Lucknow: The two-day Lucknow Short Film Festival (LSFF) 2025 powered by UP Tourism concluded with a grand closing ceremony that celebrated cinematic creativity, powerful storytelling, and emerging talent from across India. The second day began with special screenings of ten remarkable short films crafted by FTII students and independent filmmakers, each exploring this year’s central theme — Peace and Harmony.
The films delved into subjects such as dementia, spiritual awakening, social stigma, child labour, breaking hierarchies, identity, and everyday compassion, showcasing a vibrant mosaic of emotions and perspectives.
Adding star power to the event, actors Huma Qureshi and Sunny Singh joined a special session led by Renuka Tandon, founder of the Amren Foundation, discussing women’s evolving roles in Indian cinema and the importance of media as an empowering space for independent creators.
Celebrated screenwriter Jyoti Kapoor Das led an inspiring discussion with previous LSFF winners, including Katyayani Kumar, who shared valuable insights on crowdfunding as a tool for audience building. Drawing from the advice of Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga, she emphasized, “Crowdfunding isn’t just about raising money — it’s about building trust, relationships, and creative independence.”
The day concluded with the eagerly awaited awards ceremony. Amid loud applause, “Thunai”, directed by Vignesh Paramasivam, bagged the Best Film Award, while “Ganga Putra” by Jai Prakash won Best Documentary. Each received a cash prize of ₹45,000.
Festival founder Renuka Tandon said, “It is a matter of immense pride that within six years of our festival’s inception , a prestigious institution like FTII has not only recognized but also believed in our vision. This collaboration aligns perfectly with LSFF’s mission to empower local youth through cinema and creative storytelling. We thank Dhiraj Singh and Santosh Jha for their encouragement and for opening new avenues of learning for our community.”
Festival Director Gaurav Dwivedi lauded the event as “a proud moment for Lucknow,” while co-director Vipul V. Gaur added, “This sixth edition brought together some of the most beautiful stories from around the world — many unavailable on public platforms.”
The evening ended on a cultural high with a mesmerizing performance by international dancer Sanjukta Sinha and her troupe, blending tradition with contemporary artistry.
🏆 LSFF 2025 Award Winners
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Best Film: Thunai – Dir. Vignesh Paramasivam
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Best Documentary: Ganga Putra – Dir. Jai Prakash
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First Runner-Up: Daddoo Zindabad – Dir. Samar Jain
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Second Runner-Up: Resolve: Child Labour – Dir. Amit Kumar P. Shukla
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Best Director: Daddoo Zindabad – Dir. Samar Jain
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Best Actress: Thunai – Dir. Vignesh Paramasivam
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Best Actor: Thunai – Dir. Vignesh Paramasivam
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Best Child Actor: Resolve: Child Labour – Dir. Amit Kumar P. Shukla
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Best Screenplay: Thunai – Dir. Vignesh Paramasivam
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Best Cinematography: The Well Baked Cake – Dir. Nandu Ghanekar
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Best Editing: Thunai – Dir. Vignesh Paramasivam
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Best Sound Design: Daddoo Zindabad – Dir. Samar Jain
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Critics’ Choice (Best Director): Kasadaru – Dir. T. Ravi Chandran; Muwaja – Dir. Rohit Rawat
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Critics’ Choice (Best Screenplay): Ghuspeethiya Kaun – Dir. Dheeraj Bhatnagar
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Special Mention (Spiritual): Naimisharanya – Dir. Raj Smriti
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Special Mention (Child Actor): Dot the Daughter – Dir. Junaid Imam Sheikh
The diverse lineup — featuring films in Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, and English — showcased the power and creativity of India’s independent cinema, making LSFF 2025 a true celebration of storytelling and cultural unity.
