Meet the Patels

Geeta has over 10 years of experience in filmmaking, and is known for her emotional, form-pushing, and nontraditional style. She began her career as Associate Screenwriter for narrative features for Universal Pictures/Imagine Entertainment. Geeta went on to write/direct two documentaries Executive Produced by Academy Award Winner Geralyn Dreyfous, in collaboration with PBS, Tribeca and Sundance.

Geeta's first documentary, a thriller entitled PROJECT KASHMIR, led to three Sundance fellowships, a Tribeca TAA fellowship, and premiered at IDFA and on PBS's Independent Lens. Her second documentary, MEET THE PATELS, is a real romantic comedy produced by ITVS and Impact Partners. Additionally, Geeta is the writer/director of MOUSE, produced by Grant Hill (THE MATRIX/TREE OF LIFE).

A graduate in Comparative Area Studies at Duke University and Frei Universität in Berlin, Geeta has a keen interest in underrepresented voices and stories from around the world. Geeta was recently Visiting Artist in Belarus and Turkey as one of 29 filmmakers chosen for President Obama's film delegation.

Director/actor Ravi Patel is known for using humor to initiate dialogue about serious issues. The comedy documentary MEET THE PATELS was inspired by Ravi's stand-up comedy show on the topic of the Indian-American system of marriage and the struggles of first-generation immigrant families. Ravi is most recognized for his work on SCRUBS, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, TRANSFORMERS, POWDER BLUE, AND PAST LIFE.

In 2013, Ravi co-founded the snack bar THIS BAR SAVES LIVES, which gives a meal to a starving child in Africa for every granola bar they sell. Prior to joining the entertainment industry, Ravi was an investment banker and later founded popular poker magazine ALL IN. Ravi graduated from The University of North Carolina with double majors in Economics and International Studies in 2001.