Passing the Torch
The FRF Fellows Program supports emerging voices in independent media through hands-on creative work, curation, and leadership. Fellows work alongside staff to shape selections, draw from our archives, and support production and special projects across FRF’s platforms.
FRF Fellow Spotlight
Mrugesh Thakor
FRF Fellows Projects: Assistant Director and Production Assistant on RAT CITY and THE WOMEN'S NETWORK
Mrugesh Thakor is a Brooklyn based Indian American writer, director, producer, editor. He is currently pursuing a BFA in film at Pratt Institute.
Growing up between two cultures, Mrugesh became deeply sensitive to the nuances that shape identity, which his films explore through poetic realism and intimate yet objective storytelling. He is drawn to themes of the immigrant journey, the quiet struggles of coming of age and searching for purpose, love, and belonging. He explores the fascinating ways people and places intersect, and through layered portraits of generational and cultural nuances, he captures the human condition with honesty.
Interviewed by FRF Fellow Morgan Johnson, Fordham '26. Edited for brevity and clarity.
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Q: Why First Run Features?
A: Immediately from even the job posting, you can tell that the kind of work you do at First Run is a lot more personal compared to some of the other places where you are a very small part of a big, large machine. I think at First Run, everybody who's there is valued. And obviously the legacy...
If you look at the kind of films that have been supported by First Run, you instantly know that you're part of something that's special. Just the energy in the office is so awesome. Spike Lee worked there as a student and you know, when you walk in you see Spike's thesis poster up on the wall, it feels like I'm part of something that's so much bigger than me. Like I'm contributing to something so big and so important, which is what this whole thing is about.
Q: Why do you like independent filmmaking?
A: Sometimes it's easy to feel like you don't have others in the same boat as you. With independent film, I find that no matter how like weird or niche your interest might be, you will find something out there that's about that weird, niche interest and you feel validated in the fact that someone else out there cares too.
I find that these movies are often much more committed than a film that's not independently made because they're not trying to say what you wanna hear. They're trying to say what they wanna say very firmly, very strongly, very boldly. In a way, like they have nothing to lose because they're made with such little. I think these are the reasons I love independent film.
Q: What makes RAT CITY stand out as a First Run project for you?
A: It's one of those very original ideas that could only happen at First Run and I think everything we filmed for it was just so out there and so wonky and so fun. Like we had a noir shoot with hats and umbrellas and extremely contrasty lighting. Then we also had a little rat prop going around the subways and all sorts of fun stuff. And even just collecting the archival for that short reel was really fun.
And I think developing it happened at such a significant time in New York politics and the history of New York – at a big milestone with the 2025 mayoral election – that it felt like we were working on something very important.
