Manipur’s ‘Toy Gun’ Wins Acclaim at 1st Hyderabad International Short Film Festival

Hyderabad : The 1st Hyderabad International Short Film Festival (HISFF) 2025 drew to a resounding close on Sunday, with a Manipuri film securing a prestigious podium finish for India amidst strong international competition. The festival, which attracted a staggering 705 entries from across the globe, concluded with a valedictory ceremony graced by Telangana's Minister for Cinematography, Shri Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and other dignitaries.

The top honour was claimed by Iran’s ‘Sarnvesht’ (Directed by Yaser Talebi), while another Iranian film, ‘The Whistle’, received a Special Jury Award.

However, the spotlight shone brightly on India’s Northeast as ‘Toy Gun’ (Directed by Parshuram Thingam) from Manipur was awarded the Second Prize (First Runner-Up). The Third Prize went to ‘My Father is Afraid of Water’ (India).

The success of ‘Toy Gun’ was part of a special focus on Northeastern cinema at the festival. Curated under the ‘Northeast Pavilion’ by Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, Secretary of the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), along with Alexander Leo Pou, Biplab Goswami, and Abishek Chhettri, the package showcased 11 films from the region. This included three from Manipur: the award-winning ‘Toy Gun’, ‘Delusional Decay’ by Nongthombam Tushar and ‘Halwaiba’ by Naoton Kakchingtabam highlighting the vibrant storytelling emerging from the state.

The closing day also featured a panel discussion on challenges in contemporary filmmaking. Veteran actor-filmmaker Nasser, critic Maithili Rao, and others deliberated on issues from artificial intelligence to creative freedom. Rao nostalgically recalled an era of anti-government films made with institutional support, contrasting it with today's climate of "undeclared censorship."

The festival, which opened with traditional performances including the Perini Shivatandavam, culminated by reinforcing its role as a crucial platform for independent voices, celebrating both global diversity and the specific, powerful narratives from India’s Northeast.