AIFF 2026: Narrative Short Films

AIFF: Narrative Short Films O'Sey Balamma Dir. Raman Nimmala During the Sankranti festival celebrations, a matriarch and her housekeeper confront solitude through the intimacy of each other’s company. (13 min) Ridgeview Dir. Jon Gollner A young woman struggling with her relationships meets an old friend in her childhood treehouse. (7 min) Out of the House Dir. Brittani Ward A dark comedy that follows Jana as she navigates how to be a “good Hindu” in a time when religion is not sexy. When Jana gets her period during the festival of Navarathiri, a boozy accident thwarts her plans to abide by traditional Hindu customs. (12 min) Debaters Dir. Alex Heller High school strivers don their best business attire to compete at a congressional debate tournament. Rightful cynicism from the adults in the room gets directed at Anubhav, a first-timer who’s way out of his depth. (10 min) Can I Put You On Hold? Dir. James Cutler Matthew and his girlfriend Dangmo dream of starting a life together in the U.S., but when her visa is unexpectedly denied, their future is thrown into limbo. Struggling with the cold reality of immigration barriers, Matthew seeks help from his lawyer, only to be left “on hold” as his world unravels. Blending grounded drama with surreal visual storytelling, Can I Put You On Hold explores the pressures of long-distance love, the excessive weight of bureaucracy, and the sacrifices people make to be together. (11 min)