Mandi Riggi
Mandi Riggi is a member of WGAW, WGGB, Directors U.K., and BAFTA Crew 2021. She is one of 12 selected into Berlin’s Serial Eyes, a training program for European Showrunners designed by acclaimed TV writer/producer Frank Spotnitz. Mandi was nominated by B3 Media to participate in the 2021 IFFR Rotterdam Producers Lab.
Mandi’s TV pilot, PEACE X PIECE was optioned and developed at the Showtime Network in the US and personally championed and developed by Gary Levine. Her TV series ALEX IN WONDERLAND, was one of 16 selected into MIA Market’s Drama Pitch Series. She is currently working on a new series whilst training at the showrunning program Serial Eyes.
Her feature debut MERCY starring Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus, Homeland), Hiam Abbass (Succession), Emun Elliott (Prometheus) and Sarah Snook (Succession), was selected into EAVE, participated in Toronto’s Ontario Creates IFF program, Film London’s PFM, and at the MIA Co-Production Market in Rome. Mandi’s feature film FIVE STOREYS UNDERGROUND participated in the 2020 Film London’s PFM. Mandi attended the 2021 IFFR Rotterdam Producers Lab with her feature film EVIN about political prisoners in Iran.
Mandi’s short film SPADE starring Jorge Garcia, premiered at the Rome Independent Film Festival and the won the Katra Series award (New York), and premiered on Shorts TV. Her film, PARALLEL PASSAGE, was nominated Best Short at the Deauville Festival of American Cinema and traveled 13 international film festivals including Hamptons, Newport Beach, São Paulo and Huesca. Mandi’s animated script, SHOE IN was a finalist at the Fantastic Planet festival in Australia. Her screenplay, BEFORE YOU SAY GOODBYE, was selected into the FIND Producers Lab.
Mandi is also a playwright, directs and produces for the stage. Her play LEVITICUS premiered at Edinburgh Fringe and Off Broadway at 59e59 Theatre (NY). Her play MERCY (based on her film), will premiere at London’s Park Theatre in 2022.
Mandi’s TV pilot, PEACE X PIECE was optioned and developed at the Showtime Network in the US and personally championed and developed by Gary Levine. Her TV series ALEX IN WONDERLAND, was one of 16 selected into MIA Market’s Drama Pitch Series. She is currently working on a new series whilst training at the showrunning program Serial Eyes.
Her feature debut MERCY starring Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus, Homeland), Hiam Abbass (Succession), Emun Elliott (Prometheus) and Sarah Snook (Succession), was selected into EAVE, participated in Toronto’s Ontario Creates IFF program, Film London’s PFM, and at the MIA Co-Production Market in Rome. Mandi’s feature film FIVE STOREYS UNDERGROUND participated in the 2020 Film London’s PFM. Mandi attended the 2021 IFFR Rotterdam Producers Lab with her feature film EVIN about political prisoners in Iran.
Mandi’s short film SPADE starring Jorge Garcia, premiered at the Rome Independent Film Festival and the won the Katra Series award (New York), and premiered on Shorts TV. Her film, PARALLEL PASSAGE, was nominated Best Short at the Deauville Festival of American Cinema and traveled 13 international film festivals including Hamptons, Newport Beach, São Paulo and Huesca. Mandi’s animated script, SHOE IN was a finalist at the Fantastic Planet festival in Australia. Her screenplay, BEFORE YOU SAY GOODBYE, was selected into the FIND Producers Lab.
Mandi is also a playwright, directs and produces for the stage. Her play LEVITICUS premiered at Edinburgh Fringe and Off Broadway at 59e59 Theatre (NY). Her play MERCY (based on her film), will premiere at London’s Park Theatre in 2022.
