The film is a brief capsule marked by its explosion of colors, emotions, and visual experiments. A young filmmaker, John is shooting a scene with Alicia and Connor, and all seems to be going well. However, when he steps out of the room for a break, he overhears a conversation between his two actors as they mock and ridicule him while pretending to be supportive and friendly. 
Through the scene unfolding before us, placed parallel to the one unfolding in John’s mind, a story of past loss, heartbreak, as well as self-doubt and betrayal is conjured for audiences. The title of the film is further echoed in the developing events as those around John maintain a charade of friendship in a bid to exploit his skills for their own pursuits. 

The film presents a crucial moment in its brevity, and some more. Additionally, it experiments with its edit and visual progression to take the viewer deeper into its protagonist's internal struggles, in the process, establishing a strong premise that could efficiently serve as the starting point of a longer project in the future.

Deceive to Achieve | Short Film Nominee

The film weaves together a series of images, each representing the different emotional states of a woman. It traverses an entire emotional spectrum of the affection and intimacy of love, to its downfall, the destruction that is left in its wake, and lastly, finding a way back to yourself. 
The first-person narrative takes the viewer directly into the consciousness of the protagonist, in the process, presenting a reflection on the nature of relationships. The voice remains personal and heartfelt throughout. The film’s most notable aspect is its interweaving of visuals with the plot progression.
The developing scenes, alongside the sole performance, both become significant strengths, even if the conclusion feels a little too sudden. The end result on the whole exhibits skill and seamlessness, and thus expanding it into a longer project should definitely be considered.

Freedom to Be Alone | Spotlight

May is headed to a secluded cabin, ready to take some time by herself to practice lines for a potential job as an actor. However, her plans go awry when she realizes someone’s already at the cabin - Elliot, her recently-become-former-lover. 
Amidst the awkwardness, but also the obvious chemistry, the two try to navigate the situation the best way they can. While they may have met unexpectedly, will they rekindle the romance or will heartbreak define the future of this relationship? The question remains central to the narrative. 

There is a dedicated attempt to invoke a specific tonality and aesthetic in the portrayal of the events. The approach to all of this remains consistent throughout, even if showing a slight want of more smoothening out of wrinkles in terms of the overall production value of the final result. The film, nevertheless, should be appreciated for the blurring of boundaries and the emotional obscurity of an in-between space that is neither here, nor there. The narratorial engagement with this realm of uncertainty becomes the strongest aspect of the storytelling.

You Look Pretty Up Here | Short Film Nominee

The happy memory of what it once was when contrasted against a painful present is what constitutes ‘When They First’. The title, a deliberate incomplete sentence, bolsters this juxtaposition further, as it introduces us to the two characters and the circuitous trajectory of their relationship. The visuals are paired with a completely opposite voiceover, the dual elements of the narrative representative of the two said realities in the lives of the characters. The storytelling is marked by a freshness of voice which allows the film to succeed as a cohesive whole. The young team, from the director-writer to the actors and the cinematographer, all evidence notable strengths. Finally, despite a few rough edges, the exploration of the romance presented thus remains marked by an unmissable intimacy, along with a seamless overlap of its many elements.

When They First | Short Film of the Day

'Griptape' opens with an innocent skateboard deal between two enthusiasts. Soon after, it develops to reveal to us the relationship that the protagonist, Charlie shares with his girlfriend Lexi. However, little does Charlie, or the viewer, know that his world is about to come crashing down as he simply sits and enjoys a bowl of pasta. 

The relationship, or what follows in the aftermath of its end, becomes the focal point on which the narrative pivots. As the viewer is allowed an interaction with Breakup 101 - shaving your hair, getting a tattoo, and being reminded of your former lover despite, and perhaps even, because of all your efforts, the film comes into its own. 

Notwithstanding a few rough edges, the storytelling and its execution leaves one with an endearing, and sincere final result. It further paves the path for more such endeavors by the team, ensuring that 'Griptape' in itself remains an honest story of hurt, heartbreak, but also the inexorably forward moving course of life.

Griptape | Short Film Nominee

The word entropy simply means unpredictability or the gradual descent into disorder. When applied to life, in general, or relationships, in particular, it could then perhaps define the essence of them, one which ensures that throughout our emotional equations and dynamics, the only constant is change. Whether change would be for better or worse is anybody's guess, and yet, we continue to push forth, undaunted and unintimidated in the face of all this uncertainty. The short film is an exploration of that moment of unpredictability when it is for the worse. What happens after it has left you reeling in the aftermath of change? What were the memories and experiences preceding it? The questions are raised, soon followed by their answers, presented in a burst of colors, one after the other. The visual treatment of the story remains experimental and notable, employing not simply shades denoting each emotion or stage of a relationship, but also silhouettes and shadows. This, in turn, allows the final product a fresh portrayal of a story we all know too well - one of union, intimacy, eventual distance, finally followed by heartbreak and hurt.

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