Made in India

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Film phase:Completed

SYNOPSIS

Made in India is a feature-length documentary film about the human experiences behind the phenomena of “outsourcing” surrogate mothers to India. The film shows the journey of an infertile American couple, an Indian surrogate, and the reproductive outsourcing business that brings them together. Weaving together these personal stories within the context of a growing international industry, Made in India explores a complicated clash of families in crisis, reproductive technology, and choice from a global perspective.

 

 

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Made in India is co-directed by Rebecca Haimowitz and Vaishali Sinha.

 

Rebecca Haimowitz is looking at the camera, her head is tilted and she is smiling. Black and white portrait.Rebecca Haimowitz received her MFA in Filmmaking from Columbia University, where she also worked as a Screenwriting Instructor. In addition to her feature debut, Made in India, she has directed various short documentaries, including a piece about the prison abolition movement, an NYCLU series on over-policing in NYC schools, and a short about summer camp for autistic children. She is currently directing a feature film about the controversial Texas law that forced a man to keep his pregnant wife on life support against her wishes. Rebecca is an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University, where she teaches Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking.

 

Vaishali Sinha is looking directly at the camera, smiling. Black and white portrait.Co-Director and Producer Vaishali Sinha is currently in production on her second feature documentary, on sex education in India. Vaishali also produced commissioned films for acclaimed non-profits including Center for Reproductive Rights, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, International Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission, and more. She is committed to using filmmaking as a platform for dialog on socially and politically sensitive issues. Born and raised in India, Vaishali now resides in Brooklyn, NY.

 

 

NOW PLAYING

Made in India premiered at Hot Docs International Film Festival where it was selected a “festival favorite” and played to sold-out screenings.  It won Best Documentary at the Florida Film Festival, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival and the Magnolia Independent Film Festival. The film has screened at countless community screenings and universities across the U.S. and abroad. Harvard Business School created a teaching note, “Made in India: Human Capital at the Base of the Pyramid” which is currently for sale.  The film was dubbed into Hindi and shown to Indian women from communities participating in surrogacy, sparking a crucial conversation amongst those most impacted by this issue. It also screened at The Hague to aid the formation of laws regulating transnational surrogacy. A segment of the film was featured on PBS NewsHour as part of The Economist Film Project. Made in India was broadcast nationally on PBS.