A man wakes up in a strange place, completely unaware of how he got there to begin with. Little does he know that an even stranger reality awaits him, as he is greeted by three pallid faces, haunted by unmissable shadows under their eyes. 

The story develops to reveal how the four characters are entrapped in a realm defined by their worst nightmares. The only seeming route to success is engulfed by the most terrifying foe - each character’s worst fear. The narrative thus presents an endeavor to explore the potency of fear vis-a-vis the human mind, displaying investment of thought and attention at the level of writing and narratorial progression. 

When the characters try to outdo it, to eventually figure out an escape route, would they be successful? The film explores the question while engaging with the individual reality of each character with earnestness. It further employs a controlled physical space to present all of this to you, endeavoring to keep the viewer engaged all along.

The Fingernail Taker | Short Film of the Day

What happens when a man only has 1500 words left to live? Does he rage against the arbitrary nature of life where words have come to reign supreme when it comes to human communication? Or does he accept silence as his fate and goes on with life with his head down? The film is a humorous yet heart-breaking exploration of the same dilemma as Stanley struggles to stay alive as well as his keep marriage afloat. In its own nuanced and comedic manner, the narrative further engages with the importance (or the lack of it) of silence in a relationship. As Stanley strives to extend his life, a very tough enemy remains to be conquered - the absolute human need to articulate - be it sadness, pain, anger, denial or love. Amidst all this rigmarole of emotions, expectations and duties, where will the protagonist finally find himself?

1500 Words | Short Film of the Day

A marine biologist works into the night when unexplained noises from under the water's surface halt her work. As another expert steps in to unravel the mystery of the sounds, while also alluding to the menace of plastics and their onslaught on the environment, the most shocking reality unfolds. 

The film presents a swift introduction of not only the strange circumstance at hand but also a glimpse into Amy, the protagonist’s world. There is loss, and perhaps past trauma, coupled with a fierce sense of protecting the memory of a partner that has been left behind in its wake - components all of which rope in deep unease into the story. 

Without truly offering the cause and effect, and what has led Amy to this moment, a sinister situation is portrayed for the viewer. The film does an efficient job of not only using the limited aspects of a story but also a confined physical space to bring all of this to life in its brevity. Additionally, it leaves the door open for a longer exploration of the moment the film presents.

The Purgamentum | Short Film of the Day

The story of the short film is simple and straight. It is told with a crispness (of acting, editing, pacing of the structure), with not a single moment wasted on any redundancies, that succeeds in making Standby a deeply endearing watch. The narrative is about the shared space of two cops as they go about their daily duties. From an awkward start to their relationship to all the warmth, concern and mutual support it comes to stand for - the film portrays it all. This storytelling is further enhanced by an efficient utilisation of the limited resources of space, albeit self-inflicted by the narrative, that holds the viewer's attention throughout. Visually the film is achieved primarily within a single, fixed frame of the front of the car of the two characters, Gary and Jenny. While they keep moving with the occurrence of different events in their lives, the camera remains at the same spot throughout. Seamless editing further ensures that this does not become repetitive, while also allowing the film to be a humorous, touching watch throughout.

Standby | Short Film of the Day

It's incredibly difficult to pin down what this film truly means to a viewer. It is ethereal and visceral at the same time. It is extremely complex, nuanced, evasive, and yet, at its core, has a simple premise. While the subject it deals with is endlessly layered, its voice and tone is fairly straightforward. But wait, what genre does it belong to? Is it dramatic, surreal, violent in its execution of its story? Is it all or none of it? As you struggle with the questions and their answers, it is indeed in this compulsion you feel to engage with it that the success of the film lies. The body of the narrative is the poem of the same name by Olivia Gatwood. Though both Dani Pearce and Gatwood belong to different parts of the world, having first participated in the conversation around this short film virtually, Backpedal further goes on to exhibit the transcendence of art, the universality of an experience when it's treated with absolute honesty and sincerity. The story becomes a commentary on gender, the desperate need of adolescents to fit in with their peers, in general, and of young women trying to fit in with their male counterparts in particular. Violent images of a murder are invoked, as are those of grief, tragedy and loss. It's astonishing how much the film manages to convey in its short length. Further, it's unequivocally loud and clear in its message, one expressed in an experimental manner, ensuring that the story and its images will continue to haunt you, making you return to it over and over again after your first interaction with the world conjured by Backpedal.

Backpedal | Short Film of the Day

The narrative of the film makes the most judicious and notable use of camerawork, coupled with sound, to conjure its story. A pre-teen girl is navigating ideas of sexuality, trying to locate her own relationship with her body and desire. Part of a household that is ravaged by divorce and parents who refuse to see each other eye-to-eye, she finds herself turning to books, peers and her own lived reality. Since the film is set in 1983, of course all this information is not simply a few web searches away on her smartphone. It's important to mention the year of the story also because it does a wonderful portrayal of a world away from the internet and technology, making the viewer forget that there might actually exist another reality. What stands out the most is the film's unique exploration of the sexual desires of an age group that rarely makes its presence felt in mainstream art and media. Add to it stellar performances by the young cast, and there is nothing in How Does it Start that will leave the viewer unimpressed after their engagement with the film.

How Does It Start | Short Film of the Day

‘Gomorrah’ invokes the Biblical city of sin in its title which serves as a fitting metaphor for the reality unfolding before us. We are presented with a space of debauchery and excesses of all kinds where everyone, but more so the protagonist, is eternally damned and tied to this dismal fate. 

The first-person narrative paints for the viewer a world of substance abuse where all that matters is the next hit, and its potency to drown everything else that once was right until that moment. As the Virgil-esque protagonist, Francis Dykes, leads the viewer into this particular Hell, he is also allowed a moment of intimacy and affection, fleeting as it might be amidst the despair. 

Gorgeous cinematography, lovely background score, and top-drawer performances put together the film for the viewer. The writing invokes a very brutal, visceral realm located inside a metaphorical heap of rubbish, to borrow an analogy from Francis’ monologue. It does an adept job of portraying the desire to disappear, the self-hate, dread of existence, alongside an unabashed, fierce look into the world of addiction.

Gomorrah | Short Film of the Day

Mental health has made significant inroads into our cinema and art, and this film goes ahead to prove the same. Potentially triggering for those who battle mental health issues on a regular basis, the film is a literal and metaphorical representation of a man's struggle to grapple with his own internal demons. As the protagonist tries to take transitory comfort in substance abuse and drown the voices in his head in alcohol, the film holds the potential of being relatable for several viewers in the same age group as him. The strongest aspects of Lost in Oblivion are definitely it's performance and camerawork, both working arduously to make the story work. Succeeding at it, the various elements of the narrative come together to invoke an urgent concern - the absolute need to acknowledge and address the mental health concerns of a huge part of contemporary society.

Lost in Oblivion | Short Film of the Day

The film weaves a narrative of mystery and horror without taking refuge in the regular elements of darkness or shrill background scores. It takes its time building up to finally achieve a well-formed crescendo and climax. A writer finds himself at an Airbnb which has recently witnessed the death of the owner of the property. Consequently, it is now available for an unusually low rent. The protagonist is quick to make use of this opportunity, and moves in for a temporary stay as he struggles to finish a writing project. However, soon things take an unexpected turn as he finds a stranger lurking around the house and his surroundings. Throughout its duration, the film leads the viewer in a specific direction with its breadcrumb-trail. Will you find yourself going down the correct path or will you be surprised by the twist that awaits you at the conclusion of the film?

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