A student production from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has earned a place at one of the world's most prestigious film festivals.
Mehar Malhotra, enrolled in the direction and screenplay writing programme at FTII's Pune campus, has had her 24-minute short film titled 'Shadows of the Moonless Nights' chosen for the La Cinef competitive section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The segment is dedicated to showcasing film school fiction and animated films.
Shadows of the Moonless Nights is a Punjabi-language movie which has been written and directed by Malhotra. In Punjabi, it is titled 'Parchave Masseah Rataan De'. The short film will screen alongside 13 other live-action shorts and five animated films from film schools across the globe, as cited by Hindustan Times.
Also Read | Sydney Sweeney’s cameo cut from The Devil Wears Prada 2? Here’s what went wrong
The selection represents a notable achievement within a highly competitive field. According to a Cannes Film Festival statement, organisers received 2,750 submissions from film institutions worldwide for the La Cinef segment this year. The statement added that the final lineup spans 15 countries across four continents, and the selected films are directed by 12 women and nine men.
About the film
As per the report of Hindustan Times, Shadows of the Moonless Nights centres on Rajan, a factory worker navigating exhausting work shifts, a turbulent domestic situation, and recurring sleeplessness as he wanders a city at night seeking rest he cannot find. Malhotra wrote the screenplay in addition to directing.
Also Read | Joe Jonas goes public with new girlfriend—who is Tatiana Gabriela?
The cast includes Prayrak Mehta, Nikita Grover, and Himanshu Kohli. Behind the camera, cinematographer Diggant Surti led the visual work, with Bhopi and Rashmi Kushwaha handling production design, Shreyas BhopÑ– editing, Sai Sanjay overseeing sound, and Sudin composing the score.
Awards and ceremony
Three La Cinef prizes are available to the competing films, to be awarded by a festival jury on May 21 at the Bunuel Theatre. Malhotra's film will be eligible for all three, as cited by Hindustan Times.
Director's response
As per the report of Hindustan Times, Malhotra acknowledged the selection publicly via Instagram Stories, describing herself as "humbled and honoured" by the news, according to her post.
