13th Chennai International Documentary and Short Film Festival 2025
Category – International Short Fiction
Erequiem
Dir: Anton Ovchinnikov; 7:41 min; Short fiction; Ukraine
Synopsis: Under the pressure of circumstances, we find ourselves in an environment that is strangely both "familiar" and "foreign" at the same time, and we inevitably search for a way to belong. We do not seek pity or sympathy, but we want to be understood and accepted. Hiding our fear and emotions deep beneath a mask of confidence and self-sufficiency, we search for kindred spirits. Time and again, we play new games by rules familiar to us since childhood, but here and now, they no longer work. And in the evening, we come home to continue building our small but unbreakable fortress on our little island of faith in humanity.
This is my personal experience of forced emigration, which may in many ways resemble the experience of other Ukrainians searching for support and safety far from home.
21-28 February; multiple venues, Chennai
Category – International Short Fiction
Erequiem
Dir: Anton Ovchinnikov; 7:41 min; Short fiction; Ukraine
Synopsis: Under the pressure of circumstances, we find ourselves in an environment that is strangely both "familiar" and "foreign" at the same time, and we inevitably search for a way to belong. We do not seek pity or sympathy, but we want to be understood and accepted. Hiding our fear and emotions deep beneath a mask of confidence and self-sufficiency, we search for kindred spirits. Time and again, we play new games by rules familiar to us since childhood, but here and now, they no longer work. And in the evening, we come home to continue building our small but unbreakable fortress on our little island of faith in humanity.
This is my personal experience of forced emigration, which may in many ways resemble the experience of other Ukrainians searching for support and safety far from home.
Letter
Dir: Balasubramaniam; 8:39 min; Short fiction; United Kingdom
Synopsis: A quirky boy manages to write a reply letter for his long distance girlfriend and loses it in the process of posting it. Will he find his letter back?
Shadows of the Past
Dir: Allen Thomas; 19:58 min; Short fiction; Canada
Synopsis: Roshni, a Personal Support Worker, has built a new life in Canada after fleeing as a refugee from Sri Lanka. Struggling to find balance between work, home, and her current boyfriend, Roshni's world takes an unexpected turn when she encounters a terminally ill man who played a significant role in the government's oppressive actions against the Tamil population back home.
Soil
Dir: Sina Tebyan - Amir Hosseini; 14:00 min; Short fiction; Iran, Islamic Republic of
Synopsis: The last twenty-four hours of a musician's life in his country (IRAN) before emigration and his last attempt to get a work permit in complete despair.
All is well
Dir: Zijian He; 20:40 min; Short fiction; China
Synopsis: As time goes by, Congchun became an old man. As the oldest person in the family, he still has the dignity of an elder. However, facing the deterioration of his body, he had to admit that he is getting old. Just when he gave up walking, an accident of his grandson made him make a new change...
Well-Rounded
Dir: Sancheev Ravichandran; 10:30 min; Short fiction; United States
Synopsis: Sheela thinks Griffin is the perfect guy - until one morning she discovers he’s a flat-Earther.
Dead with a side of saudade
Dir: Zeed; 17:56 min; Short fiction; Hong Kong
Synopsis: A poignant and evocative film set against the backdrop of Hong Kong's rich history, the story revolves around two souls from vastly different backgrounds who find solace in reliving the moments that made them truly feel alive.Through its exploration of saudade, a Portuguese word that encapsulates a deep longing for something or someone that is lost, the story follows a conversation over tea between the two reminding them the fleeting nature of life and the beauty that once existed.
Neighborhood Alert
Dir: Ngozi Onwurah; 30:00 min; Short fiction; United States
Synopsis: Inspired by a true story, NEIGHBORHOOD ALERT, tells the story of a Black mother that is forced to take an extraordinary action in order to ensure the safety of her teenage son.
Dir: Balasubramaniam; 8:39 min; Short fiction; United Kingdom
Synopsis: A quirky boy manages to write a reply letter for his long distance girlfriend and loses it in the process of posting it. Will he find his letter back?
Shadows of the Past
Dir: Allen Thomas; 19:58 min; Short fiction; Canada
Synopsis: Roshni, a Personal Support Worker, has built a new life in Canada after fleeing as a refugee from Sri Lanka. Struggling to find balance between work, home, and her current boyfriend, Roshni's world takes an unexpected turn when she encounters a terminally ill man who played a significant role in the government's oppressive actions against the Tamil population back home.
Soil
Dir: Sina Tebyan - Amir Hosseini; 14:00 min; Short fiction; Iran, Islamic Republic of
Synopsis: The last twenty-four hours of a musician's life in his country (IRAN) before emigration and his last attempt to get a work permit in complete despair.
All is well
Dir: Zijian He; 20:40 min; Short fiction; China
Synopsis: As time goes by, Congchun became an old man. As the oldest person in the family, he still has the dignity of an elder. However, facing the deterioration of his body, he had to admit that he is getting old. Just when he gave up walking, an accident of his grandson made him make a new change...
Well-Rounded
Dir: Sancheev Ravichandran; 10:30 min; Short fiction; United States
Synopsis: Sheela thinks Griffin is the perfect guy - until one morning she discovers he’s a flat-Earther.
Dead with a side of saudade
Dir: Zeed; 17:56 min; Short fiction; Hong Kong
Synopsis: A poignant and evocative film set against the backdrop of Hong Kong's rich history, the story revolves around two souls from vastly different backgrounds who find solace in reliving the moments that made them truly feel alive.Through its exploration of saudade, a Portuguese word that encapsulates a deep longing for something or someone that is lost, the story follows a conversation over tea between the two reminding them the fleeting nature of life and the beauty that once existed.
Neighborhood Alert
Dir: Ngozi Onwurah; 30:00 min; Short fiction; United States
Synopsis: Inspired by a true story, NEIGHBORHOOD ALERT, tells the story of a Black mother that is forced to take an extraordinary action in order to ensure the safety of her teenage son.
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