13th Chennai International Documentary and Short Film Festival 2025
Category – International Short Fiction
Under The Scorching Sun
Dir: Prathap Ramamurthy, Jagannath Radhakrishnan; 17:08 min; Short fiction; United States
Synopsis: A short documentary that shows the toil of everyday workers in Chennai, India, under extreme heat.
In the footsteps of the Andalusi clay
Dir: Dany Ruz; 28:00 min; Short fiction; Spain
Synopsis: Traditional pottery is a production method and way of life on the verge of extinction. In the province of Almería, this ancient craft is still alive. Through interviews with potters and their work on the wheel, painting, decanting clay, lead glazing, placing ceramics inside the kiln or firing in an old kiln, we have recreated this ancient tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation, surviving and transforming itself. From the search for clay and raw materials to the breaking of the kiln door to extract the pieces after firing, this work highlights the potter's craft as a sign of a people's identity and part of our intangible heritage.
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.
Amores hallarás
Dir: Saro Vallejo; 29:11 min; Short fiction; Switzerland
Synopsis: On the move, along the roads of the Ecuadorian Andes, we are transported to random moments in everyday life. Without appropriating what we observe, we continue the journey.
Indai Apai Darah
Dir: Kynan Tegar; 14:55 min; Short fiction; Indonesia
Synopsis: A young girl growing up in the Indigenous-held forests of central Borneo follows ancient connections to earn the gift of a story - her People's 1973 fight to preserve their lands amid rampant deforestation.
My Dad is a Lightning Researcher
Dir: Iryna Shostak; 18:00 min; Short fiction; Ukraine
Synopsis: My Dad is a Lightning Researcher is a documentary film reflection. A daughter attempts to decipher and memorize the "universe of her dad", a lightning researcher, whom, as it turned out after his death, she never fully got to know. Neither him nor his lasting legacy. This is her attempt to think about how long our memory lasts about the people who meant something to us, who did something and created something next to us. The film attempts to fix the fleeing clues of memory in time to keep it longer. And, of course, it is her attempt to remember everythingor at least something he was for her.
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...
I'm Afraid it's Not Good to Say
Dir: ZHU YUAN KUN; 13:00 min; Short fiction; China
Synopsis: In a cacophony of lively phone messages and news clippings, a 15-year-old boy juggles academic pressures and new romance, while celebrating low expectations and homemade film.The dialogues in the film were all taken from an old cell phone that the director had forgotten about for 12 years. I plugged in my phone and turned it on.Welcome aboard the Time Travel Machine and step into the middle school era of the generation born in 1995 of mainland China.
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.
Dogumentary
Dir: Ilina Perianova; 26:31 min; Short fiction; Bulgaria
Synopsis: Since she was little, Asya has been taking care of stray dogs at the Nadezhda shelter, where her mother worked as a caretaker. Years later, they remember this period of their lives as one of the best. The film also introduces us to hunters from the municipal enterprise "Ekoravnovesie" as they travel around Sofia and encounter various cases related to the homeless animals. Filmed over the course of 12 years.
Under Surveillance
Dir: Joao Paulo Vicente; 22:30 min; Short fiction; Brazil
Synopsis: A college professor, a journalist, a trans politician and a group of indigenous women activists. Four different stories on how technology can become a weapon of oppression and authoritarianism.
Blue Mountain. White Cloud.
Dir: Miglė Križinauskaitė Bernotienė; 10:42 min; Short fiction; Lithuania
Synopsis: There is a story circulating among Zen Buddhist monks about two types of monks. First ones are settled and spend all their life in a monastery, they are identified with the blue mountains, while others are like white clouds – constantly traveling from one place to another. In the film, the filmmaker and Won Bo Sunim, a Lithuanian woman who decided to go to South Korea more than 20 years ago and become a Zen monk, embark on a journey in the mountains of South Korea.
Cuando llegue la neblina
Dir: Laurentia Genske; 23:23 min; Short fiction; Germany
Synopsis: The short film "Cuando llegue la neblina" (When the Fog Comes) portrays the lives of people from the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Through a combination of photographs, animations, and audio recordings, the film delves into the daily realities of four individuals who have different connections to the Mexican-American border.
We meet Isna and Miche, two migrants who fled from Haiti, leaving their children and families behind in their home country. They undertook the exhausting journey through eleven countries to reach Mexico, hoping to get closer to their dream of the "American Dream." We encounter José Luís, a Mexican man who, after eight failed attempts to cross the border, now waits for the next fog to try again. We also meet Gustavo, a lifeguard who rescues migrants from the waters as they attempt to swim around the border at the sea.
The Party
Dir: PACO Gutierrez Bueno, Luis Cazorla; 19:45 min; Short fiction; Spain
Synopsis: The verdiales festival is the oldest living folklore in Europe. Malaga becomes a great setting for ancient rites transmitted by oral tradition.
