NYIFF 2025-Short B

Shorts B (narrative)
- Loop Line
- hush hush
- A Night, Afterall
- Memories Of A Kiss
- As Dusk Falls
- Thursday Special
- The Cycle

Loop Line
Director: Renuka Shahane
Starring: Mitalee Jagtap, Anand Alkunte
Run time: 8 minutes 18 seconds
Language: Marathi
Year Made: 2024
Country: India

Synopsis:
In the heart of Mumbai, a middle- aged Maharashtrian housewife, endures her husband's chauvinism and the tedium of her relentless chores. She finds solace in her rich fantasies. Her husband's departure for work allows her to reduce the pace of her work a little, but his return with misogynistic colleagues shatters her peace. After a particularly demeaning remark from her husband, she fantasizes about serving them " Brain pakoras" made from her brain. These flights of fancy are her only escape from the monotonous rhythm of her domestic life. These breaks are unfortunately all too brief as she has to quickly return to her daily grind, akin to the city's lifeline, the local train, enduring and unnoticed.

Director: Renuka Shahane
Born in Mumbai Maharashtra on the 7th of October 1966, I went on to do my Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, followed by a Post Graduate master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Mumbai. I have been an actress in Indian theatre, television and film for the last 38 years. I have worked in many popular and critically acclaimed Indian television serials like Lifeline, Surabhi, Circus, Imtihaan, Sailaab, Close-up Antakshari, Kora Kaagaz , to name a few. I'm known best for my role as Pooja in the Bollywood blockbuster “Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?” produced by Rajshri Productions, released in the year 1994. I have received innumerable awards for acting in television as well as film. My first directorial feature film “Rita” was also critically acclaimed. I was judged the best director for a Marathi film for “Rita” in the “16th Nokia Star-Screen Awards 2010” and also received the best screenplay award in the Marathi films competitive section of the 8th Pune International Film Festival. My screenplay “Tribhanga” was selected for the Mumbai Mantra Sundance Screenwriter’s workshop in the year 2013. "Tribhanga", was consequently selected to be a part of NFDC's Co-Production Market in 2016. "Tribhanga, written and directed by me, starring Kajol, Tanve Azmi, Mithila Palkar and Kunaal Roy Kapur was released on Netflix on the 15th of January 2021. I received the Awards for Best Screenplay as well as Best Story at the Screenwriter's Association Awards (SWA Awards) in 2022 for "Tribhanga". " Dhhaavpatti" (Loop Line) is a Marathi animation short film I have written, directed and produced in 2024. I am currently acting in web series " Dupahiya" for Amazon Prime and " Civil Lines" for Sony Liv. I continue to act in films, advertisements and television. I am working on screenplays for feature films I would be directing in the near future.

hush-hush

Director: Manahar Kumar
Run time: 12 minutes 26 seconds
Language: English
Year Made: 2024
Country: India

Synopsis:

Innovative ideas fail as a Philosophy professor finds the courage to tell his wife a hidden secret before their 5th anniversary

Director: Manahar Kumar

Manahar Kumar is a BAFTA Newcomer, writer-multiple student EMMY® award winning director-actor. While acting on-stage in classics like The Night of January 16 (John Graham Whitfield), The Mousetrap (Detective Sergeant Trotter) and 12 Angry Men (Juror No. 8), Manahar learnt, grew and fell in love with performing arts. In Manipal, he co-founded a production house, UnTied Laces. During his graduate program, MFA in Film & TV at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), Atlanta, Manahar won the "Most Likely to be a Renowned Actor" Ambassador's Choice Award, the "Outstanding Academic Achievement Award", Class of 2021 and was also the lead in the Pilot Production - What Remains of Emily. As a Director-Producer he's worked with non-profits like, Men Against Rape and Discrimination (MARD) and Chhoti si Asha (A Small Wish) and brands like Deloitte and Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC). Manahar's thesis, Stardust won the "Audience Award" at Georgia Film Festival, recently screened at the International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA), Toronto, competing with his own shorts where he starred as the lead in Distant (Talent Performance EMMY® winner) and Mabrook. Manahar's films have been immensely appreciated at the Academy Award qualifying Atlanta Film Festival, Palm Springs International, Bentonville Film Festival, to name a few, also being a nominee by the Georgia Film Critics Association for the Oglethorpe Award for Excellence.

