The Brains Behind the Block: The Filmmakers statement
“We’re not just building a short film. We’re building a world one frame at a time, with the long view in mind.”
-Shabeel Dhami & Jeetendra Pidikiti
A Film Rooted in Reality
We created The Block not just as a standalone short, but as a strategic proof of concept for a larger feature film. With today’s audience hungry for authentic, multicultural thrillers rooted in real environments, we believe this story grounded in the immigrant experience, urban dynamics, and emotional grit has both global commercial potential and festival appeal.
Proven Talent. Bold Ambition.
“The Block” is co-directed by Jeetendra Pidikiti and Shabeel Dhami; A duo blending creative precision with commercial insight. Jeetendra, an experienced cinematographer, has worked on major productions like House of Gucci, Mission Impossible,Etc. alongside Adam Driver and Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise and trained under icons like Roger Deakins and Emmanuel Lubezki at the ARRI Academy. Shabeel brings years of experience from the world of advertising and television, offering structure and story instinct. Their debut feature film has already won awards at global festivals including Montreal, San Diego, and London, and was acquired by Amazon Prime Video. Their short film Hello Midnight earned over 40 international awards for Jeetendra’s cinematography, even catching the attention of Edgar Wright. Together, they are building The Block as a powerful proof of concept for a future feature grounded, cinematic, and ready for international platforms and investors.”