A curated package of non fiction films

Synopsis

Presented in collaboration with PSBT.

P for Paparazzi ((Hindi, Maithili, English/ 2024/ 26 mins) Dir. Divya Kharnare. Amidst the chaos of flashing lights and crazy crowds, Manoj, an established Paparazzi from Nepal, faces off against fellow photographers in a high-stakes race to capture the most sensational photos. Despite his years of experience and connections with celebrities ranging from Boney Kapoor to Alia Bhatt, Manoj finds himself confronting the harsh reality of his brother's deteriorating health.As Manoj navigates the sweaty nights of Mumbai, his encounters with celebrities offer glimpses into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry but also highlight the human side behind the fame. With each click of the camera, Manoj grapples with the moral dilemmas of his profession and the weight of his brother's fate hanging in the balance.Will Manoj's connections and perseverance be enough to secure the  funds needed for his brother's treatment, or will he find himself facing a solitary battle for survival?

Festivals & Awards : Jury Award for Best Editing (Short Documentary), 16th IDSFFK 2024, Dharamshala International Film Festival 2024, Film South Asia 2024, 24th River Florence Indian Film Festival 2024, 13th Chennai International Documentary & Short Film Festival 2024,Longlisted, Toto Funds the Arts 2024-25

Mic Drop (Hindi, Bundelkhandi/ 2024/ 27 mins) Dir. Kallol Mukherjee. An electrifying performance by Ankit ignites the stage, leaving the audience in awe.But when the organizer refuses to pay them the next day, Ankit's disappointment turns into determination. Without hesitation, he revs up his bike and races towards the city.Arriving at a friend's house, they transform the bedroom into a makeshift recording studio. Ankit changes his clothes and with each layer of clothing replaced, a commonguy sheds his former self and wears his new identity: FPC ANK, The BundelkhandiRapper. The documentary delves deep into FPC ANK's world, exposing his tenacity and unwavering passion as he tirelessly works on his debut album to tell the stories of his people. The film takes a behind-the-scenes approach, capturing his artistic process from the initial stage of inspiration to producing a music video from his debut album through all the frugal ways! With every moment, the audience is left on the edge of their seats, eagerly wondering: Will FPC ANK make it after all?

Festivals & Awards : Best Music Documentary, 13th Annual DC South AsiaFilm Festival 2024, Jury Award, 11th Smita Patil International Film Festival 2025, 8th Doku BAku International Documentary Film Festival,13th International Film Festival of South Asia [IFFSA], Film South Asia 2024, Tasveer Film Festival 2024,Dharamshala International Film Festival 2024, Madurai International Film Festival 2024, Longlisted, Toto Funds The Arts 2024-25

Only If The Baby Cries (Silent/ 2024/ 15 mins) Dir. Shadab Farooq. In the mountains of Dhadkai, a secluded himalayan village in Jammu and Kashmir, many people can't hear or speak. Dhadkai stands as the world's only village predominantly afflicted by deaf-mutism, a mysterious phenomenon that continues to baffle experts.‘Only if the Baby Cries’ films Misra Khatoon and Mohammad Iqbal, a young couple in their20’s, brace themselves with fear, anxiety and hope as they approach childbirth. As the time for the birth approaches, the villagers and relatives gather around their home,creating noise with banging drums, clanging utensils, and whistling—the village’s tradition to test the newborn's response. According to the village's beliefs and experiences, if the newborn cries loudly but keeps the eyes closed for the first two days, they might be deaf. However, confirming if the newborn can't talk usually takes around six months of careful observation and patience.

Festivals & Awards: Short Joy Award, Jihlava InternationalDocumentary Film Festival 2024,  Slamdance Film Festival 2025 , Longlisted, Toto Funds The Arts 2024-25 

Where The Taro Grows (Sylheti/ 2024/19 mins) Dir. Anunay Barbhuiya. Assam-type houses are part of the architectural history of Northeast India. Most of these houses in Barak Valley, Assam, India, are now deserted, beyond repair, and unsafe for habitation. They remain occupied either by seniors or abandoned by people seeking better prospects in cities. In recent times, there has been alarming replanning and construction in the region. Encroaching upon rural and forest areas, coupled with hill cutting, is causing intensified environmental calamities.As visuals reveal these houses amid rapid developments, fictional phone conversations between two siblings from this region who are working in different cities far from here are heard. Like many educated youth, they left for prosperous careers, growing dependent on a different lifestyle. Any prospect of their return seems highly unlikely.The conversation delves into their connection with their home and their vanishing sense of belonging as they contemplate selling their uninhabited, dilapidated ancestral land.

Festivals & Awards: 16th International Documentary and Short FilmFestival of Kerala 2024,  Work-in-Progress Lab, Mumbai International Film Festival 2024

We Are Not What We See (Tamil, Hindi/| 2024/ 10 mins) Dir. Hou-hsein. In a dim, dusty room within Mumbai's Slums, locals gather as a film is projected,transporting those who enter into a realm offering solace from the relentless urban chaos. An exquisite examination of the rhythm and ambience inside the exterminating alternative cinema space-the video parlors. An audiovisual ode to an alternative cinema space the video parlors situated in the slums of Mumbai where the local people come and watch films. The film's ode embraces the transformative power of cinema, even in the most humble and overlooked corners of society.