Big stories don’t need a feature-length runtime.

14 short films from filmmakers around the world

Presented across two 100-minute programmes. From emerging voices to established filmmakers, International Shorts brings together different approaches to storytelling and a chance to encounter films you may not find anywhere else.

          Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 12:00 pm
        
          Living Arts Centre
        
          Short Film
          Filmmaker
          Description
        
            THE THIRD DREAM
          
            Mohammadhossein Nikzad
            Director
          
          A dreamer resists interrogation by a relentless doctor determined to extract the truth about his dream by coercive use of psychoanalysis.
        
            AVAGUNTHAN
          
Dhani Jhankal
            Director
          
          The story follows Akla Bai, a talented singer from a traditional singing community who dreams of being a famous singer who can freely perform in public.
        
            THE SALE
          
            Meera Angelica Joshi
            Director
          
          An inspired by my mother's adventures selling encyclopedias in the 90s.
        
            GULMINA
            WORLD PREMIERE
          
            Shahrukh Naveed
            Director
          
          As the clock moves toward an irreversible act, Gulmina insists on having her portrait taken: claiming the power to decide how she will be seen and remembered.

            TARA
          
            Ashutosh S. Shankar
            Director
          
          At a queer party, Tara falls for Aman but hides her Dalit identity after learning he is upper caste. As their connection deepens, she must confront what it means to conceal part of herself for love.

Short Film	Filmmaker	Description
THE THIRD DREAM	Mohammadhossein Nikzad Director	A dreamer resists interrogation by a relentless doctor determined to extract the truth about his dream by coercive use of psychoanalysis.
AVAGUNTHAN	Dhani Jhankal Director	The story follows Akla Bai, a talented singer from a traditional singing community who dreams of being a famous singer who can freely perform in public.
THE SALE	Meera Angelica Joshi Director	An inspired by my mother's adventures selling encyclopedias in the 90s.
GULMINA WORLD PREMIERE	Shahrukh Naveed Director	As the clock moves toward an irreversible act, Gulmina insists on having her portrait taken: claiming the power to decide how she will be seen and remembered.
TARA	Ashutosh S. Shankar Director	At a queer party, Tara falls for Aman but hides her Dalit identity after learning he is upper caste. As their connection deepens, she must confront what it means to conceal part of herself for love.

All five films above screen together as one 100-minute programme.

          Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 1:30 pm
        
          Living Arts Centre
        
            Short Film
          
          Filmmaker
          Description

              AUNTY JI 
            
            Milli Bhatia
            Director
          
          An unexpected psychological thriller, debut director Milli Bhatia teams up with writer Mohamed-Zain Dada, following their Olivier-nominated success Blue Mist, to tell the tale of an Aunty’s greatest battle, the one with herself.

              OUR BODIES OURS

            Sonali Gulati,
             Sanam Sheriff
            Directors
          
          A poetic animated film that explores the nuance and beauty of trans becoming through a diasporic lens, reframing gender-affirming care as an intricate, intimate, meandering act. 

              THE FIRST BITE

            Rajdip Ray
            Director
          
          A story that follows a young Kolkata couple navigating a terminal illness and drastic dietary changes.

              THE LAST GLANCE

             Kamran Faiq
            Director
          
          Fleeing violence with his pregnant wife and young son, Barkaat reaches a remote police checkpoint. There, a demand for loyalty forces a choice that changes everything.

              AWKWARD GOODBYES
            
            Allie Guerrero
            Director
          
          A guessing game goes wrong when two chaotic lovers buy a lottery ticket on the final day of their vacation romance.

              RELAY THE STOLEN TALES 

            Ranjit Singh Shubh
            Director
          
          A gripping psychological drama that follows a British family’s struggle to manage the repercussions of a traumatic past, when one morning the monstrous memories come swarming back.

              MUNTAZIR
            
            Sana Hussain, Mehrosh Alam
            Directors
          
          In Lahore’s Old City, Sundari Khan guides her community through grief with Nohakhwani, a poetic form of lament. Celebrated for her devotion yet shunned as a trans woman, she longs for acceptance.

Short Film	Filmmaker	Description
AUNTY JI	Milli Bhatia Director	An unexpected psychological thriller, debut director Milli Bhatia teams up with writer Mohamed-Zain Dada, following their Olivier-nominated success Blue Mist, to tell the tale of an Aunty’s greatest battle, the one with herself.
OUR BODIES OURS	Sonali Gulati, Sanam Sheriff Directors	A poetic animated film that explores the nuance and beauty of trans becoming through a diasporic lens, reframing gender-affirming care as an intricate, intimate, meandering act.
THE FIRST BITE	Rajdip Ray Director	A story that follows a young Kolkata couple navigating a terminal illness and drastic dietary changes.
THE LAST GLANCE	Kamran Faiq Director	Fleeing violence with his pregnant wife and young son, Barkaat reaches a remote police checkpoint. There, a demand for loyalty forces a choice that changes everything.
AWKWARD GOODBYES	Allie Guerrero Director	A guessing game goes wrong when two chaotic lovers buy a lottery ticket on the final day of their vacation romance.
RELAY THE STOLEN TALES	Ranjit Singh Shubh Director	A gripping psychological drama that follows a British family’s struggle to manage the repercussions of a traumatic past, when one morning the monstrous memories come swarming back.
MUNTAZIR	Sana Hussain, Mehrosh Alam Directors	In Lahore’s Old City, Sundari Khan guides her community through grief with Nohakhwani, a poetic form of lament. Celebrated for her devotion yet shunned as a trans woman, she longs for acceptance.

All nine films above screen together as one 100-minute programme.