‘Kus’ Named Best Marathi Short Film; Ramkumar Shedge Wins Best Experimental Director Award

Pune : At the 13th Goa Short Film Festival, the short film Kus—which depicts the harrowing reality of sugarcane workers in Maharashtra was named the Best Marathi Short Film. Meanwhile, Ramkumar Shedge received the Best Director award in the ‘Experimental’ category for his film The Trap, which creatively explores the evolving nature of urban life.

The short film Meter Down, directed by Akshay Vyavahare, was declared the best overall, while Shreyas Lad received the Best Director award for the film Teesra. Rahul Rathod was honored with the Best Screenplay award for the film Panki.

The festival was organized by the ‘Marathi Chitrapat Parivar’ (Marathi Film Family) organization on October 25 at the Balasaheb Thackeray Cartoon Art Gallery auditorium. The awards were presented by veteran music critic Subhashchandra Jadhav, senior writer Manohar Sapre, Vinayak Kulkarni, and renowned photographer Anand Chaini. Festival Director Yogesh Baraskar was also present on the occasion.

In the International category, The Namo Fugue, directed by James Ugas, was named the Best Short Film. Steel Beauty was honored as the Best International Director for the film Distance Waters, and Raski Nivara received the award for Best International Screenplay for the film The Last Date. In the Indian category, the short film My Beloved Mukku was adjudged the best, while Bharat Patil was honored as the Best Indian Director for the short film Unbound Sound. Harshal Alpe was recognized as the Best Marathi Director for the short film Yogayog, and Dnyaneshwar Jadhavar received the award for Best Marathi Screenwriter for the short film Kus. The short film Nirvat was awarded for the Best Debut Production. In the documentary category, White Gold was named the best documentary, and Ninad Bhatkar received the award for Best Documentary Director for the film Mumbai Warli. In the acting categories, Mukesh Jadhav was named Best Actor for the short film Tisaraya, Anjali Kasbe was honored as Best Actress for the short film Panki, and Rayan Azad was recognized as the Best Child Artist for the short film Me Khelunga.