Welcome to the The Hot Seat.
Every month we will feature a filmmaker who is redefining West Coast filmmaking. It's time we start shining that ever elusive spotlight onto those in our community who are at the forefront of the BC Indie Revolution.
Each featured filmmaker will answer the same 10 questions, giving insight into their minds, inspirations, aspirations and dreams. The first five questions are rapid fire. Quick. Juicy. Intriguing. The last 5 are more profound, insightful, all about filmmaking.
Last month Shakil Jessa invited the indomitable Tesh Guttikonda to brave the Hot Seat. Let's dive in!
Tesh Guttikonda is an award-winning cat dad, mad scientist, and writer-director based in Vancouver. Known for his sharp satire, innovative genre-bending storytelling, and collaborative spirit, Tesh creates films with imaginative worlds that celebrate the beautifully messy, hilariously flawed, and deeply human.
Born in India and raised across the globe, Tesh’s nomadic upbringing immersed him in a mosaic of cultures, fuelling his vibrant storytelling approach. This constant movement shaped his unique ability to craft narratives that transcend borders with universal truths. For Tesh, filmmaking is about connection, discovery, and growth. He measures success by what lingers long after we're gone.
His credits include Mom vs. Machine (Dust, Whistler, Fantasia, HollyShorts), Raksha (IPF x CMF 2023 Development Fund), and Lowlifes (streaming on Tubi and Crave).
Tesh Guttikonda
1. What is the first film you can remember having an effect on you?
Big Fat Liar with a masterclass performance from Paul Giamatti. My early movie pickings came from whatever my parents allowed me to blind buy from Save-On-Foods’ rotational DVD collection in the early 2000s. When the needle-drop hit for Right Here, Right Now by Fat Boy Slim, my soul knew it wanted to make movies. That and Constantine with Keanu Reeves lives rent free in my head.
2. If you could work with one filmmaker, dead or alive, who would it be?
Satoshi Kon! RIP. I would love to collaborate on animation! I’m 100% sure we would cook up something bat shit crazy.
If you could remake any film, what would it be and what would you change?
No remakes for me! I’m all about putting OG vibes into the world.
What is your biggest passion outside of being a filmmaker?
Mental Health.
What are you working on now?
In development on a few different horror features! I balance between my solo passion projects, co-writing for Kurtis David Harder, co-directing with Mitch Oliver as horror mercenaries for hire, and producing with Praneet Akilla. Also a special shout-out to a script I recently optioned called Oplichter by Eric Bruce that I am pretty excited about. I’m just having a lot of fun exploring so many diverse textures of horror in atmosphere, style, and tone.
Creatively, what inspires you to continue your journey in filmmaking?
How fucked everything is! LOOK AT THE WORLD. ARGH. It’s terrifying, insane, but also with so much worth fighting for. We need hope, and especially hope through entertainment. Creativity is an act of rebellion and it's the only way I know how to channel my rage into something constructive. I’ve been super inspired by the violin players on the Titanic from a young age. I’d have posters of them right next to Rage Against the Machine if I could go back in time and have any posters in my room.
There is a lot to say, and I reserve it for my films.
Who are your frequent collaborators and what do they bring to your projects?
My cat… Fomo. He reminds me to be present and grounded every day while teaching me to be grateful for the privileges of life we enjoy just by the nature of being able to articulate this thought. I especially love it when he jumps on my keyboard and it knocks me out of the rhythm… that always leads to an interesting discovery. Then I also love chaos, uncertainty, and Murphy’s Law as frequent collaborators who insist upon themselves. Look, yes, this answer has been a cop out, and I’m avoiding trying to name people because of the anxiety of leaving out anyone when I’m surrounded by an incredible community. WHICH IS AN AMAZING SEGUE into the next question…
What is the most rewarding part about being a BC filmmaker? What is the most challenging?
The community. It’s both the best and most challenging part. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the incredibly talented people here. I truly believe BC has the potential to be a global filmmaking hub, but that potential is also where the challenge lies.
We have so many gifted filmmakers and creatives, but I’ve never seen more people undersell themselves or aim too low because they’re too hard on themselves. We need more ambition. We need to break out of echo chambers and take full advantage of the resources available to us. BC could be THE place for filmmaking, but it requires all of us to dream bigger.
It frustrates me to see so much talent wasted on waiting for permission, funding, or the perfect opportunity. The only way forward is to take risks, fail openly, experiment, push boundaries, and stop being precious about your “brand”. No one will understand what you’re capable of from just one project. If we want to get on a global stage and be taken seriously… We need to take risks. Stop making shorts. Make features. Low budget, no budget, whatever. Just MAKE MOVIES. Shorts are 60% of the effort with almost no upside or competitive advantage. You want a rep? You want a career? You want to make a living? Make things. Participate in the business. Invest in yourself. Ask without shame. Take risks. Stop being your own gatekeeper. Our success as individuals strengthens a sustainable filmmaking community collectively. I’m tired of talking about potential. I’m here to make things.
As a filmmaker, how do you measure success?
In choosing to show up completely in every moment I am able to.
Who’s another BC filmmaker you’d like to spotlight?
Adriana Marchand. She’s a force of nature, and I’m always inspired by someone who is able to blend play, taste, and community into their projects the way she does. I’m looking forward to whatever she cooks up next.