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

'Bagulbua' (Bugbear) is defined by a space inhabited solely by two - a mother and her little son. However, soon the viewer realizes that another unwanted guest has ensconced itself within this realm of domesticity - an overwhelming fear of shadows and all that lurks within them. 


The narrative is a lovely exploration of this world of horrors for the child, one which holds little substance for adults. And yet, the plot is well-equipped with the required thrill and eeriness. 

A little slice of life, a little darkness - the two are coupled together for the narratorial progression. The space remains marked by notable storytelling throughout, offering an interesting, engaging plot to the viewer, along with an efficient use of resources and performances.

Bagulbua | Short Film of the Month

The film is tightly controlled in its brevity, as well as the use of a limited physical space. It turns the two to its advantage to tell a story that is a complete whole. A man, an artist, sketches by himself late into the night when a sudden power cut halts his work. In an attempt to light a candle, he stumbles across the most strange phenomenon - a matchstick that refuses to burn out and perish. 
The strangeness of the occurrence continues to build until it reaches a terrible development within the story. All of this is portrayed by way of a black-and-white visual palette, devoid of any dialogue, as the myriad elements are judiciously used to conjure shadows and the sinister intentions they harbor within.

The Matchstick | Short Film Nominee

The film, primarily a solo project, introduces the viewer to the experiences of its protagonist one night. Stuck at his workplace into late hours, when instead he would have rather been watching a film with his friends, he is surrounded by strange knocks and shadows. However, soon the grimness of the hour is forgotten as a box is left for him outside the door. Inside he finds a gadget he is most taken by, but little does he realise that it would be precisely this unexpected present that would be his undoing. The film endeavours to create an atmosphere of uncertainty, thrill and horror and remains consistent in its effort at achieving this from beginning to end.

Surprise Gift | Short Film Nominee

The title of the story itself suggests a world predominated by shadows. It wants to bring to life a realm defined by the grey territories of uncertainties and the secrets that lurk in them. Two men are out for a walk late into the night when one of them notices something strange in the alley next to where they are. Despite the fear that darkness instils within him, he finds a strange lure in it. The story wants to employ metaphors and a sense of abstraction to share its intentions with you. As the protagonist begins to make sense of the unusual situation, the film presents the final result to the viewer for them to interact with.

Araal: The Penumbra | Short Film Nominee

In the context of our contemporary nightmarish reality of a pandemic confining everyone indoors, away from what once used to be their normal lives, the short film wants to talk of shadows and darkness. When this is further tied with another aspect of what is now our new lifestyle - the streaming of content online - it introduces you to the possibility of the mind giving rise to all kinds of fears and frightening thoughts. The narrative provides a glimpse of a similar experience that the protagonist undergoes one night after having watched a horror film.

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