Writers Guild of America Nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Her most recent film, Bride & Prejudice, is the first film ever to open at. Number One in the UK and India on the same day.Gurinder is currently prepping her next feature for Sony, I Dream Of Jeanie , a prequel to the popular television show.