Nihilists believe that there is no meaning in existence, hence what is the point of anything? Existentialists differ a little from this to claim that indeed there is no meaning in existence, but while we are here, let's make the most of it. Of course this is an over-simplification, but it adequately provides the overlap on which the primary thought of Untitled Earth Sim 64 rests. 

 One day, Marie, the protagonist of the film, begins to notice something very unusual about her reality which begins to take the form of visual glitches around her. Before she can puzzle herself more over the strange developments, a 'researcher''s voice addresses her to reveal that the earth, as we know it, is merely a simulation which is now facing some technical difficulties. The knowledge is sufficient for Marie, as it would be for anyone, to end up spiralling in existential despair once she concludes that her life is no more than a cluster of code.

 It should be noted that the manner in which all of this is delineated is hilarious, and the pacing is right on point with all the punches landing neatly on target. There is further much to be said about the finesse with which the final product is achieved with a lean cast and crew, and a limited budget. The film packs a full blow within its brief narrative with every special effect succeeding at catching the viewer's eye, while maintaining the tautness of the plot throughout. 


In terms of thought, the film does a spectacular job of taking its story forth from the hackneyed philosophical and existential proposition that our entire existence might simply be a simulation, created by an indifferent creator who really has little to no interest in our individual being. Soon, the overarching question that propels the narrative forward, and eventually allows for an uplifting conclusion, becomes - is life truly abominable, even if it's only a simulation? 

If a simulation has begun to exist and expand on its own, creating timeless art, on the one hand, followed by the little joys of a perfect meal, on the other, can things actually be considered too bad? It is precisely in this manner that the film also proves to be strangely uplifting and unexpectedly hopeful. Unless, much like Marie, this is how we choose to give ourself hope in a meaningless existence, but that is indeed up to the viewer to decide - if this sense of hope is bona fide or simply a defence mechanism, or if there is a difference at all between the two to begin with?

Untitled Earth Sim 64 | Short Film of the Month

On the face of it, 'Rat Tail' is an intimate, brave, beautiful account of a person’s relationship with his hair. And yet, as the film evolves and progresses, and before the viewer can realize it, it takes us into a far darker world, eventually tying it all together with an uplifting, heartwarming message. If you have begun to wonder how could all of it be considered an organic, comprehensive or even an entertaining creative endeavor, read on. 

Filmmaker Chad Sogas employs an efficient, sophisticated edit, tied with seamless overlaps of voices from his own life, to present to you a personal account of his battles with mental illness. However, without making it didactic, overbearing or mawkish, all traps a pursuit of this kind can very easily fall into, he offers an uplifting story of hope, recovery and healing. Especially relevant in a world where the pandemic has left us with ravages of a time and existence we all struggled to cope with, the film comes at a very opportune time. 

One of many strengths of the film also becomes its ability to utilize a highly personal narrative in a manner that makes it extremely relatable and inclusive for the audience. Whether your struggles are of a similar nature or not as the protagonist, its enduring and indomitable sense of hope and acceptance will ensure that 'Rat Tail' works wonderfully on multiple levels. From storytelling to approach to narratorial progression, the film offers sophistication and smoothness in all departments, along with having its heart in the right place. After all, what is good art and storytelling, if not simply a reminder, fleeting as it might be, that perhaps we are all in this together?

Rat Tail | Short Film of the Month

One of the most appealing characteristics of art is to take something raw and aggressive and channel it into something beautiful and constructive. This assertion forms the backbone of the film, not for its own efforts to achieve this positive outcome, but due to the compelling account it offers of an initiative that does precisely the same. 

Steel Warriors is the documentation of the eponymous charity which encourages people to hand over their knives which are then recycled, followed by using the resultant steel to make outdoor gyms. Through the voices that the narrative brings in, these efforts, and the gyms they have led to, acquire an artistic appeal of their own, the status of an exalted piece of art itself. Further, a sense of community is conjured as the structures are then used for calisthenics, and the gravity-defying performances they eventually lead to. 

 The film is especially beautiful in the quiet, but powerful notions of hope it brings to life by using experiences of those who overcame obstacles to train themselves in these movements of the body, and in the process, allowed the activity to become the very tool that helped them triumph over those obstacles. The narrative remains crisp with the brevity being a strong characteristic, along with an elegant edit, lovely visuals, and the simple, lucid manner in which all of the intentions are tied together in the final product.

Steel Warriors | Short Film of the Day

With his dog as a constant companion, and listener of all his woes, Ari soldiers on trying to figure out the best way to lead his life. Archival footage, and pop culture references, to name a few elements that constitute this colorful, eclectic ride, are imbued with a tone of intimacy and the personal, all along tackling the age-old question echoed in the title - how to live. 

