In a darkened screening area at Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan in Sangamwadi, a group of film enthusiasts watched stories unfold in a format that often struggles to find space in mainstream cinema. From the nostalgia of childhood pen fights to questions of caste and identity, the five short films screened at the 11th edition of the Arbhaat Short Film Club offered a glimpse into the range of stories filmmakers are telling outside conventional commercial cinema.

The two-day event was held on October 17 at The Box 2 in Karvenagar, and on October 18 at Goethe-Institut. Organised by filmmaker Umesh Kulkarni, founder of the club, the showcase brought together award-winning and internationally recognised films, followed by conversations with filmmakers and the audience.

Kulkarni studied at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and recalls how his own short films travelled to festivals in Berlin, South Korea and others.…