A Night, After All

Director: Anshul Agrawal
Run time: 14 minutes 58 seconds
Language: Hindi
Year Made: 2024
Country: India

Synopsis

A retired couple, one sleepless night, a game played, a question asked, a decision pending and a life hanging. Is it right to sacrifice everything? Is it wrong to not do the same? Can a caregiver be tired of giving?

“a night, after all” is a story of a night which is dark, terrifying, lonely yet warm and full of love. Love which exists between its characters that we see and the ones we do not.

Supriya and Kishore are two souls in the twilight of their lives, Supriya being a retired teacher and her husband Kishore a retired railway’s officer. Having lived a quiet life in various cities over various transfers, they are now settled in their own house.

But there is someone else who is a part of their life now. Bittu, the 19 year old daughter of Supriya’s elder sister is living with them. Her presence in their life creates a dilemma they both are unable to solve.

The story unfolds as the night progresses, sharing with us the vulnerabilities of the human heart, how it falls prey to attachment, and asks us to think about the meaning of sacrifice.

Director: Anshul Agrawal

Anshul Agrawal is an independent filmmaker whose passion for storytelling has driven him to explore and depict the intricate emotions and stories of everyday people. Although he did not receive formal education in film, he immersed himself in the world of cinema, learning on the job, collaborating with industry professionals, and gaining hands-on experience that shaped his understanding of the medium. For the past decade, Anshul has focused on documentary filmmaking which allowed him to capture real-life stories and the raw emotions of everyday people.

With this solid foundation, he ventured into fictional storytelling, driven by a desire to create narrative films that highlight the emotional journeys of his characters. Debut Film – "The School Bag". Anshul made his debut as a Writer and Co-Director with the short film "The School Bag" in 2017. The film resonated with audiences globally, earning critical acclaim and being screened at over 100 film festivals worldwide. Continuing this journey, Anshul remains committed to exploring stories that reflect the human condition, with a focus on the emotional landscapes that define everyday life. His work aims to bridge the gap between documentary realism and fictional narrative, creating films that are both heartfelt and authentic.

Memories Of A Kiss

Director: Aakash Prabhakar, Harsh Agarwal, Aditya Grover
Run time: 29 Minutes
Language: Hindi, English
Year Made: 2025
Country: India

Synopsis:

Memories of a Kiss captures the tender reunion of Anand and Khushi, two former lovers who unexpectedly cross paths in their hometown of Jabalpur. Through playful banter, shared nostalgia, and quiet silences, they gradually uncover the reason behind their abrupt separation years ago—gently finding their way back to understanding, forgiveness, and emotional healing.

Director: Aakash Prabhakar, Harsh Agarwal, Aditya Grover

Aakash Prabhakar Aakash Prabhakar is an actor, filmmaker, and theatre director based in Mumbai. He is the founder of Here And Now, a production company focused on intimate, emotionally resonant storytelling. His work spans both stage and screen. His debut feature Freddie’s Piano premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival in 2021 and went on to screen at several international festivals, earning awards for Best Director, Best Film, and a nomination for Best Actor. He recently completed an Indian adaptation of Richard Linklater’s Tape and Memories of a Kiss, a tender featurette produced in association with Uncombed Buddha Films. Aakash has directed and performed in over 50 theatre productions across India. Notable works include Tape by Stephen Belber, Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron, Cock and Bull by Mike Bartlett, Crumpled, and The Drum Roll, both written and directed by him.

Harsh Agarwal Harsh Agarwal is the co-founder of Uncombed Buddha Films, an international independent film company based in India, dedicated to discovering powerful, socially relevant stories from the country’s most underrepresented regions. His debut as a producer, Nirvana Inn (2019), premiered at Busan International Film Festival and was selected for APM, ACF, and several global festivals. He went on to co-produce Nasir (2020), which won the NETPAC Award at IFFR Rotterdam and received critical acclaim across global platforms including MAMI, Zerkalo, and MoMA apart from producing the award-winning eco-drama Peepal Tree and supporting “Ghode ko Jalebi Khilane Le Jiya Raha hoon”

Aditya Grover Aditya Grover is a filmmaker and producer based in Jabalpur, India. A national rank holder Chartered Accountant by qualification, he began his career in finance and taxation before transitioning into the world of cinema. In 2018, he co-founded Uncombed Buddha, a boutique production company dedicated to supporting bold, independent voices from small-town India. The company has produced 11 films to date, many of which have been screened at major film festivals across Asia, Europe, and North America. Aditya stepped into direction with his debut short film Memories of a Kiss in 2025. Aditya brings a grounded, cross-disciplinary perspective to storytelling—rooted in small-town realism, creative conviction, and a deep love for cinema.

