Manjari Makijany
About Us
Manjari's debut feature, Skater Girl about a teenage girl who comes-of-age through skateboarding was acquired by Netflix and released in 191 countries in 31 languages. Her second feature, Spin is Disney Channel’s first to feature an Indian-American lead in an Original Movie. The film released on Disney Plus worldwide starring Avantika as Rhea, an Indian-American teen who learns she has a passion for creating DJ mixes. For the film, Manjari was nominated for two Children’s & Family Emmy Awards—Outstanding Special Fiction & Outstanding directing in a single camera program.
Her latest feature, Fireflies, is an uplifting sports drama set around Kerala’s iconic Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race. In keeping with her impact-driven approach, the production will train and support a group of women to compete in the traditionally male-dominated race, translating the film’s themes of resilience and gender empowerment into real-world action. She is also developing Discovering Sambha, a documentary around her father, Mac Mohan, one of India’s most beloved cinema icons.
Manjari comes from a family of actors and filmmakers in Bollywood and set her mind on directing at an early age. Her journey as a director took off with her critically acclaimed short film, The Last Marble, which won Best of Fest at the Clermont-Ferrand. She followed that success with more short films The Corner Table and I See You, where she received the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation Award and the Adrienne Shelly Foundation Award and which won Best Short at the Asian American International Film Festival and was showcased in Cannes at the Emerging Filmmakers Showcase.
She went on to become one of eight directors selected for the prestigious American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women Program (AFI DWW) and the second Indian woman to be part of the program since its inception in 1974.Manjari’s storytelling vision, shaped by her experience across India, Australia and the United States, has cultivated a distinct and globally attuned cinematic voice. Together with her husband and producing partner, Emmanuel Pappas, she leads Asia Pacific Pictures, a Sydney-headquartered boutique production company with presence in Los Angeles and Mumbai, dedicated to socially conscious, internationally resonant storytelling.
Emmanuel Pappas
Emmanuel is a film producer with over 26 years of experience spanning Hollywood, India, Australia, and Europe. He specialises in structuring and delivering international co-productions, and is the co-founder of Asia Pacific Pictures Pty Ltd., a Sydney-based production company focused on collaborations between Australia, India, the United States, Europe, and the broader Asia Pacific region. The company develops and produces feature films, television, and animation, leveraging strategic partnerships, incentives, and global distribution pathways.
Prior to this, Emmanuel spent eight years at Warner Bros. Features in Burbank, where he contributed to the production of over 40 major studio films, including Wonder Woman, Joker, Dunkirk, Justice League, Ocean’s 8, and American Sniper.
In 2021, Emmanuel produced the Netflix Original feature Skater Girl, which premiered in 191 countries and 31 languages, earning global acclaim for its inspirational storytelling and cultural impact. He continues to collaborate closely with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Manjari Makijany, driving the slate at Asia Pacific Pictures.
His recent and upcoming projects include EKA, a prestige drama currently in production, positioned as a landmark official co-production between India, Australia, and France, and among the first projects to activate the India–Australia bilateral treaty ratified in 2023. His slate also includes Fireflies, a female-led sports drama, and feature documentaries such as Discovering Sambha and Skate Basti, alongside a broader pipeline of film, television, animation, and children’s content.Beyond filmmaking, Emmanuel is deeply committed to social impact. He is the co-founder of the Skate Basti Foundation, a U.S.-registered non-profit dedicated to empowering underserved communities through skateboarding, art, and education. He also continues to play a key role in establishing and operating the Desert Dolphin Skatepark in Rajasthan, one of India’s largest community-driven skateparks.
Earlier in his career, Emmanuel was a partner at On The Road, one of India’s leading production service companies (2003–2013), supporting Hollywood and international productions across South Asia. His credits during this time include Eight Miles High, The Way Back, Hexe Lilli, and the India shoot of The Dark Knight Rises. He also produced Maya (TIFF People’s Choice Award – 1st Runner-Up) and co-produced Return to Rajapur, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Emmanuel holds a degree in Communications (Film, Media, Business) from Griffith University, and has further trained at AFTRS and the UCLA Professional Producing Program. With a career rooted in global storytelling, he continues to build cross-border partnerships connecting Australia, India, and the international market.