The short film is beautiful in terms of the pacing, the tone and the narrative it weaves using its visuals. Marked by seamlessness and sophistication, the poetry takes the viewer into a world of shadows which conceal some magical beings and all that they carry within themselves. The writing is notable and employs words smartly and poignantly to convey its intentions. The film is specifically relevant in contemporary times for it carries an important social message, urging the viewer to not forget to light up the lives of those we may have, knowingly or unknowingly, forced into oblivion and forgetfulness, especially during the pandemic. The communication is lucid, coherent, skilled, and manages to convey it all in a moving manner.

The Invisible Humans  | Short Film of the Month

The Last Order is a lockdown short that tries to grapple with and unravel a facet of the unprecedented, perplexing circumstances
we’re in. 
The film chooses a subject that evokes pity from all of us – lockdown birthdays. Whether you’re
an introvert or not, the thought of being forced to spend your birthday all alone, shut away from the world, is a unanimously
dreaded thought. 
A woman orders a food delivery on her birthday and doesn't pay heed to the safety measures. Such an oversight might be familiar for some of us for it is easy to give in to the false security of the pandemic not harming us, and that it won't hit us if we’re inside our house. However, soon
after, strange occurrences begin to happen one after the other in her life. Shadows and lights are employed to invoke an atmosphere of thrill and foreboding, raising the question at the heart of the narrative - will ordering food from outside during a pandemic prove to be a point of no return for the protagonist?

The Last Order | Short Film of the Day

The narrative of ‘Van Gogh’ is notably marked by its vulnerability and intimacy. At its heart is the very debilitating struggle of the protagonist to come to terms with his feelings of inadequacy, and the resultant isolation. He constantly second-guesses his location in his relationships, as well as his creative pursuits. 

The film presents his many battles with his appearance, weight, insecurities, and emotional equations, with seamlessness. Relying more on action, and less on dialogue, it efficiently utilizes the protagonist’s portrayal to present a convincing and powerful narrative. 

The screenplay, editing, and writing all aid this endeavor, even if exhibiting a few snags in the department of sound. By invoking the conflicted identity of its namesake artist, the film weaves it all without devolving into a narrative that could have easily been threadbare and hackneyed, and it is perhaps in this that one of its core strengths lies.

Van Gogh | Short Film Nominee

The short film is a quiet engagement with the notions of loneliness, isolation and all they could potentially signify about the state of human existence in the larger scheme of things. As a woman spends her time in silent conversation with her thoughts, there are perhaps a thing or two she is about to learn about herself as well as her relationship with the world around her. The film is soothing in the tone it adopts, and the skilful visuals it chooses to share its story. The manner is notable and seamless in giving a glimpse into the struggles of the protagonist with boredom and idleness, which lead to a comfort she finally achieves with herself. After all, as the Bollywood song playing in the background suggests, sometimes an entire existence can be achieved within a single moment, when armed with your favourite cup of tea and nature as your sole companion.

Idle | Short Film of the Day

Our first interaction with the story is an interaction with a moment of crisis. Something crucial is unfolding for the protagonist, something we would only be allowed a suggestion of without truly knowing what went wrong. However, the moment, and the woman’s comforting whoever the person is on the other side of her phone screen, is sufficient to reveal to us everything that it entails. 

After meeting the homemaker at the heart of a marriage which gives her little comfort or solace, we are allowed a clearer understanding of the tribulations that afflict her life. It is only when the viewer finds out who the recipient of all her phone calls is, that the film’s intentions are made lucid for us. In the process, an important message about mental health, the isolation of depression and the desperate need to simply find a kind friend is pronounced for the audience.

The Confidant | Short Film of the Day

The world that the film brings to life is dominated by two colors - green and red, immediately conjuring an atmosphere of unease with their stark sharpness. As a young girl reluctantly discusses her mental health troubles with an expert by means of a video call, the sense of isolation is strengthened further. The rest of the narrative employs shadows judiciously, along with exercising control over lighting, and finally combining the two with jump scares to invoke horror in the viewer. However, all of these elements are only setting up the big climax and conclusion when a truly disturbing fate awaits the protagonist.

No Sleep Anymore | Lockdown Film Challenge

Following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, billions all over the world were confined to their homes with little or no interaction with the outer world. As the younger generations found themselves between parents with hectic schedules of work from home, and tiresome online school, they were left struggling to make sense of this overwhelming, strange reality. 
The short film, built on similar lines, follows Badar as he finds a companion to his physical and emotional isolation in a child who is also confined to her house in the same manner as him. They communicate with one another over the balcony where, as a routine, the sound of wind-chimes become the call for Badar to step out and throw an apple to his cheery friend, Ambili. They continue to share their problems with one another and seek joy in the little moments and things. However, would the overpowering loneliness prevail over this friendship as the passage of time continues with its inexorable movement?

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