Adam J. Graves

Last updated
Adam J. Graves
Born
U.S.
Alma mater University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D.)
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, philosopher, author
Years active2021–present
Spouse Suchitra Mattai

Adam J. Graves is an American filmmaker and philosopher. [1] [2] He earned an Academy Award nomination for his film Anuja , which he wrote, directed and edited. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Graves studied at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in South Asia Regional Studies, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in philosophy of religion. [4] He also spent time as a visiting student at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, in the late 1990's. [5]

Career

Graves is a professor of philosophy at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he founded the Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry (Dphi), a public humanities center focusing on the intersection of philosophy, film, literature, and the arts. [2] [4] He previously taught at the University of Pennsylvania and in the University of Virginia's Semester at Sea program. [2]

Graves wrote and directed his first short film, Cycle Vérité, which premiered at the Denver Film Festival in 2021. [6] In 2024, his short film Anuja was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2025. His films tend to explore larger philosophical and socio-ethical issues within the context of more intimate familial relationships. [7]

Philosophical Contributions

Graves' philosophical contributions explore themes in phenomenology, the philosophy of religion, and hermeneutics, with particular attention to the nature of agency, moral responsibility, and narrative selfhood.[ citation needed ] He has worked on Paul Ricœur and the phenomenology of revelation, and developed a normative theory of action, which conceives of freedom as an “achievement of narrative self-understanding.” [8] He has said that his philosophical thought fuels his work as a filmmaker. [1]

Personal life

Graves is married to multidisciplinary contemporary artist Suchitra Mattai. [9]

Filmography

YearTitleContributionNote
2021Cycle VéritéDirector and writerShort film
2024The Other Side of the SunEditor and ProducerShort film
2024 Anuja Director, writer and editorShort film

Publications

Awards and nominations

YearResultAwardCategoryWorkRef.
2024Won Montclair Film Festival Audience Award Short Film Anuja [10]
Won Foyle Film Festival Best International Short Film [11]
Won HollyShorts Film Festival Best Live Action [12]
WonNew York Shorts International Film FestivalGrand Prize
2025Nominated Academy Awards Best Live Action Short Film [13]
WonGold ListBest Live Action Short [14]

References

  1. 1 2 Jackson, Destiny (2025-02-12). "'Anuja' Director Adam J. Graves On Creating An Empathetic Tale Of Two Sisters In Oscar-Nominated Short". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dr. Adam Graves". msudenver.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[ non-primary source needed ]
  3. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (2025-01-14). "Netflix Acquires 'Anuja,' Oscar-Shortlisted Short Film Backed by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mindy Kaling and Guneet Monga Kapoor". Variety. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  4. 1 2 "Adam Graves". red.msudenver.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[ non-primary source needed ]
  5. ↑ "Adam J. Graves shares inspiration behind Anuja, a Tale of sisterhood and resilience". Times of India. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  6. ↑ "Cycle Vérité". denverfilmfestival.eventive.org. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[ non-primary source needed ]
  7. ↑ Stephens, Dan (2024-10-24). "Interview: Adam J. Graves On "Anuja": Bridging Philosophy And Film To Tackle Child Labour". top10films.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[ failed verification ]
  8. ↑ Graves, Adam (2018-01-01). "Narration and the Normative Theory of Freedom: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives". researchgate.net. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[ non-primary source needed ]
  9. ↑ Weinberg, Justin (2025-01-24). "Philosopher & Artist Couple's Film Nominated for an Oscar". dailynous.com. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  10. ↑ "Announcing The 2024 Montclair Film Festival Award Winners!". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  11. ↑ "Foyle Film Festival's Light in Motion Competition Award Winners 2024 Announced at Closing Night Gala". foylefilmfestival.org. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  12. ↑ "Announcing the 2024 HollyShorts Award Winners". hollyshorts.com. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  13. ↑ "Nominees". oscars.org. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  14. ↑ "'Wicked,' 'Moana 2' and More Among Gold House Gold List Winners". variety.com. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
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