About this campaign
Zeenat and the Men Who Give Her Pause is an intimate film about late blooming, desire, and the hidden interior lives of women.
The story is about a menopausal woman in a long-term dormant marriage who experiences an unexpected emotional and sensual awakening through fleeting encounters with a younger colleague in an office elevator.
Set between the fluorescent routines of office life and the vivid interior world of fantasy, the film explores desire, aging, invisibility, motherhood, marriage, loneliness, and self-reclamation with warmth, restraint, humor, and emotional honesty.
Written & to-be-directed by award-winning filmmaker Richa Rudola (Cow Heavy And Floral), and with a highly accomplished core producing team (Pulkit Datta, Lela Meadow-Conner, and Prerana Thakurdesai), the project has already received early recognition from programs including:
2026 BlueCat Screenplay Competition – Finalist
2026 Flatiron Film Fund – Finalist
2026 CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival – Semi-Finalist
2025 Female Eye Film Festival Pitch Competition – Finalist
Following the impact-driven path of Cow Heavy And Floral, which has screened internationally and sparked conversations around parenthood, identity, and mental health across communities, conferences, and advocacy spaces, we envision Zeenat not only as a film, but as a catalyst for deeper dialogue around menopause, intimacy, emotional well-being, and the evolving inner lives of women.
Your tax-deductible contribution will directly support:
- cast and crew compensation
- production design and locations
- cinematography and post-production
- music and sound
- festival submissions and outreach
- community and impact screenings
- educational and conversation-based programming tied to the film
As an independently produced project without the backing of a major studio, community support makes an enormous difference in helping us create the film with care, nuance, and artistic integrity.
We are also currently exploring partnerships and executive producing opportunities with individuals, organizations, and brands aligned with the film’s themes and impact mission.
Thank you for believing in bold independent storytelling and helping bring Zeenat’s journey to life.
Please contact us for ACH donation information or to learn more about partnership opportunities.