Priya Ramesh (CONTRA) | Creative Director, BUMP Festival

Priya Ramesh, also known as CONTRA, is a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, and music producer. She’s the Creative Director of BUMP Festival, one half of the hip hop duo Cartel Madras (signed to Sub Pop), and a co-founder of FOREIGNERZ, a creative house that blends underground culture with film, music, and public art. Priya’s work transforms how we see cities, using art to reclaim space and tell stories that are often left out of the mainstream. Whether on stage, behind the camera, or curating festivals, she’s always creating space for voices that need to be heard.

We’re thrilled to welcome Priya to CJFF. Her practice, rooted in performance, politics, and public storytelling, beautifully echoes the spirit of Comparsa, a film about resilience and radical celebration through art.