Biography
Emmanuel has over twenty four years experience spanning multiple continents as film Producer, Production Manager and Philanthropist with a specialty in India & South Asia. He spent eight years at Warner Bros. Features where he supported the production of over 40 major studio features before stepping out to set up Skatepark Films LLC.
Skatepark Films is a Los Angeles based boutique production company he co-founded with Emmy Nominated filmmaker and wife, Manjari Makijany. The company focuses on creating compelling and engaging stories that appeal to global audiences.
He produced the Netflix Original Feature Skater Girl which released in 191 countries and 31 languages.
Emmanuel is also a co-founder of Skate Basti Foundation (501c3), a non-profit organization dedicated to building and utilizing skate parks anchored with art, play and education to empower children in under-served communities. He co-founded the Desert Dolphin Skatepark, one of India's largest community skate parks.
He worked at Warner Bros. Features, Physical Production, where he supported the production management of over 40 films, including Wonder Woman 1984, The Joker, The Mule, Dunkirk, Justice League, Ocean's 8, Batman vs. Superman, and American Sniper among others. He was also part of an internal Corporate Strategy work-group where he advised the studio on the opportunities in the South Asian region.
Earlier in his career he was partner in one of India and South Asia's leading Production Service companies, On The Road India from 2003 through 2013, leading the company into a successful collaboration with Studio and Independent films. During this time his most notable credits as Production Manager include the Warner Bros. International German feature, Eight Miles High (2006), Peter Weir's The Way Back (2009), Disney International's German feature Hexe Lilli (2010) as well as the India portion of Warner Bros., The Dark Knight Rises (2012) among many other award winning documentaries, commercials and stills projects.
He produced his first feature Maya at 24 years old, which premiered in Official Competition at the Montreal World Film Festival and Chicago International Film Festival. The film went on to win People's Choice Award - 1st Runner up at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival as well as Best Director and Cinematographer at the Asian American Film Festival, New York and Australian Cinematography Society.
He Co-Produced and production managed Return to Rajapur, a drama staring Lynn Collins, Justin Theroux, Frank Langella, Celia Weston and Manoj Bajpai. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
His collaboration with wife Manjari Makijany began with award winning short film, The Last Marble (2012), and continued with The Corner Table (2013) and I See You (2017). Emmanuel produced her debut feature Skater Girl (2021) and is producing a slate of feature and TV series projects through their Los Angeles based production company Skatepark Films.
A Greek-Australian, Emmanuel graduated in Communications with majors in Film & Media and Business from Griffith University, Queensland (Nathan Campus). He attended the Australian Film Television and Radio School and University of California, Los Angeles, Professional Producing programs.
He was born in Sydney, Australia to Greek parents who immigrated to Australia in the 60s.
