About The Event
If you are a film buff then Short Film Adda is the place to be. Watch handpicked shorts and discuss with the crew about what all went behind making them. Meet, greet and interact with filmmakers and fellow filmlovers.
Ages: 12+
Please take your seats by 5:45 PM.
Aasmani Jhoola
Synopsis - A pickpocket at a bustling local fair is shaken when he finds a suicide note in a stolen wallet. Racing against time, he must track down the wallet’s owner and try to save her, before it’s too late.
Duration - 20 mins
Language - Hindi
Director- Mohammed Ali Rukadikar
Director’s Bio- A graduate in Bachelors of Mass Media, Mohammed Ali Rukadikar is a true ‘Bombay’ kid with a passion for storytelling. His love for narratives has shaped his career in the world of film and advertising. His recent short film 'Aasmaani Jhoola', which he co-wrote and directed, has been officially selected at multiple film festivals across India. Recently, it received five nominations at the prestigious Critic Choice Awards 2026 including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Writing and eventually won Best Cinematography. Recently, he finished working on the original feature film, SHOR-GUL, co-written with Keshav Naidu, produced by Civic Studios, with Hitesh Kewalya as director. Previously, he was also signed by CleanSlate Filmz to develop the investigative horror film The Last Selfie for director Prosit Roy. This project was an original idea developed by Ali and his co-writer Sarat Rao. Additionally, his supernatural horror-comedy Antaraal, co-written with Sarat Rao, was part of the NFDC ScreenWriter’s Lab 2024 at Film Bazaar, part of IFFI 2024.
Two Sinners
Synopsis - When Azhar's brother forces him to confront the man responsible for their sister's assault, he is thrust into an agonising choice. Does he follow his deep-rooted disdain for violence, or give in to the overwhelming desire for vengeance? Torn between morality and justice, Azhar’s next move will change everything.
Duration - 12 mins
Language - Hindi, Urdu
Director- Samir Zaidi
Director’s Bio- Samir Zaidi is a filmmaker, published poet and a multidisciplinary artist. Drawing from his diverse heritage- being born to a Muslim father and Hindu mother, with roots belonging to the small town of Unnao- Samir bravely confronts and processes his experiences through his films and art. Handshakes and Heartbreaks, Samir’s debut book, is an anthology of poems based on Dante’s Inferno. It was published in 2015, and is available worldwide. Owing to his artistic practice, Samir formed a unique form of sketch art called Dori- which has received widespread acclaim with some of his artworks being showcased in prestigious art galleries in Mumbai. Driven by his passion for cinema, he worked as an Assistant Director on Husband Material (TIFF 2018), Sacred Games (Netflix) and Extraction (Netflix). Samir has had the privilege of assisting renowned directors such as Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, and Vishal Bhardwaj. His directorial debut, Two Sinners, marks his first major step into independent filmmaking, where he explores emotionally complex narratives and morally challenging themes.
Tumhari Baari Jo
Synopsis - Every Sunday, Jo’s family gathers for their beloved Scrabble ritual—an oasis of laughter and playful banter. But this Sunday, Jo (22), who has always concealed her sexuality from her family, decides it’s time to speak her truth.
As her tiles spell out the word “LESBIAN,” the room shifts. Her mother, Geetanjali (52), objects to the word; her father, Navneet (56), brushes it off with a joke, oblivious to its deeper meaning. Only her brother Chirag (29) grasps the significance: Jo is coming out.
Tumhari Baari, Jo (Jo’s Turn) is a tender, gently humorous portrait of a young woman’s courage to be seen, set against the familiar backdrop of family games and cultural expectations. In this moment of truth, Jo discovers that the words we dare to play can change the rules of love, identity, and belonging.
Duration- 15 minutes
Language- Hindi
Director- Vinoo Choliparambil
Director’s Bio- Vinoo Choliparambil is a Mumbai-based filmmaker whose debut short film Vitthal won the National Award for Best Debut Director in 2010. Vitthal also received international acclaim at Busan, Montreal, Dubai & Mumbai International Film Festival. In 2022, his feature-length script was selected for the prestigious NFDC Script Lab. Vinoo’s work is known for its grounded storytelling, emotional depth, and strong visual sensibility. Alongside his directorial work, Vinoo has built a strong parallel career as a film editor over the past 15 years, editing feature films, documentaries, and trailers.
