UAE-based entrepreneur, environmentalist and current Mrs Earth, Debanjali Kamstra, made
her Cannes debut this year with a striking appearance on the red carpet of the Eagles of the
Republic screening on May 19. She also marked a significant milestone with the premiere of
her acting debut, 30 Days of Autumn, held at the Palais des Festivals on May 18, in
collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Adapted from Rabindranath Tagore’s beloved short story The Postmaster and directed by
acclaimed filmmaker Sudipto Roy, 30 Days of Autumn marks Debanjali’s transition into cinema
as an actor, following a trailblazing career across business, sustainability and international
pageantry.
Adding to the celebrations at Cannes, Debanjali also announced the launch of Veloche
Productions, a new film production company co-founded with Indian film industry veteran
Sandhya Ramachandran. With a mission to support emerging filmmakers from the
Subcontinent, Veloche Productions aims to bridge the access gap between raw talent and the
resources of the film industry.
As part of its launch activities, Veloche Productions unveiled a new production fund, opening
for script submissions from July 1 to September 30, 2025, with one selected project receiving
full production support. The winning script will be announced in October.
Veloche’s maiden project is a horror feature in English, rooted in the mysticism of Indian
folklore. It will be directed by Salil Jason Fernandez, a British Film Institute graduate, and Aliya
Curmally, a noted creative producer, and is scheduled to begin production in early 2026.
Speaking about her Cannes debut, Debanjali said, “There is so much incredible filmmaking
talent in the Indian subcontinent, as demonstrated by the range of films that came to
prominence over the last year internationally, garnering recognition through the international
festivals and award selections and, through that, galvanizing audiences and appreciation from
across the globe. Unfortunately, so much of this talent remains untapped as these filmmakers
largely lack the connections to studios and production houses for funding. My career journey
has provided me with so many chances and opportunities that my aim with Veloche
Productions is to help others bring their own talent and stories to life, in this case on screen.
And here we are, in Cannes, where my first film as an actor will be screened. What more fitting
a backdrop to make this debut and announce the production company and production fund
than Cannes?”
Sandhya Ramachandran added, “In my years working in Indian cinema, I’ve seen so many
scripts and come across so many aspiring and exceptionally talented directors, who sadly
haven’t had a chance to bring their visions to life because they just don’t have the industry
contacts or the access to studio funding. Connecting with Debanjali, who is so full of talent,
drive and a commitment to sharing her own success, we decided to conjoin our respective
resources and expertise to launch Veloche Productions. We’ve green lighted our first project
and we’re so excited to see the production fund entry submissions for the next project, when
they open in July”
Debanjali Kamstra, Founder of Veloche Contracting LLC and Ventura LLC, began her career
in aviation and architecture before establishing herself as one of the youngest female
entrepreneurs in the UAE. A passionate advocate for sustainability and inclusivity, she was
crowned Mrs Earth 2023 and has been recognised with the Best Young Entrepreneur Award
by Gulf News for her contributions to the business and environmental landscape. 30 Days of
Autumn marks her entry into the world of cinema, as both actor and producer.
