Writer & Director
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Rory Dhariwal Bentley is an award-winning writer and director of British-Punjabi heritage, originally from Leicester and Edinburgh.
His debut feature film AMRIT is casting with Shaheen Baig (ADOLESCENCE), with support from the BFI. The project was selected for the prestigious BBC Films, BFI and Creative UK iFeatures programme, regarded as the UK’s leading development lab for debut feature filmmakers. His feature film SHIELING was selected for Climate Spring’s The House House Development Lab, in collaboration with BBC Writers and Film London. His series CUTH – Just A Little Bit Brown was selected for the Independent Film Trust x Sony Pictures UK - USA Creative Corridor. He is an alumni of the BBC Writersroom: Scottish Voices.
His 16mm short film SURPRI-! premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and won Best Super Short at the British Short Film Awards. He co-wrote, shot and directed the 8mm short JAMELLA, starring Jamie Demetriou, which won first prize at the Straight 8 industry competition. His broader body of short film work - shot on 8mm, 16mm and digital - has screened at BAFTA and Academy Award qualifying festivals worldwide, including Edinburgh International Film Festival, Palm Springs, Cork International Film Festival, Aesthetica, British Shorts Berlin, and Flickerfest International Short Film Festival. He also served as Second Unit Director on Raine Allen-Miller’s acclaimed feature film RYE LANE (BBC, BFI, Searchlight).
In parallel with his independent work, Rory has worked on a range of feature film, TV and commercial productions. He was assistant to Writer-Director Paul King (PADDINGTON 2) on a Disney feature film through Film London’s Equal Access Network. He has directed commercial content for clients including Netflix, Nike, adidas, ELEMIS, VISA, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Deutsche Bank, AKT and ASOS.
He has been mentored by visionary filmmakers including Sally Potter (through Four Corners) and Camera d’Or winner Anthony Chen (through iFeatures & Directors UK Inspire). He was named one of Film London’s inaugural Lodestars, spotlighting exceptional emerging talent. He is a BAFTA Connect member, a BFI Network x BAFTA Crew Alumnus, and a recipient of the highly competitive John Brabourne Award.
He studied French and English Literature and spent time living and writing in Paris. He is now based in the U.K, where he is developing a body of film and TV work exploring mixed-race identity - across genres, cultures and eras.
His debut feature film AMRIT is casting with Shaheen Baig (ADOLESCENCE), with support from the BFI. The project was selected for the prestigious BBC Films, BFI and Creative UK iFeatures programme, regarded as the UK’s leading development lab for debut feature filmmakers. His feature film SHIELING was selected for Climate Spring’s The House House Development Lab, in collaboration with BBC Writers and Film London. His series CUTH – Just A Little Bit Brown was selected for the Independent Film Trust x Sony Pictures UK - USA Creative Corridor. He is an alumni of the BBC Writersroom: Scottish Voices.
His 16mm short film SURPRI-! premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and won Best Super Short at the British Short Film Awards. He co-wrote, shot and directed the 8mm short JAMELLA, starring Jamie Demetriou, which won first prize at the Straight 8 industry competition. His broader body of short film work - shot on 8mm, 16mm and digital - has screened at BAFTA and Academy Award qualifying festivals worldwide, including Edinburgh International Film Festival, Palm Springs, Cork International Film Festival, Aesthetica, British Shorts Berlin, and Flickerfest International Short Film Festival. He also served as Second Unit Director on Raine Allen-Miller’s acclaimed feature film RYE LANE (BBC, BFI, Searchlight).
In parallel with his independent work, Rory has worked on a range of feature film, TV and commercial productions. He was assistant to Writer-Director Paul King (PADDINGTON 2) on a Disney feature film through Film London’s Equal Access Network. He has directed commercial content for clients including Netflix, Nike, adidas, ELEMIS, VISA, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Deutsche Bank, AKT and ASOS.
He has been mentored by visionary filmmakers including Sally Potter (through Four Corners) and Camera d’Or winner Anthony Chen (through iFeatures & Directors UK Inspire). He was named one of Film London’s inaugural Lodestars, spotlighting exceptional emerging talent. He is a BAFTA Connect member, a BFI Network x BAFTA Crew Alumnus, and a recipient of the highly competitive John Brabourne Award.
He studied French and English Literature and spent time living and writing in Paris. He is now based in the U.K, where he is developing a body of film and TV work exploring mixed-race identity - across genres, cultures and eras.
He is represented by Jonny Jones at United Agents.