Day Three of the 23rd Frames Film Festival ‘Kirdaar’ Celebrates Music Videos, National Indie Films, and Awards at SIES (Nerul) College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous)

The 23rd edition of the Frames Film Festival continued on 7 February 2026 at SIES (Nerul) College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous), carrying forward the spirit of its theme Kirdaar by celebrating diverse cinematic expressions through the Music Video category, the National Indie Films segment, and the much anticipated Awards Ceremony. The final day reflected the vibrancy of contemporary storytelling, highlighting how cinema continues to evolve across formats while honouring the roles, responsibilities, and creative voices that shape meaningful narratives.

The day began with the Music Video category, which explored the powerful relationship between sound and visuals, demonstrating how music videos create immersive emotional experiences within a short cinematic format. The segment was judged by Mr Karan B Oberoi, actor, musician, writer, director, and founding member of India’s iconic platinum selling boy band, and Mr Mihir Joshi, host and co producer of JustTalkSneakers on Zee Café India, creator of TheMJShow, former radio jockey, and WWE Hindi commentator. Their presence brought valuable industry perspective to the evaluation of the entries. The shortlisted music videos screened in this segment included Comfort in the Kill, Beautiful Memories, Baithi Hai, I Move On, Useless, En Line, Tim Tim, and Nafs, each presenting distinctive visual storytelling driven by rhythm, performance, and cinematic creativity. Interacting with the audience after the screenings, the jury appreciated the enthusiasm of the participants and remarked that the festival showcased one of the most energetic and engaging audiences they had experienced, encouraging young creators to continue experimenting with music driven storytelling.

The festival then moved into the National Indie Films category, a segment dedicated to student filmmakers from across the country whose works reflected sincerity, experimentation, and authentic storytelling. Evaluated by executive producer Mr Vicky Raval, an Indian casting director and founder of Vicky Raval Casting Co., the segment benefited from his strong industry experience and keen eye for talent. The curated screenings included Scapegoat, Batman Let The Devil Out, Bhairavi, Dheemi Aanch, Riverbed of Dried Petals, and Bhatukali, each film presenting distinctive perspectives and themes that resonated deeply with the audience. The jury appreciated the originality and emotional depth displayed by the filmmakers and encouraged students to continue exploring meaningful storytelling rooted in personal experiences and social observation.

The festival concluded with the Awards Ceremony, which commenced at 6:30 pm, marking a celebratory culmination of three days dedicated to cinematic excellence. The ceremony was graced by the distinguished presence of Ms Arunima Sharma, an award winning film director and FTII Pune graduate, recipient of the National Award Swarna Kamal for Best Non Feature Direction, and co creator and director of the Amazon Prime series Jee Karda, whose presence added inspiration and prestige to the concluding evening of the festival. During the ceremony, winners were honoured across all six competition categories presented at the festival. In the International Short Film category, Celestial was declared the winner, with Bertha receiving the runner up position. In the National Short Film category, Brahmakamal won the top honour, while 17ve Warsh was announced as the runner up. The Documentary award was presented to Return to the Sky, with In Search of Grey securing the runner up position. In the Animation category, 113 Words for You emerged as the winner, while Maatitel was recognised as the runner up. The Music Video award was received by Beautiful Memories, with Tim Tim named runner up. In the National Indie Film category, Bhairavi was awarded the winner, while Scapegoat was declared runner up. Additionally, Mr Piyush Sawant was honoured with the Best Director award in the National Indie Films category, recognising his outstanding directorial achievement. Celebrating creativity, technical excellence, and meaningful storytelling, the ceremony recognised filmmakers whose work truly embodied the spirit of Kirdaar, honouring every contributor who brings cinema to life.

Guided by the leadership of Principal Dr Koel Roy Choudhury, Head of the Department of Multimedia and Mass Communication Mr Mithun Pillai, Chairperson Mr Abhishek Dandekar, and the dedicated faculty members of the department, the 23^rd edition of the Frames Film Festival concluded successfully as a vibrant platform that nurtures emerging filmmakers, encourages creative exploration, and strengthens meaningful connections between students and the film industry. As the three day celebration of cinema drew to a close, the atmosphere in the auditorium turned deeply emotional, reflecting the strong bonds, memories, and creative journeys shared throughout the festival.

Participants, organisers, faculty members, and filmmakers came together in a moment of gratitude and pride, celebrating not only the winners but every contributor who played a meaningful role in bringing the festival to life. The closing moments were filled with heartfelt applause, smiles, and a sense of fulfilment, reaffirming the festival’s legacy as a celebration of cinema that values imagination, responsibility, and every Kirdaar that contributes to the art of storytelling, reminding everyone that cinema is ultimately a collective experience shaped by passion, collaboration, and shared dreams.