FTII student film enters Cannes La Cinef

“Shadows of the Moonless Nights”, a short film by a student of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has been selected for the prestigious La Cinef Competitive section at the Cannes Film Festival 2026.

Directed by Mehar Malhotra, the 24-minute film is among a curated line-up of 19 entries, including 14 live-action and five animated shorts, chosen for the segment dedicated to showcasing emerging talent from film schools across the globe.

La Cinef, a key section of the Cannes Film Festival, highlights fiction and animation works created by students, often serving as a launchpad for promising filmmakers on the international stage.

According to festival organisers, this year’s edition received as many as 2,750 submissions from film schools worldwide, underscoring the competitiveness of the selection.

The inclusion of “Shadows of the Moonless Nights” marks a significant achievement for FTII and its student filmmaker, placing Indian talent once again in the global spotlight at Cannes.