Independent Shorts Awards

Parastish Rooh Se: Spiritual Worship

Out of millions of devotees in our world who pray and undertake expensive pilgrimages, hardly anyone understands the real meaning of Prayers or Pilgrimages like Hajj which is actually an inward act of compassion of intentions towards the Allah (God) and his children. And the Almighty God does not accept the Hajj or prayers merely on the basis of a physical journey. Through our fiction short film, inspired by a mythical story about the real meaning of a pilgrimage or worship, is demonstrated by a poor cobbler who has no resources to perform Hajj Mecca but through his spiritual strength and noble heart, his prayers are accepted by the Almighty.
Directed by Suresh K Goswami (India)

Nakusha: The Unwanted One

Nakusha, which means The Unwanted One, is the story of many newborn girls in India. The intentional and barbaric act of female infanticide is carried out fearlessly even today. The film portrays the gender-selective killing of a newborn girl and those few minutes that she gets to live in a small village in Maharashtra.
Directed by Pranay Meshram (India)

Bougie Ass Brandon

Brandon seems to have everything in life at first glance. Unfortunately, he gets in his own way when it comes to family, friends and relationships. Can Brandon change his ways once he finds out shocking news that will change his life as he knows it?
Directed by Valerie Alleyne Udeozor (USA)

Travellers in Time

‘Travellers in Time’ is the official music video and lead song from the Australian musical ‘Audrey Hepburn and I Consider Our Assets’ about a young Melbourne girl who can’t keep Audrey Hepburn out of her head and her therapy sessions.
Directed by Noel Anderson (Australia)

Groomed

Maria’s story is a familiar one — with a violent and heartbreaking twist. Frustrated with her mother’s seemingly overbearing concern, teenage Maria runs to the arms of an older man who pays her attention and promises her love, if she will do just one thing. Maria realizes too late that what she thought was love was a ploy for control until a chance encounter changes everything.
Directed by Angelo Reyes (USA)

Deadbolt

Two couples are desperate to get out of the financial hole they’re in. When one suggests a burglary, it turns out to not be as easy as planned.
Directed by Michael McCallum (USA)

Let’s Share The Moon

Two children teach us the true meaning of friendship and togetherness in today’s divided world in a colorful and musical film beautifully shot in Varanasi, India.
Directed by Mayank Bokolia (India)

The Silencer

A man comes home to find a hitman sitting in his dining room. The events that ensue reveal that he may have a history with this hitman.
Directed by Julian Bate-Vergette (Canada)

Redemption

In the darker side of a tumultuous pandemonium, four wanted men are hunted down by an infamous assassin.
Directed by Bharath Raj Kartha (India)

If You’re Feeling Dizzy, Whine

Ye-Sul, a Korean American college student, decides to host a Korean graduation party out of desperation for returning to the Korean community once her Student Visa has expired. When she gets humiliated by one of her peers, Hyun-Shik, she decides to take vengeance against him in the pettiest way possible.
Directed by Hyunseung Hahn (South Korea)

Close To Home

Put yourself in another’s shoes as we explore core social issues that plague today’s society.
Directed by Ian Stack (USA)

La Débutante

“La Débutante” journeys into the life of a 56-year-old trans woman who realizes it’s either transition or death.
Directed by Lena Tosta (Brazil)