Set in Karachi, Pakistan, the film conjures a seedy world of crime, betrayal and violence. Kashif is suspected to be a rat by his boss, the formidable, mysterious and all powerful Baba Jee. He sits before Khawar, an old-time partner who owes his life to him.

The film primarily keeps itself confined to the same physical space, employing lighting and shadows to conjure a realm defined by secrets, grunginess and the constant threat of violence that lurks insidiously under the surface. The exchange between the two characters exhibits ease in terms of chemistry, and deep potential in terms of writing. 

The background score supports the endeavor most remarkably. The young filmmaker has identified the voice and tonality he should bring to his projects, and should indeed stay with it for future endeavors. It would be quite wonderful indeed to see what more creative pursuits come out of this overlap.

Baba Jee | Short Film of the Day

The night is far from young when a woman, complete with fishnets and asymmetrical jewelry, makes her way into a record store. The decade is the 90s, the hour late, and the store quiet, save for the absolute chaos that is about to go down in the wake of what could have been a mundane exchange. 

We meet only three characters, Dean, and a girl and a boy in this store. Brimming with nostalgic relics of an age gone by, deliberately conjured with strong control to locate the viewer within the same temporal space as the characters, the narrative handles the many complexities adroitly. 

It is precisely this control which ensures that the plot remains marked by crispness, not wasting its breath on hackneyed sentimentalism, and ensuring all of its punches land. Amidst it all, however, a series of very violent events, albeit regularly punctuated by humor, await the characters. Tying it all together with the right sprinkle of punk and angst that defined the age, the short film presents to you its own little world.

Traders | Short Film of the Day

It won't be erroneous to say that the film is highly likely to catch the fancy of an admirer of the likes of Twin Peaks or Donna Tartt's The Secret History. Set in the rocky terrain of Montana, USA, the film is complete with its cool palettes of browns and greys, of autumn leaves and misty mountains. The inverted detective story of Eagle Rock opens with the scene of a prison where a girl recounts the events that eventually led to three murders. It is the late 60s-early 70s that forms the historical location of the story which moves back and forth in time in its non-linear fashion.
 The audience is introduced to Alex who works at a bookstore. Her path soon crosses with that of Jay, a man who is her senior in years and experience, someone she also finds irresistible in his charm and lure. A romantic rendezvous ensures that the course of her life is changed forever. Alex's rapidly growing devotion to Jay continues to develop while more young and visibly gullible women are drawn to him, eventually resulting in a cult-like group of as many as sixteen members. The film exhibits vision and powerful storytelling. However, the execution of the plot misses a few marks, keeping it from being all that it could be. It would have been appreciated had the second half maintained the same pace as the first half which takes its time coming into its own, the various elements of the plot would have seemed more consistent and congruent in this scenario. However, this critique is only intended to shine light on the potential the film already exhibits. It is an involving, entertaining watch, making the viewer sit up and pay attention to the skill and expertise of Eleanor Wells.

Eagle Rock | Short Film Nominee

From suspense to thrill to dark comedy to gore and body horror, 'Dredge' packs it all in a concise, brief manner. Other than the action that unfolds before you, the film is primarily a stringing together of conversations. A woman who is conducting seedy business with the 'Swiss' is deeply unhappy about her professional outcomes. With imminent financial woes as well as trouble with law enforcement, she is at the end of her road. 

On the other hand, the person who mows her lawn, is in a different kind of desperate situation, indeed triggered by her own respective work and money troubles. As this subtle parallel is drawn, the plot comes into being. The manner in which these pressures get expressed and articulated lead to two gruesome acts, each becoming the defining feature of the two women, allowing the film to express its intentions in a lucid manner. Additionally, there is an overlap of these stories with a third character, and a performance marked by clear skill and conviction, that ties the whole narrative together, while also allowing a bridge between its two predominant strands. 

The various elements further put a class hierarchy in place, while at the same time, offering a comment on the disastrous results that are born out of a desperate bid to survive. It is precisely these aspects of the storytelling that, despite a few rough edges in the handling of its visuals, eventually ensure that the film presents a composite whole to the audience to interact with.

Dredge | Short Film Nominee

When a mobster returns home after completing a long prison sentence, he is met by several alien elements in his own home. Despite a warm, affectionate welcome from a loving wife, the aloofness of his teenaged daughter is palpable. Additionally, the film makes the effort of bringing in small touches to suggest how tightly a life of incarceration can grasp a person's reality - as exhibited in the rush of consuming his meal by the protagonist. It is only a soft reminder by his wife that allows him to slow down. This is one of the several examples in which it allows the viewer a glimpse of his unease at being inducted into a world that exists beyond prison walls. Parallel to this nervousness is another plot, unfolding to lead to grave consequences - the substance abuse and addiction of his daughter which is about to culminate into severe withdrawal. Add to this one more layer to weave a more complex narrative - the presence of an intruder who, armed with a gun, moves stealthily through the house looking for his prey. All three of these plot lines are tied together to form an entire whole, also leaving the viewer wanting for more at its uncertain conclusion, and with a hankering to be involved further in the lives of the characters.

The Mobking 2.0 | Short Film Nominee

It has been an action-packed night for Sam - the night of his final robbery before he hangs up his boots for good. However, things do not seem to be going according to plan. As he awaits his companions to join him at the decided location, a laundromat, all that he receives are either abysmal updates about them in roundabout ways or radio silence. Amidst this circumstance of intense stress, another development awaits him - running into his former lover. The film simply serves us an event, opening in media res and allowing itself to develop thereon. There is further the decision to adopt a monochromatic palette for the visuals, offering us the said circumstance minus any distractions or over-embellishments, perhaps in an effort to isolate and pronounce the unravelling of the situation at hand. 

It would be interesting to see a more elaborate exploration of the premise, along with some additional details about the beginning, middle and end. It would further allow the viewer to understand the dilemmas, motivations and eventual destination of the characters. Having said that, the film in its current form should be approached and enjoyed as a suspended moment in time, and the many ramifications of the swiftly unfolding events.

Tumble | Short Film Nominee

One day, Eliza Mason finds herself in the eye of the most unexpected storm - being accused of her brother’s murder. Despite asserting over and over again that she did not commit the deed, she is unable to provide sufficient evidence for the same. 

Eliza is imprisoned with no avenue of proving her innocence available to her. However, things soon take an unexpected turn, right ahead of when the cops are about to kill her in custody and make it look like a suicide. There is an attempt by the narrative to bring in several moving parts to enhance itself by way of swift action and development of events.

 The short film is a zealous endeavor in weaving a story of crime, drama, loss and kinship. Though a few wrinkles remain in the department of sound, the desire to share its intentions and plot with the viewer remains dominant.

Escape | Short Film Nominee

The short narrative is a sincere endeavor that tips its hat to noir filmmaking. It ropes in the quintessential elements of the genre - crime, the secrets that lurk in shadows, the unforeseen developments that often result in violence and the intrigue that remains inherent to them all. While a woman watches from a dark corner, a man pursues another closely. The latter is in possession of an object the former seeks to secure for himself. However, little are the two men aware that it would eventually belong to neither of them. When the object is finally obtained, it further reveals a key piece of information that then communicates the message intrinsic to the film, one which also serves as an important metaphor in the story. As the darkness of the night stretches endlessly, this object finally finds a home, while also fulfilling the purpose of portraying for the viewer the intentions the film had set out to convey.

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