KASHISH 2026 ISMAT CHUGHTAI AWARD FOR BEST WOMAN FILMMAKER OF SOUTH ASIAN ORIGIN
(They/ Them)
Anushay Sheikh is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the intersections of queerness, faith, and identity through narrative films, documentaries, and immersive installations. In works like Same Time Next Year?, Reclamation, and The Test, Sheikh explores the depth of the human experience by capturing moments of vulnerability, connection, and resilience. Their work has been recognized for its emotional depth and thoughtful representation, earning numerous festival screenings and awards, including the DGC Ontario and WIFT+ Toronto Award at the Reel Asian International Film Festival for Same Time Next Year? Sheikh holds a BA with Distinction in Economics and Political Science from McGill University and an MFA in Documentary Media from Toronto Metropolitan University, where they received the Dean’s Award of Excellence and the TMU Gold Medal, the University’s highest honour. Same Time Next Year? marks their debut as the filmmaker.
Same Time Next Year?
Director: Anushay Sheikh
8 min | 2025 | Canada | Arabic, English, Urdu | Narrative Short
A short coming of age drama about Safa, a young woman navigating the lingering ache of a past relationship. During Jummah (Friday prayer), she unexpectedly encounters her ex-girlfriend, Maha, forcing a confrontation with the choices and fears that shaped their breakup.
Same Time Next Year? is a story of love, reflection, and the courage it takes to confront the past.
Screening: Friday June 5, 4.30 PM | Liberty Cinema as part of FAMILY MATTERS
(She/ Her)
Bhavya is a communication designer and filmmaker, interested in making work that listens first, creating space for the people in the film to speak their truths in their own voices. Tea Powder (Chayapodi) is her second film and the first fiction short film as the director.
Tea Powder (Chayapodi ) (ചായപ്പൊടി )
Director: Bhavya Karthikeyan
24 min | 2026 | India | Gujarati, Malayalam | Narrative Short
In 1970s Kozhikode, Zuhra and Nila secretly run an independent publication from their neighbouring houses. The arrival of a letter for Zuhra, threatens the work and life they’ve built together. The film reimagines marginalized stories, celebrating their joy, while inviting us to reconsider whose voices have been left out of history and what happens when they write their own.
Screening: Thursday June 4, 10.45 AM | Liberty Cinema as part of STUDENT SHORTS COMP 1
(She/ Her)
Kris is a Bangalore-based community organizer with over a decade of experience building safe, joyful spaces for FLINTA/LGBTQIA+ communities. She co-founded All Sorts of Queer; a support group based in Bengaluru and manages operations for Maya Bazaar, a vibrant marketplace for queer entrepreneurs. ‘Nisha’ marks her foray into films, where she brings authenticity, warmth, and lived experience to the screen. ‘Nisha’ was written and directed by Kris with mentoring from Mujeer Pasha and Veena Kulkarni.
NISHA
Director: Kris
30 min | 2025 | India | English, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam | Narrative Short
Nisha, a Bangalorean in her late 20s, is trying to move on from a long and intense relationship with her ex, Nidhi. Armed with dry humour, good friends, and terrible dating app matches, she gets back into the game — awkwardly, hesitantly, and with surprising honesty. Each date opens a window into Nisha’s emotional landscape — from absurd mismatches to fleeting sparks. Nisha is a rom-com with a happy ending that explores the gentleness of chosen families.
Screening: Saturday June 6, 5.45 PM | Liberty Cinema as part of INDIAN NARRATIVE SHORTS COMP 1
