Annapurna Sriram
Annapurna Sriram | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Actor, filmmaker, writer |
| Notable work | Fucktoys |
Annapurna Sriram is an American film director, screenwriter, and actor from Nashville, Tennessee.[1] She is known as the writer-director and star of the 2025 film Fucktoys, which premiered at South by Southwest where it won the Special Jury Award for a Multi-Hyphenate[2] and received positive reviews from critics.[3] Sriram's performance in the 2019 film Feral received positive reviews from The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety.[4][5][6]
Early life and education
Sriram was raised in Nashville Tennessee where she attended a performing arts high school.[7] In her youth, she enjoyed borrowing cult films from the library (including John Waters' Polyester),[8] was a self-described "theater kid", and a champion Irish dancer.[7]
While attending Rutgers' Mason Gross School of the Arts, she studied at the Globe Theater in London for a year, earning an acting BFA in 2011.[1][9]
Career
Sriram began her career in the film industry as an actor, appearing in shorts, feature films, and series. Her first lead role in a feature film was in the 2019 drama thriller Feral, directed by Andrew Wonder. Glenn Kenny of The New York Times praised her "bravura, multilayered lead performance"[4] and John DeFore from The Hollywood Reporter described the role as a "complicated protagonist, played brilliantly."[5] For her performance as Yazmine, she won the Outstanding Performance Award at the Bushwick Film Festival.[10][9] Sriram has appeared in a number of popular television series including Billions, The Blacklist, and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.[11][12]
Sriram also has a history in live theater. Her notable stage credits include originating the role of Reshma in Jesse Eisenberg's play The Spoils, directed by Scott Elliott for The New Group in 2015.[13] She later reprised the role on the West End in London at Trafalgar Studios in 2016.[14] Variety called Sriram "perfect in this role."[15] She also appeared in Wallace Shawn's Evening at the Talk House alongside Matthew Broderick and in Quiara Alegría Hudes' The Happiest Song Plays Last.[9][16]
Sriram's experiences as a biracial actor in Hollywood influenced her decision to create her own work. She has stated that as an "ethnically ambiguous" actor, she was frequently typecast into racial stereotypes and limiting roles, which did not align with her creative ambitions.[12] This led her to write material for herself.[7]
In 2025, Sriram made her feature directorial debut with Fucktoys, which she wrote, directed, starred in, and executive produced.[2] The film took eight years to create.[8][17] The film was inspired by a breakup in Sriram's late 20s that occurred after a psychic told her she needed to end the relationship or face negative consequences for her career and health.[8] Fucktoys premiered at South by Southwest on March 9, 2025, where it won the Special Jury Award for a Multi-Hyphenate.[2][18] The film was shot on 16mm film[19] and has been described as drawing inspiration from the works of John Waters, Gregg Araki, Jim Jarmusch, and Ken Russell.[19][7][20] Sriram has described the film as "neo-camp" and "American New Wave revival,"[20] exploring themes of capitalism, class, and structures of oppression through a distinctly female perspective.[21]
Acting credits
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Dip, Snip and Zip | Annabelle | Short, credited as Anna Sriram |
| 2005 | The Tulip Grower | Anna | Short, credited as Anna Sriram |
| 2009 | Blood Over Broadway | Charlene Little | Short, credited as Anna Sriram |
| 2016 | The Lost Flowers | Paula | Short |
| The Real Award | Jennifer | Short | |
| Why I Eat Bread | Molecular Water Healer | ||
| America Adrift | Abby | ||
| 2017 | Girl Friends | Cooper | Short |
| In Case of Emergency | Jasmine | ||
| 2018 | Carnivore | Ahana | Short |
| 2019 | Dom | Dom | Short |
| Secret Men's Business | Hayley | Short | |
| Feral | Yazmine | ||
| Terzetto | Ruby | Short | |
| 2020 | Doppelbänger | Cecilia | Short |
| Give or Take | Lauren | ||
| A Case of Blue | Amelia | ||
| 2021 | The Lovers | Andy | Short |
| Welcome to God's Country | Taylor | Short | |
| Work Wife | TV Movie | ||
| 2022 | Measure of Revenge | Zoe / Hamlette | |
| Continue | Taryn | ||
| Mid-Century | Ofc. Raquel Dorado | ||
| Rabbit! | Short | ||
| Tenderly | Aubrey | Short | |
| 2024 | The French Italian | Kelsey | |
| Positive Reinforcement | Daisy | Short | |
| 2025 | Fucktoys | AP | |
| TBA | Still Hungry?[22] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Jest Originals | Office Worker / Orgy Participant | 1 episode |
| 2015 | South of Hell | Diversi-Tay | 5 episodes |
| 2016 | Billions | Tara Mohr | 3 episodes |
| Billy & Billie | Terri | 1 episode | |
| The Path | Meera | 3 episodes | |
| The Blacklist | Odette | 5 episodes | |
| 2017 | Modern Aliens: A Documentary Periodical | Sarah Sprolo | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Coup | Lena Remnick | Mini series |
| 2021 | Bonding | Kassandra | 4 episodes |
| I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson | Joanie | 1 episode |
Filmmaking credits
| Year | Title | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Lost Flowers | Writer |
| 2017 | Girl Friends | Associate producer |
