Karishma Dev Dube’s ‘Bittu’ makes it to the Oscar shortlist

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There is a mixed news for India on the Oscar front. The official Indian entry in the Best Foreign Film category, <em>Jallikattu</em>, failed to make it to the shortlist for the coming 93<sup>rd</sup> Academy Awards. Yet, there hope and chance for an Indian film to make a mark at this international event. The short film <em>Bittu</em> has made it to the Live Action Short Film shortlist, and is still in contention for a nomination.</p>
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Directed by Karishma Dev Dube's <em>Bittu</em> is part of the ten-movie list. The film has been presented by Ekta Kapoor, Guneet Monga and Tahira Kashyap under their Indian Women Rising initiative.</p>
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What makes Bittu special is that it is based on a true story, making the viewers a part of the journey of a defiant fierce girl who refuses to be forgotten. The film goes on to present a heart-warming story of friendship between two school friends.</p>
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Inspired by the infamous incident of poisoning that took place in a school in Bihar in 2013, the director has reimagined the story in a Himalayan village. It has been shot in a place near Uttarkhand’s capital, Dehradun, called Koti.</p>
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The other films shortlisted in this category that will compete with <em>Bittu</em> are <em>Da Yie, Feeling Through, The Human Voice, The Kicksled Choir, The Letter Room, The Present, Two Distant Strangers, The Van </em>and<em>White Eye.</em></p>
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The Anthony Nti directed <em>Da Yie</em>, won the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in 2020. It is a story about Matilda and Prince who embark on a life-changing trip. Capturing the world of the young and that of criminals, the film is set in Ghana.</p>
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Written and directed by Doug Roland <em>Feeling Through</em> is a story about a young boy who is homeless and how his life changes when he meets a deaf and blind man waiting for a bus. Helping the man, the boy sees the world with a different prism which makes him learn a lot.</p>
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The Spanish-American short drama <em>The Human Voice</em>, directed by Pedro Almodovar, is based on play of the same name written by Jean Cocteau. It is touching story of two living beings faced with abandonment. One is a woman who keeps watching the suitcases her ex-lover is supposed to pick up and the other, a dog who can’t fathom why his master left him.</p>
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<em>The Kicksled Choir d</em>irected by Torfinn Iversen is the tale of Gabriel, who is inclined to join the Kicksled Choir that raises money for refugees. Things change, when his father gets into a tiff with one of the local refugees, making it challenging for Gabriel to join the choir.</p>
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Premiered at HollyShorts Film Festival, <em>The Letter Room is</em> directed by Elvira Lind. A dark prison comedy deals with the secret life of a correctional officer who is transferred to the letter room. Finding himself in a new world, helps him find spirituality and solace.</p>
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The reality of being black in America is what <em>Two Distant Strangers</em> is about. Directed by Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe, the film tells the story of a black cartoonist who after a romantic evening is heading home, when he is stopped by a white police officer.</p>
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Erenik Beqiri directed <em>The Van </em>is a about Ben who fights so that he can leave Albania. Ben fondly hopes that his father too will come with him.</p>
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<em>White Eye</em> directed by Tomer Shushan is a story about a man who finds his stolen bicycle with a stranger and how while attempting to get it back, he finds it difficult to remain human.</p>
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The final nominations for the Oscars will be announced on March 15. This year, the award gala will be held on April 25.</p>