1 hr ago
Indian Film The One Who Plays Wins Kazan Award
The One Who Plays is a short film made by Indian filmmaker Shobhita Thakur.
It tells the story of Sapna, a 12-year-old girl who wants to become a doctor.
Sapna comes from the Banchhada community in Madhya Pradesh.
Many girls in her community have had limited freedom to choose their futures.
The film shows her hopes for education and a different life.
It won the Best Short Film award at a festival in Kazan, Russia.
The festival received films from 67 countries.
Thakur was especially happy because famous filmmaker Majid Majidi led the jury.
The film’s message about dreams, education and dignity can be understood by people in many countries.
Shobhita Thakur’s 27-minute film The One Who Plays won Best Short Film at Russia’s XXII Kazan International Film Festival.
The film follows Sapna, a 12-year-old girl from Madhya Pradesh’s denotified Banchhada community who dreams of becoming a doctor.
The festival’s 2026 edition received 1,030 submissions from 67 countries, with 55 films selected for competition.
The international jury was chaired by Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, whom Thakur identifies as a major cinematic influence.
The film previously received recognition in Canada and France and is scheduled for screenings in Chennai, Cambridge and elsewhere.
- Who
- Indian filmmaker and writer Shobhita Thakur; the film centers on Sapna, a 12-year-old girl from the Banchhada community.
- What
- Thakur’s 27-minute film The One Who Plays (Khilawadi) won the Best Short Film award.
- Where
- The award was presented at the Altyn Minbar Kazan International Film Festival in Kazan, Russia.
- When
- At the 2026 edition of the XXII Kazan International Film Festival.
- Why
- The film was recognized for its story about a marginalized girl’s aspirations, education and right to choose her future.
Key facts
- Film
- The One Who Plays (Khilawadi)
- Director
- Shobhita Thakur
- Film length
- 27 minutes
- Award
- Best Short Film
- Festival
- XXII Kazan International Film Festival “Altyn Minbar”
- 2026 submissions
- 1,030 submissions from 67 countries
- Competition selection
- 55 films
- Jury chair
- Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi
Quotes
Shobhita Thakur
Indian filmmaker, writer and FTII Pune alumna
“Winning at Kazan is deeply special to me because Majid Majidi Sir was the President of the Jury. There is no greater honour than to have your work seen and recognised by a filmmaker who has been a cinema guru for me. I first learnt how to tell a universal story through children from his cinema”
freepressjournal.in
“Altyn Minbar felt like a place where filmmakers could come from different parts of the world and tell each other about their people, their cultures and their pain. It was deeply humanitarian and intellectually stimulating. It felt like a place of learning anddiscourse and compassion.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
Related news
Indian Films Set for World Premieres at 2026 Busan Festival
Birds in the Dark and Selvi Selected for Busan
Kashmir’s First International Film Festival Opens With Global Ambitions
Fatima Sana Shaikh Highlights Regional Cinema at J&K Festival
BFI London Film Festival Spotlights South Asian and MENA Cinema
Three Virtual Bharat Documentaries Selected for Kashmir Film Festival
Iran President Pezeshkian to attend BRICS Summit in New Delhi
China says Sino-India border generally stable amid Arunachal tensions
MEA Says LAC Peace Reflects State of India-China Ties
Seven Uzbek citizens killed in Tatarstan drone attack