London (Greater London)
FILM / TV
Mercy (feature film) - Writer/Director
Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Hiam Abbass, Emun Elliott, Sarah Snook, Yasmin Paige Pre-production (on hold due to Covid)
Production Company: Writers & Anglers
Producers: Sara Bonakdar, Kevin Fitzmaurice Comer
(selected into Film London’s PFM, Rome’s MIA Market, Toronto’s Film Festival’s IFF) https://variety.com/2018/film/festivals/british-iranian-helmer-mandi-riggi-shows-no- mercy-debut-1202987657/
Five Storeys Underground (feature film) - Writer/Director Development
Production Company: Writers & Anglers
(selected into Film London’s PFM)
Piece x Peace (TV Series) - Writer/Creator
Currently in turnaround
(originally optioned and developed at the Showtime Network)
Alex in Wonderland (TV Series) - Writer/Creator
Currently in development
(Selected in Rome MIA Market Drama Pitch Series) https://variety.com/2019/film/global/mia-mandi-riggi-alex-in-wonderland-1203371090/
Before You Say goodbye (feature film) - Writer/Director Optioned
Based on a short play by Bekah Brunstetter
Production Company: Little Bird
Producer: Lulu Brud
(selected into the FIND Producers Lab, Los Angeles)
Spade (short film) - Writer/Director
Starring: Jorge Garcia
August 2014, Shorts TV 2021
Production Company: PSYCHONAUT
Producer: Kevin Fitzmaurice Comer
Winner Katra Film Series Award, Rome Independent Film Festival - Shorts TV
Parallel Passage (short film) - Writer/Director
Production Company: PSYCHONAUT
Producer: Kevin Fitzmaurice Comer
Nominated Best Short Deauville Festival of American Cinema, Winner Silver Remi Award Worldfest Houston, Hamptons Film Festival, Huesca Film Festival, São Paulo Film Festival, San Diego Film Festival, Malibu Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, Cinequest Film Festival, Kent Film festival, Los Angeles International Short Film Festival,
THEATRE
Mercy - Playwright
October 2021 - Park Theatre (London)
September 2019 - Bread & Roses Theatre / Clapham Fringe (London)
(finalist recipient at Stage Left Theatre / Downstage Left Residency https://viewfromtheoutside.blog/2019/09/29/mercy-at-the-bread-and-roses/
Leviticus - Playwright
August 2018 - Edinburgh Fringe
July 2018 - 59E59 (New York)
(workshopped at Guild Hall, East Hampton New York)
Featuring: Sawyer Spielberg, Raye Levine Spielberg, Brynne Kraynak, Eric Svendsen http://www.wherearetheygoing.org/leviticus-by-mandi-riggi.html
Heaven & Hell - Playwright
February 2014 - Midnight Madness Festival (New York)
A Baby’s Arm Holding An Apple - Playwright February 2013 - Midnight Madness Festival (New York) (finalist at ReOrient Festival / Golden Thread) Featuring: Lulu Brud, Eddie Kehler
Piaf - Playwright
September 2012 - July 2016 - Marilyn Monroe Theatre, Grammy Museum (Los Angeles)
Mercy (feature film) - Writer/Director
Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Hiam Abbass, Emun Elliott, Sarah Snook, Yasmin Paige Pre-production (on hold due to Covid)
Production Company: Writers & Anglers
Producers: Sara Bonakdar, Kevin Fitzmaurice Comer
(selected into Film London’s PFM, Rome’s MIA Market, Toronto’s Film Festival’s IFF) https://variety.com/2018/film/festivals/british-iranian-helmer-mandi-riggi-shows-no- mercy-debut-1202987657/
Five Storeys Underground (feature film) - Writer/Director Development
Production Company: Writers & Anglers
(selected into Film London’s PFM)
Piece x Peace (TV Series) - Writer/Creator
Currently in turnaround
(originally optioned and developed at the Showtime Network)
Alex in Wonderland (TV Series) - Writer/Creator
Currently in development
(Selected in Rome MIA Market Drama Pitch Series) https://variety.com/2019/film/global/mia-mandi-riggi-alex-in-wonderland-1203371090/
Before You Say goodbye (feature film) - Writer/Director Optioned
Based on a short play by Bekah Brunstetter
Production Company: Little Bird
Producer: Lulu Brud
(selected into the FIND Producers Lab, Los Angeles)
Spade (short film) - Writer/Director
Starring: Jorge Garcia
August 2014, Shorts TV 2021
Production Company: PSYCHONAUT
Producer: Kevin Fitzmaurice Comer
Winner Katra Film Series Award, Rome Independent Film Festival - Shorts TV
Parallel Passage (short film) - Writer/Director
Production Company: PSYCHONAUT
Producer: Kevin Fitzmaurice Comer
Nominated Best Short Deauville Festival of American Cinema, Winner Silver Remi Award Worldfest Houston, Hamptons Film Festival, Huesca Film Festival, São Paulo Film Festival, San Diego Film Festival, Malibu Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, Cinequest Film Festival, Kent Film festival, Los Angeles International Short Film Festival,
THEATRE
Mercy - Playwright
October 2021 - Park Theatre (London)
September 2019 - Bread & Roses Theatre / Clapham Fringe (London)
(finalist recipient at Stage Left Theatre / Downstage Left Residency https://viewfromtheoutside.blog/2019/09/29/mercy-at-the-bread-and-roses/
Leviticus - Playwright
August 2018 - Edinburgh Fringe
July 2018 - 59E59 (New York)
(workshopped at Guild Hall, East Hampton New York)
Featuring: Sawyer Spielberg, Raye Levine Spielberg, Brynne Kraynak, Eric Svendsen http://www.wherearetheygoing.org/leviticus-by-mandi-riggi.html
Heaven & Hell - Playwright
February 2014 - Midnight Madness Festival (New York)
A Baby’s Arm Holding An Apple - Playwright February 2013 - Midnight Madness Festival (New York) (finalist at ReOrient Festival / Golden Thread) Featuring: Lulu Brud, Eddie Kehler
Piaf - Playwright
September 2012 - July 2016 - Marilyn Monroe Theatre, Grammy Museum (Los Angeles)
Film, Television, Theatre