Catho D'Souza is a writer and director whose work sits at the intersection of art and social impact.
Her debut play The Games We Play (2016) examined the human cost of drone warfare on civilians; her second, When We Meet Again (2017), mapped the complex bonds between women navigating grief and loss.
Her transition to screen has been marked by strong early recognition. Snow Pea (2022) premiered at the Malibu International Film Festival. I'd Never Date an Indian Girl (2025) had its Australian premiere at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and won both the People's Choice Award and Best Actress at its debut festival in New Zealand.
Catho’s most recent horror short film, I'm Still Here (2026), was selected as a 2026 Tropfest Finalist. Tropfest is the biggest short film festival in the world and her film was one of 16 chosen from over 700 submissions.
Beyond her own projects, Catho is a vocal advocate for representation in the industry. In 2025 she moderated a panel at SXSW Sydney exploring how on-screen representation shapes audience self-worth.
She recently received a nomination for ELLE NEXT GEN Filmmaker of the Year Award 2026, listed among ANZ's rising creatives by LBBOnline in 2023, nominated by Paramount for the B&T 30 Under 30 in 2024, and has built a TikTok community of over 35,000 followers around her filmmaking practice.
Catho is currently in development for her debut feature film. She has also recently been commissioned by Blacktown Arts to write and direct her next short film FIGHT LIKE U which will screen at the Sydney Opera House later this year.
ELLE MAGAZINE NEXT GEN FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE 2026
TROPFEST FINALIST 2026
BLACKTOWN ARTS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL GRANT RECIPIENT 2026
SXSW SYDNEY PANELIST 2025
OFFICIAL SELECTION INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MELBOURNE 2025
HONOURABLE MENTION LA UNDERGROUND FILM FORUM 2025
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD THIRD CULTURE FILM FESTIVAL 2025
BEST ACTRESS THIRD CULTURE FILM FESTIVAL 2025
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL NOMINEE 2025
OFFICIAL SELECTION CENTRAL COAST FILM FESTIVAL 2025
B&T 30 UNDER 30 NOMINEE 2024
LBBONLINE ANZ RISING CREATIVE 2023
OFFICIAL SELECTION MALIBU INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022
UCLA TFT BRUIN DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY MEMBER 2019- 2020
Interviews and Articles
Catho D’Souza nominated as ELLE Next Gen Filmmaker of the Year
ELLE Australia
Catho D’Souza On Her Horror Short ‘I’m Still Here’, Premiering At Tropfest 2026
CityHub
Tropfest finalist 2026: I’m Still here directed by Catho D’Souza
IF
Tropfest finalists & Margot Robbie as Jury President
Variety Australia
Catho D’Souza : Challenging western beauty standards through film
Indian Link
Carving Their Own Path: ANZ’s Rising Creatives
Little Black Book (LBB Online)
Student short film explores unifying desperation of waiting in line for the bathroom
The Daily Bruin