Rory Dhariwal Bentley is a writer-director of mixed British-Punjabi heritage from Leicester / Edinburgh.
His first feature film AMRIT is being developed by BFI/BBC Films/Creative England after being selected for a coveted place on the iFeatures initiative - the UK’s leading development lab for debut feature filmmakers. He is also the recipient of the John Brabourne Award for the film.
He has made independent short films on 8mm, 16mm (and digital) which have premiered at prestigious film festivals around the world, including Edinburgh International Film Festival, Cork Film Festival, Palm Springs, East End Film Festival, British Shorts Berlin & Aesthetica FF.
He co-wrote/shot the 8mm short film JAMELLA, starring Jamie Demetriou (STATH LETS FLATS) - which won first prize at the Straight 8 ‘One roll, no editing’ Industry Competition.
He cut his teeth self-shooting and editing films whilst working as a PA in-house and freelance for award winning production companies on commercials and features. Notably, he was assistant to Paul King (MIGHTY BOOSH / PADDINGTON) on a feature film for Disney, through Film London’s Equal Access Network.
He has been mentored by Sally Potter (ORLANDO) as part of the Four Corners’ Zoom programme, and is currently being mentored by Camera D’Or winner Anthony Chen (ILO ILO) as part of iFeatures / Director’s UK Inspire Scheme.
In 2019 Rory was named as one of 25 FILM LONDON LODESTARS, celebrating emerging talent in the capital, and he has been a member of the BFI NETWORK x BAFTA Crew for two years.
He studied French & English Literature and, after a stint writing and marinading in Paris, is now based in London.
Represented by Mark Brennan at United Agents for Film & TV | MBrennan@unitedagents.co.uk