21-28 February; multiple venues, Chennai
Category – International Short Fiction
Under The Scorching Sun
Dir: Prathap Ramamurthy, Jagannath Radhakrishnan; 17:08 min; Short fiction; United States
Synopsis: A short documentary that shows the toil of everyday workers in Chennai, India, under extreme heat.
In the footsteps of the Andalusi clay
Dir: Dany Ruz; 28:00 min; Short fiction; Spain
Synopsis: Traditional pottery is a production method and way of life on the verge of extinction. In the province of Almería, this ancient craft is still alive. Through interviews with potters and their work on the wheel, painting, decanting clay, lead glazing, placing ceramics inside the kiln or firing in an old kiln, we have recreated this ancient tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation, surviving and transforming itself. From the search for clay and raw materials to the breaking of the kiln door to extract the pieces after firing, this work highlights the potter's craft as a sign of a people's identity and part of our intangible heritage.
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.
Amores hallarás
Dir: Saro Vallejo; 29:11 min; Short fiction; Switzerland
Synopsis: On the move, along the roads of the Ecuadorian Andes, we are transported to random moments in everyday life. Without appropriating what we observe, we continue the journey.
Indai Apai Darah
Dir: Kynan Tegar; 14:55 min; Short fiction; Indonesia
Synopsis: A young girl growing up in the Indigenous-held forests of central Borneo follows ancient connections to earn the gift of a story - her People's 1973 fight to preserve their lands amid rampant deforestation.
My Dad is a Lightning Researcher
Dir: Iryna Shostak; 18:00 min; Short fiction; Ukraine
Synopsis: My Dad is a Lightning Researcher is a documentary film reflection. A daughter attempts to decipher and memorize the "universe of her dad", a lightning researcher, whom, as it turned out after his death, she never fully got to know. Neither him nor his lasting legacy. This is her attempt to think about how long our memory lasts about the people who meant something to us, who did something and created something next to us. The film attempts to fix the fleeing clues of memory in time to keep it longer. And, of course, it is her attempt to remember everythingor at least something he was for her.
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...
I'm Afraid it's Not Good to Say
Dir: ZHU YUAN KUN; 13:00 min; Short fiction; China
Synopsis: In a cacophony of lively phone messages and news clippings, a 15-year-old boy juggles academic pressures and new romance, while celebrating low expectations and homemade film.The dialogues in the film were all taken from an old cell phone that the director had forgotten about for 12 years. I plugged in my phone and turned it on.Welcome aboard the Time Travel Machine and step into the middle school era of the generation born in 1995 of mainland China.
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.
Dogumentary
Dir: Ilina Perianova; 26:31 min; Short fiction; Bulgaria
Synopsis: Since she was little, Asya has been taking care of stray dogs at the Nadezhda shelter, where her mother worked as a caretaker. Years later, they remember this period of their lives as one of the best. The film also introduces us to hunters from the municipal enterprise "Ekoravnovesie" as they travel around Sofia and encounter various cases related to the homeless animals. Filmed over the course of 12 years.
Under Surveillance
Dir: Joao Paulo Vicente; 22:30 min; Short fiction; Brazil
Synopsis: A college professor, a journalist, a trans politician and a group of indigenous women activists. Four different stories on how technology can become a weapon of oppression and authoritarianism.
Blue Mountain. White Cloud.
Dir: Miglė Križinauskaitė Bernotienė; 10:42 min; Short fiction; Lithuania
Synopsis: There is a story circulating among Zen Buddhist monks about two types of monks. First ones are settled and spend all their life in a monastery, they are identified with the blue mountains, while others are like white clouds – constantly traveling from one place to another. In the film, the filmmaker and Won Bo Sunim, a Lithuanian woman who decided to go to South Korea more than 20 years ago and become a Zen monk, embark on a journey in the mountains of South Korea.
Cuando llegue la neblina
Dir: Laurentia Genske; 23:23 min; Short fiction; Germany
Synopsis: The short film "Cuando llegue la neblina" (When the Fog Comes) portrays the lives of people from the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Through a combination of photographs, animations, and audio recordings, the film delves into the daily realities of four individuals who have different connections to the Mexican-American border.
We meet Isna and Miche, two migrants who fled from Haiti, leaving their children and families behind in their home country. They undertook the exhausting journey through eleven countries to reach Mexico, hoping to get closer to their dream of the "American Dream." We encounter José Luís, a Mexican man who, after eight failed attempts to cross the border, now waits for the next fog to try again. We also meet Gustavo, a lifeguard who rescues migrants from the waters as they attempt to swim around the border at the sea.
The Party
Dir: PACO Gutierrez Bueno, Luis Cazorla; 19:45 min; Short fiction; Spain
Synopsis: The verdiales festival is the oldest living folklore in Europe. Malaga becomes a great setting for ancient rites transmitted by oral tradition.
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