NYIFF 2026-Shorts A

Shorts A
- Almari ka Achaar (Cupboard Pickle) (20 minutes)
- Automagic(13 minutes )
- Hills Don’t Dance Alone ( 24 minutes)
- Tumhari Bari Jo! (Jo's Turn!) (15 minutes)
-Warm Shadows (15 minutes)
- Dongar-Pani (Land/Water) ( 25 minutes)

Almari ka Achaar (Cupboard Pickle)
Director: Raakesh Rawat
Starring: Manwendra Tripathy, Manoj Sharma, Neha Vyaso, Uday Atroliya, Dweet Hemant Bapna
Run time: 20 minutes
Language: Hindi

Synopsis:
In the heart of Mumbai’s crowded lanes and corner shops, Almaari Ka Achaar tells the tender story of Prakash and Mohan. Two middle-aged Rajasthani migrants who have built a quiet life working at a small kirana store. Prakash, a gentle and reserved soul, and Mohan, his warm-hearted and humorous companion, share more than just a living space; they share a love nurtured in silence, preserved like the homemade achaar tucked inside the backroom cupboard.

In a city that barely pauses to breathe, their bond offers them rare comfort, a space where glances speak volumes and everyday gestures hold the weight of deep affection. But as familial duties, cultural expectations, and the fear of discovery press in, their sanctuary grows fragile.

Almaari Ka Achaar is a poignant meditation on love, resilience, and the quiet courage it takes to live authentically. It is a story that transcends language, age, and sexuality, a tender whisper of defiance in a world full of noise

Raakesh Rawat is an award-winning Indian filmmaker, director, producer, writer, editor, and cinematographer. His debut feature film Midnight Delhi had its world premiere at the Singapore South Asian International Film Festival, where it won the Best Editor award, and was officially selected at the 19th New York Indian Film Festival and the South Asian International Film Festival.
Born in Haryana and raised in Delhi, Raakesh pursued a degree in journalism before completing his master’s in cinematography in Chennai. His journey then led him to Mumbai, where he began working as a freelance cinematographer. The diverse cultural experiences across these cities have deeply influenced his perspective and growth as a storyteller.
Raakesh founded Thoughtful Clown Studios and produced and directed Midnight Delhi under this banner. In addition to feature films, he has worked across short films, web series, music videos, and documentaries in multiple languages, often contributing as both a director and cinematographer. His work is driven by a passion for socially resonant narratives that aim to spark reflection and bring overlooked voices into the spotlight.

Automagic
Director: Ashok Vish
Starring: Rutviq, Chethan C.S
Run time: 13 minutes
Language: Kannada

Synopsis:
On his return home, androgynous-looking Madhu attempts to seduce Ratnakar, his rickshaw driver, who is practicing celibacy in preparation for a religious pilgrimage.

Ashok was one of eight filmmakers selected for the ‘Director’sfactory: Philippines’ through the Director’s Fortnight, CannesFilm Festival and produced by Dominique Welinski of DWProductions. ‘Nightbirds’ premiered at the Quinzaine DesCinéastes, Cannes Film Festival 2024. Ashok’s film ‘Automagic’,produced by Claire Chassagne of Dolce Vita films won a post-production grant from the Région Île-de-France/ Paris Region andwill premiere at the Clermont-Ferrand International FilmFestival in February, 2025. ‘Children Playing God’ was screenedat the Sharjah Film Platform through the Sharjah Art Foundationand also exhibited at the Migros Museum, Zurich. Additionally,Ashok also works as a film programmer at the New York IndianFilm festival, and Arthshila, a private art institution in India.

Hills Don’t Dance Alone
Director: Shubham Negi
Starring: Sangeeta Agrawal, Palvi Jaswal, Tanishq Chaudhary
Run time: 24 minutes
Language: Hindi

Synopsis:
At a school in the Himalayas, fifteen-year-old Sachin is bullied for cross-dressing in a folk dance performance. Anju, the middle-aged vice principal of the school, steps in, but it unravels more than she anticipated. As both quietly navigate their secret struggles, their lives begin to intertwine, forming a bond that neither can name but both of them need.

Shubham Negi is a poet, writer, and director from Himachal Pradesh. He was one of the winners of Netflix and Film Companion's TakeTen grant in 2024, through which he made his debut short film 'Hills Don't Dance Alone', which had its world premiere at the Academy-Award qualifying Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival in competition. It went on to screen at Tasveer, and emerged the winner of Best International Short at MISAFF ‘25. It is having its Indian Premiere at the Kolkata People’s Film Festival in Jan ‘26.

His feature 'Soma Helang' was selected to be a part of the NFDC Co-Production Market 2024. The same project was developed through his fellowship at the Writer’s Ink Lab and emerged as one of the winners, securing him a mentorship from Vikramaditya Motwane (Udaan, Un Certain Regard, Cannes).
He is also a two-time fellow of the QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab. His short film script ‘Makeup Room’ won the QDrishti short film grant 2025 at the Kashish Queer Film Festival and is currently in pre-production. It is being produced by Neeraj Churi (Cactus Pears), Vikramaditya Motwane, Yashasvi Juyal, among others.
His short documentary ‘How Much Space Does a Firefly Take?’ won the Nagari Short Film Production Grant and is streaming on YouTube. His web show ‘Tuition’ was an official selection at the SWA Pitch Fest ‘25 and CineVesture Film Market ‘25. He also worked as a writing intern on Black Warrant's Season 2.