As Dusk Falls

Director: Jaskirat Singh
Starring: Shahbaz Bajwa, Mohinder Kaur Gujral, Shalini Sharma
Run time: 21 minutes 30 seconds
Language: Punjabi
Year Made: 2024
Country: India

Synopsis:

The promise of a bigger and better life in Canada where his older brother has already settled has long inundated the dreams of Navraj, a young Punjabi man in Chandigarh. But when his long-awaited visa finally gets approved, he realizes the cost of leaving home may be far greater than he ever anticipated. More than leaving behind his friends, he cannot bear to break the news to his beloved grandmother who adoringly depends on him.

Director: Jaskirat Singh

Jaskirat Singh is a filmmaker with a specialization in Editing for Films from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious Locarno Documentary School in Switzerland. Having recently interned at Amazon Prime Video’s Creative Development Team, Jaskirat now works as a freelance filmmaker in Mumbai. With As Dusk Falls, Jaskirat makes his directorial debut. His co-edited short film Mintgumri (2021) was showcased at festivals like the Dharamshala International Film Festival, Reykjavik International Film Festival, and New York Indian Film Festival. Jaskirat also contributed as a script supervisor on In The Month of Love (2020), which premiered at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam.

Thursday Special

Director: Varun Tandon
Starring: Anubha Fatehpuria, Ramakant Daayama
Run time: 26 minutes 27 seconds
Language: Hindi
Year Made: 2024
Country: India

Synopsis:

27 years of a loving marriage.
27 years of sharing a passion for food.
27 years of celebrating it every Thursday.
Thursday Special is a poignant tale of love, companionship and change.

Director: Varun Tandon

Varun Tandon is an Indian National Award winning Writer-Director based out of Mumbai. He has worked on a range of projects over the last decade. His independent works include Syaahi, a short film for which he won a Jury Award at the 63rd National Film Awards, critically acclaimed documentary Dribbling Dreams and the viral short film Gulcharrey among others. Passionate about all things art and poetic, he is dedicated to telling deeply humane stories through his work.

THE CYCLE

Director: Arpita Mukherjee
Starring:
Run time: 17m 27s
Language: Punjabi, Hindi
Year Made: 2025
Country: India

Synopsis:
Preet (24, overweight, demure) is the daughter-in-law of an upper class family and the doting mother of two children. At the start of the film, Preet wakes up determined to lose weight by going on a new diet and joining the local cycling club (started by her high school best friend). But before she can embark on the day’s goals, she must prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for the family, tend to other household chores, and gain permission from her husband Bittoo (27, overweight, congenial) and her mother-in-law (53, slender, stoic). Preet finally meets up with the cycling club and reunites with her teenage best friend Kash (24, athletic, androgynous). Preet is dressed completely inappropriately, and has nothing in common with the fit and ferocious club members. Preet returns home late to find her two kids asleep, Bittoo upset, and her mother in law fed up with another one of Preet’s failed attempts at becoming the dutiful and thin wife. So Preet breaks her diet by binging on the food she spent all morning preparing and ends up ridden with even more guilt. She gets on the cycle, determined to burn off calories by taking a midnight ride, and ends up finding much more than a workout.

Director: ARPITA MUKHERJEE

Arpita Mukherjee is an award winning director and writer based inNYC. Arpita directed Running, a short film written by and starring Danny Pudi, which won BestShort Film at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival and has been featured in New FilmmakersLA, The Indian Film Festival of LA, the New York Indian Film Festival, CAAMFest and manyothers. Arpita is the co-writer of the National Award winning film Gulmohar which wasreleased on Hulu and Disney+ Hotstar in March 2023, along with director/co-writer Rahul V.Chittella. She also won the Filmfare Best Screenplay Award for the film in 2023. She hasdeveloped projects for WIIP, AMC, Sony, and Netflix. And she has just completed her shortfilm The Cycle.Arpita recently made her Broadway debut as the resident director of The KiteRunner. Arpita previously directed Bollywood Kitchen by Sri Rao (Geffen Playhouse), Houseof Joy by Madhuri Shekar (San Diego Rep), and Eh Dah: Questions for my Father by Aya Aziz(Next Door @ New York Theatre Workshop). Arpita is the Co-Book Writer of MonsoonWedding, The Musical, which had its NYC premiere at St. Ann’s Warehouse in May2023. Arpita is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Hypokrit.

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