Benighted is going places!
The no-budget journey of an idea to film festivals across the world
Cefalù, Italy is the latest destination for 'Chootiya'
Earlier this week, we made the thrilling announcement that after Best Seconds Switzerland, our short film Chootiya (International title: Benighted) has been selected for Cefalù Film Festival, Italy. As we celebrate at the Studio with wai-wai salad and pista ice-cream, here is a quick look back at the journey of this short film.
Official film poster for 'Chootiya'
Breathing in Delhi's smog is equivalent to smoking 44 cigarettes a day. Amidst growing awareness and conversation in the National Capital Territory, which has been on the red alert every winter for the past couple of years, there have been some very amusing reactions from the citizens as well. The film was conceived with the idea of capturing one such unique sort of response, and getting the conversation started as a response on a public platform to raise awareness among people. A concise 2-minute short emerged as the format of choice to deliver a powerful punch. For a film which had been on the drawing board for months, things moved much faster as we got to its production, with the filming being completed over one night. We experimented with the film-noir palette to create an atmosphere of suspense and irony, using a single spotlight for focus.
Made on practically no budget at all, 'Chootiya' is now going places! It was selected as one of the Top 10 Short Films in the Good Cause category at the Best Second Film Festival in Switzerland, followed by selection of screening at the Cefalù Film Festival in Italy. Such accolades for a film made and promoted on zero budget is definitely motivation of the highest order. It has us wondering... If we have the funds to apply to some of the most prestigious film festivals of the world... where we could possibly go next!
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CONCEIVED, SHOT, EDITED & DIRECTED BY SMANLA DORJE NURBOO
INTRODUCING JITANK SINGH