In 2024, Netflix sent him to the Busan International Film Festival as a part of its Fund for Creative Equity cohort.

Tumhari Bari Jo! (Jo's Turn!)
Director: Vinoo Choliparambil
Starring: Yashaswini Dayama, Geeta Agarwal Sharma
Run time: 15 minutes
Language: Hindi

Synopsis:
Every Sunday, Jo (25) and her family come together for their cherished Scrabble ritual, filled with chatter and quiet comfort. But this Sunday, during the game, Jo comes out with a secret that changes everything.

Vinoo Choliparambil is a Mumbai-based filmmaker whose debut short film Vitthal won the National Award for Best Debut Director in 2010 and received international acclaim at festivals such as Busan, Montreal, Dubai & Mumbai International Film Festival. His work is known for its grounded storytelling, emotional depth, and strong visual sensibility.

In 2022, his feature-length script was selected for the prestigious NFDC Script Lab, where it was mentored by leading international professionals. Vinoo’s storytelling often explores themes of identity, family, and inner conflict, with a deep interest in character-driven narratives.

Alongside his directorial work, Vinoo has built a strong parallel career as a film editor over the past 15 years, editing feature films, documentaries, and trailers. His editorial background informs his direction with a keen sense of pacing and structure. He continues to develop original scripts, collaborate with emerging writers, and direct short films that reflect contemporary Indian realities with nuance and sensitivity.

Warm Shadows
Director: Aakash Chhabra
Starring: Sheeba Chadha, Lakshvir Saran
Run time: 15 minutes
Language: Hindi, Punjabi

Synopsis:
Priya, 50, makes her maiden trip to the sea. At dusk, she stands at the shore and overlooks the vast horizon. In a distant part of the world, Raag, 20s, is in a taxi which passes through a metropolitan. A fragmented voice-over unfolds the tender relationship the two share.

Aakash Chhabra is a writer and director based in Panipat, India. He is an alumnus of the Red Sea Director's Program 2025 led by Spike Lee, CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy 2024 - Motion Picture Association Award, Busan Asian Film School (AFiS) 2022 - Best Project Award, Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute 2020 and Locarno Documentary Summer School 2019.

His shorts have screened at festivals in Busan, Winterthur, Poitiers, Tehran, Kerala, Oberhausen and Dharamshala. His debut short MINTGUMRI (2021) was nominated for the FCG Critics' Choice Awards 2022 while his short documentary A WINTER’S ELEGY (2022) featured on the Sight and Sound Magazine's list of Best Video Essays 2022. ERRANDS (2024) was produced by the Busan International Film Festival while WARM SHADOWS (2025) will premiere later this year on Nowness.

He is presently working on his feature-length debut I’LL SMILE IN SEPTEMBER which was developed at the Torino Film Lab - Red Sea Lodge 2024, Autumn Meeting 2024 and Produire au Sud Nantes 2022. It has participated in the Asian Project Market 2023, NFDC Film Bazaar 2024, QCinema Project Market 2024 and Red Sea Souk 2024.

He is a recipient of the reFrame Genderalities film fellowship 2021-22 and the Rough Edges Uncode Fellowship 2022-23.

Dongar/Pani (Land/Water)
Director: Sanjivani Kamble
Starring: Anamika Dangre, Radhika Pharate
Run time: 25 minutes
Language: English, Marathi

Synopsis:
When Savi decides to leave behind the chaos of Bombay for a new job in Alibaug, her roommate Anu is left navigating the quiet storm of unspoken emotions. What begins as a simple farewell unfolds into a tender, introspective journey about love, and a friendship at the brink of change. It is a bittersweet coming-of-age story that explores the quiet ache of growing up, the choices we must make, and the bonds that shape us, even when they slip through our fingers.

Director: Sanjivani Kamble
Sanjivani Kamble is a writer and director born and brought up in Mumbai, India. Trained as a designer, she began with painting and visual storytelling before discovering cinema as the medium that allowed her to hold images, emotions, and unanswered questions in the same frame. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Film and Video Design at MIT Institute of Design, Pune, where she began exploring narrative filmmaking more seriously.

She is drawn to quiet moments and relationships that shift without warning. She chooses places not only for how they look, but for how they sound. The wind, distant traffic, water moving, the hum of a room often guide her storytelling as much as the characters do. During and after college, she continued developing her craft by writing and assisting on professional productions, gradually shaping her voice around intimate, character-driven stories.

Her short film Dongar/Pani (Land/Water), made as her final year college project, is a personal exploration of memory, attachment, and landscape. The film has screened at Indian and international festivals. Through her work, she is interested in exploring relationships, belonging, and the quiet emotional shifts that shape who we become.

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