Tied with the internal struggles of an artist, and the meaning they might seek in their creative processes, in the act of constructing something from scratch, the film also presents elements of docufiction as well as of an autobiographical documentary. However, the sentiment that prevails above all is the eventual heartwarming culmination of Ari’s journey. 

The film is a success not simply because it entertains, amuses, and involves, all of which it achieves with ease, but most importantly because it leaves audiences with a sense of invincible hope that only accentuates the narrative's inherent uplifting ideas on life and the wonder of the journey that it has to offer.

How to Live | Short Film of the Month

‘Bhaktapur’ is a long, meaningful look into the life of the eponymous region, and the many who constitute it. About ninety miles from Bhaktapur, the families of the daily laborers live, providing yet another insight into existence in post-earthquake Nepal. The 2015 national calamity razed a crucial part of the country to the ground, leaving brick production as an important pillar of its struggling economy. 

The narrative brings in the voices of the locals, the aging and the young, to present its interactions. An overarching sense of bleakness never truly leaves the portrayal of a difficult life of manual labor. The end result is tied with earnestness and the desire to draw attention to the community. 

The visual grammar of the film is especially skilled, as is the smooth flow of the scenes unfolding before the viewer. Despite an omniscient sense of sentimentalism, the story of the documentary stands firmly on its feet, while also educating the viewer about previously unwitnessed realities.

Bhaktapur | Short Film of the Day

The good, the bad and what it could have been - it is perhaps these three narratives that the short film invokes. A man wakes up one morning to find several missed calls in his phone, and the news of a tsunami of catastrophic proportions on the television. The countdown on the news shows about two minutes left until the waves strike the shoreline. The next visual is of the protagonist looking out of his window to reveal the beach on which he lives. As the plot corners him into a place without the possibility of escape, the viewer too finds themselves pushed down a meandering, endless tunnel of the emotional journey of the trapped man. Thus begins a flow of memories, starting from his childhood up to the point of his current circumstance. From being a solitary figure, he is gradually endowed with a humaneness as the audience too becomes a participant in his experiences that, in turn, gives rise to a more intimate connection between them and the story. The film employs flashbacks and flash-forwards to communicate its message. Motifs like a red clock and a walking stick are utilised to give a sense of the forward moving motion of time, along with offering a portrayal of pain and the role it plays in this non-linear narrative which subverts all structures of chronology. The visuals are elegant and the VFX smooth, allowing Tsunami Falls to succeed on different levels.

Tsunami Falls | Short Film of the Day

A young intern has arrived at a new facility. As she is given a brief tour, being informed of her tasks, a wonderful world of all kinds of paraphernalia is invoked for both the protagonist as well as the viewer. In the process, however, she is informed to stay away from a specific object, an instruction she would of course go ahead to disobey. 

The rule gets broken, an inter-dimensional portal opens up and a realm of smooth special effects is then invoked for the viewer. Along with action and fantasy, and being a special treat for Star Wars fans, the narrative also attempts to rope in drama and humor to further share its plot. 

The final result becomes a fun and sweet story about lightsabers and stakes that remain staggeringly high throughout, all along attempting to entertain and engage the viewer. At its close, the many elements are tied together with a sense of hope and uplifting warmth that the film intends to eventually leave the audience with.

Rise of the Last Intern | Short Film Nominee

The brief narrative of the film invokes a dark reality, one defined by war sirens and imminent, destructive raids. However the world thus conjured has a noble cause at its heart, the message of hope. 


The narrative aims to remind the viewer of the invincibility of hope, and the undeniable light at the end of the tunnel. The protagonist is a woman who battles overwhelming mental and emotional demons. She is plagued by memories of violence, as the film endeavors to paint the lived reality of the innumerable Ukrainians who are dealing with the ravages of the war that has torn their homeland asunder. 

The film is presented as part of an initiative by the National Psychological Association, backed by the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union, and the governments of Denmark and Canada, to provide free mental health assistance to Ukrainians all over the world. The resultant film is a sincere, heartfelt endeavor, that conveys its intentions with lucidity and manages to present a realm of loss, heartache, loneliness, and the memory of what once was or could have been.

Psychological Helpline | Short Film of the Day

The subject matter that ‘Orange Candy’ deals with is dark and disconcerting, far from the world of chirpiness and frivolity its title conjures, and deliberately so. Its only characters, two little boys, discuss matters of life and death, and what existence could potentially mean thereafter, all along savoring an orange lolly. 

The conversation, and the speakers that conduct it, offer a distinct contrast, a juxtaposition that is indubitably the biggest strength of the film. Additionally, its writing and screenplay exhibit thought and attention to detail. 

The two ensure that though the reality of a terminal illness and the tragedy of loss is something beyond the years of the two boys, they are tenacious and dedicated in their understanding of friendship and in their attempts to comprehend the harsh realities life has presented to them a little too soon.

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