Rahul Jain is a filmmaker based in New Delhi. His work operates at the intersection of sensory cinema and political urgency, frequently exploring the complex relationships between humanity, labor, and the Anthropocene.
He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Video and a Master of Arts in Aesthetics and Politics from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
Jain’s debut documentary feature, Machines (2016), offered an immersive, unflinching look inside a textile factory in Gujarat. The film resonated globally, screening at over 160 festivals and winning seventeen international awards, most notably the Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival, Best Film at Zurich Film Festival and the Grierson Award for Best International Documentary.
His second feature, Invisible Demons (2021), produced by Participant, Ma.Ja.De FilmProduktion and Toinen Katse Films, premiered at the 74th Cannes Film Festival in the "Cinema for the Climate" section. Documenting Delhi’s severe pollution and climate collapse, the film was acquired by MUBI Originals and awarded the Jussi Award for Best Documentary in Finland, alongside the Serpentine Back to Earth Best Green Art Award.
Beyond theatrical releases, Jain's cinematic works have been exhibited at leading international art institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Tate Modern, and the Serpentine Galleries. He has also served as jury president at the Biografilm Festival (2021) and DocPoint Helsinki (2023).
Currently, Jain is expanding his storytelling into narrative fiction with his upcoming short film, The Boy and the Bite.