The women’s empowerment wing of the Gubbivani Trust is hosting the ‘Avala Hejje Women’s Kannada Short Film Festival’ this weekend at the Bangalore International Centre. The event will feature nine short films, celebrating the varied and nuanced experiences of women through cinema.
The festival aims to spotlight stories that delve into the personal, political, and everyday realities of women, engaging with themes of identity, memory, and belonging. Each screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers, encouraging dialogue and deeper understanding of their creative journeys.
Eight films, all directed by women, are in the running for the Best Film award. The competing entries include:
- On Line by Sathya Promod M S
- Cake Walk by Sinchana Shailesh
- Unheard Echoes by Kavitha B Naik
- The Last Happy Customer by Mandara Battalahalli
- Pushpa by Kshama Ambekallu
- Ubhaya by Chandana Nag
- Solo Traveller by Manasa U Sharma
- How Are You? by Trupthi Kulkarni
In addition, the festival will host the premiere of Neerellavu Theertha, directed by Yashiv and produced by Renuka Yallappa Malligar. “Though directed by a man, we chose to screen it because it was produced by a woman,” said Shanthala Damle, programme director.
The event reinforces the growing space for women storytellers in regional cinema and aims to inspire more inclusive narratives.
Read also;