| 2022 | Tenderly | Associate producer |
| 2023 | Goldilocks | Executive producer |
| 2025 | Fucktoys | Writer, director, executive producer, actor |
Awards and nominations
Awards
- Special Jury Award for a Multi-Hyphenate at SXSW 2025 for Fucktoys[18]
- Special Jury Mention for a Narrative Feature at OCFF 2025 for Fucktoys[23]
- Audience Choice Award for Best Debut Feature at BUFF 2025 for Fucktoys[24]
- Grand Jury Prize for New Directors Competition at NashFilm 2025 for Fucktoys[25]
- Grand Jury Prize at San Diego Asian Film Festival 2025 for Fucktoys[26]
- Jury Award for Best Ensemble at Out on Film 2020 for Give or Take[27]
- Best Actor/Outstanding Performance Award at BFF 2019 for Feral[28]
- Special Achievement Award for Acting in a Fiction Feature at Red Rock Film Festival 2019 for Feral
Nominations
- Second Runner Up for the Golden Space Needle Award for Best Director at SIFF 2025 for Fucktoys[29]
- Grand Jury Award for a Narrative Feature at SXSW 2025 for Fucktoys
- Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at OCFF 2025 for Fucktoys
- Prize of the City of Torino for Best Feature Film at TFF 2025 for Fucktoys
- New American Cinema Competition at SIFF 2025 for Fucktoys
- American Independent Award for Best Feature Film at Denver Film 2025 for Fucktoys
- New Visions Award for Best Motion Picture at Sitges 2025 for Fucktoys
- June Award for Best Acting Ensemble at Indie Short Fest 2020 for Coup
See also
References
- ^ a b Rizov, Vadim (2025-09-17). "Annapurna Sriram". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
- ^ a b c Gyarkye, Lovia (2025-03-18). "'F*cktoys' Review: Annapurna Sriram's Bold Blast of a Sex Worker Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ^ "Fucktoys". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ a b Kenny, Glenn (2020-06-04). "'Feral' Review: Homeless and Unraveling as a Storm Approaches". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ a b "'Feral': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. June 2020. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (2020-06-02). "'Feral': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ a b c d Keogan, Natalia (2025-03-09). ""This is Part of Where Our Title Came From — the Amount That Women are Censored": Annapurna Sriram On Her SXSW-Premiering Fucktoys". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
- ^ a b c Earl, William (2025-10-09). "'F—toys' Mastermind Annapurna Sriram Was Sick of Being Pigeonholed in Hollywood, So She Channeled John Waters to Make Her Gonzo Sexual Fantasia". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ a b c "Spotlight on 'A Case of Blue' actor Annapurna Sriram | ArtSWFL.com". Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ "2019 Bushwick Film Festival Award Winners and Prizes Announced". Bushwick Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2024-11-06.
- ^ "Ranking Every Sketch from I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ a b Earl, William (2025-03-09). "'F—toys' Mastermind Annapurna Sriram Was Sick of Being Pigeonholed in Hollywood, So She Channeled John Waters to Make Her Gonzo Sexual Fantasia". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ Brantley, Ben (2015-06-03). "Review: Review: 'The Spoils' Stars Jesse Eisenberg as Narcissist". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ Hemming, Sarah (2016-06-09). "The Spoils, Trafalgar Studio 1, London — review". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ Rooney, David (2015-06-03). "'The Spoils' Review: Jesse Eisenberg's Plays Opens Off Broadway". Variety. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ "Second Stage Theater". 2st.com. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ Foreman, Alison (July 30, 2025). "Why Has Nobody Bought 'F*cktoys'? — Annapurna Sriram Interview". IndieWire. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Smith, Kate (2025-03-12). "2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival Awards Winners". SXSW. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ a b Garner, Glenn (2025-03-19). "'F—toys' Multi-Hyphenate Annapurna Sriram Talks Non-Binary Co-Star's Passport Scare & "Rebellious Nature" Of Her SXSW Winner". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ a b Veneto, Nicole (2025-05-06). "Film Interview: Talking Trash with Annapurna Sriram". The Arts Fuse. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ "Interview with Annapurna Sriram on 'Fucktoys'". Purple Hour. 2025-07-20. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (2026-01-21). "Zane Phillips and Andrew Matarazzo Join Annapurna Sriram in Zachary Solomon's Horror Short 'Still Hungry?' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ McControversy, Nicole (2025-03-24). "Bacchus Awards 2025". Boston Underground Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ "2025 Festival Award Winners". NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ "Meet the SDAFF Award Winners". Pacific Arts Movement. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Award Winners". Out On Film. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ "Bushwick Film Festival, Brooklyn's Premier Independent Film Platform". Bushwick Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
- ^ McLachlan, Megan (2025-05-25). "Seeds, Suburban Fury, Deaf, and The Crowd Win Top Awards At the 51st Seattle International Film Festival". The Contending. Retrieved 2025-11-25.