"My experience since winning the competition has been pretty fantastic. Knowing my film was the NZ winner brought an immense amount of satisfaction and my career since then has grown thanks to the exposure the festival gave me and from the trip to Mumbai which I undertook in August. Since then I've been developing several feature film projects with producers in India, Asia and back home in New Zealand and I've made vital international contacts in the world of distribution and financing. The MBF film festival truly allows for Indian filmmakers to have a voice in this part of the world and open new opportunities for them."
Rajneel Singh , winner from New Zealand for the the Western Union Short Film Competition 2011
Indian Winner
Collin D'Cunha - "Mumbaikar Ganesh"
Meet Jai Arjun Ganesh as he speaks about his childhood in Mumbai and his dreams for the future while he participates in the festival of Lord Ganesh – the beloved god of Mumbai, remover of all obstacles.Ganesh wants to be a actor and represents the true spirit of the city - the city of dreams.
" I was extremely thrilled when my film was announced as the winner of the WU short film competition last year, my trip to melbourne was memorable and fun. The screening of my film 'Mumbaikar Ganesh' at the award ceremony, with dignitaries from Bollywood and Australia as audience was the highlight of my trip. I have been working as an assistant director in hindi films and hope to make my first feature film soon and screen it at the bollywood and beyond festival."
Collin D'Cunha, winner from India for the Western Union Short Film Competition 2011
Australia winner
Ridwan Hassim - "Khatabah"
A young woman named Yasmeena consults with a Khatabah ( Matchmaker) to help make her greatest dream a reality.
"Winning the Indian Film Festival 2011 was life changing, finally after 7 years of hard struggle, I was recognized as a storyteller of merit. I met and conversed with Bollywood stars, will soon embark on a trip to India to present an Animation Tv Series, Feature Film and to buildrelationships with Bollywood executives. Thank you Mitu and Mind Blowing films for this incredible opportunity!"
Ridwan Hassim, winner from Australia for the the Western Union Short Film Competition 2011
IFF Honorary mention
Varun Sharma - "Adjust"
An indian student accustoms to a new way of life to realise his australian dream
Varun is a Victorian filmmaker. His film ” ADJUST” on Indian students in Australia was later selected at Cannes Short Film Competition Corner. He is now going with his feature script to meet Bollywood studio heads in India.
"Western Union Short Film Competition at the Bollywood & Beyond Indian Film Festival is an amazing and second-to-none platform for all aspiring film-makers to showcase their work and get it seen by big names from the Australian and the Indian film industries. Thanks to the festival, since receiving the honorary mention for my short film entry at the 2011 edition, I have benefitted tremendously from the media exposure and access to Industry professionals that I could only have dreamt of in the past."
Varun Sharma , Honorary Mention, for the the Western Union Short Film Competition 2011
