Techies’ creativity to the fore at Prathidhwani Qisa Film Fest 2025

Trivandrum / December 7, 2025

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 07:  IT professionals from across the state showcased their creative innovations by transforming their storytelling skills into visual interpretations at the 14th edition of the Prathidhwani Qisa Film Festival (PQFF 2025). 

The event was organised by Prathidhwani, the welfare and recreation forum for IT employees at Technopark.

Talented techies with their best creative musings and performances lapped up honours at the award ceremony of the week-long PQFF 2025 held here last evening. Around 32 short films made by IT employees from Technopark, Infopark and Cyber Park vied for honours at the annual film festival.

Actor-writer Shri Murali Gopy, the chief guest on the occasion, presented the awards to the winners. Shri Gopy also took part in an interactive session with the audience.  

Shri MF Thomas, film critic and chief patron of Prathidhwani Film Club; Shri Ashwin MC, convenor, Prathidhwani Film Club; Shri Hari, festival director, PQFF 2025; Shri Rajeev Krishnan, state convenor, Prathidhwani; Shri Vineeth Chandran, secretary, Prathidhwani Technopark; Shri Vishnu Rajendran, president; Shri Ajith Anirudhan, executive member; and Shri Vimal R, festival convenor, PQFF 2025, also spoke.   

A jury comprising directors Fasil Muhammed and Sohanlal and actress Beena R Chandran adjudged the winners of the short film fest.

Reels and the state’s first AI microfilm competitions were also held as part of PQFF 2025. Around 15 AI microfilms were in the fray, from which jury members, GenAI storyteller Varun Ramesh and director Vidhu Vincent, adjudged the winners. Actors Jassim Hashim and Shameer Khan and screenwriter Mridul George selected the reels competition winners from 80-odd submissions.

The Best Short Film received a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and a memento, while the Second-Best Film got Rs 10,000 and a memento. The Best Script and Best Director received Rs 10,000 each and mementoes.  

Short film awards

Best Short Film: ‘Vila -Desire and Due’ (Director: Amit Venugopal, Company: Envestnet, Technopark);  Second Best Film: Repleh Snatas (Dir: Manu Krishna, Lean Transition Solution, Technopark); Best Script: Sainath M V (Film: ‘My Beloved’, TCS, Technopark); Best Director: Amal M (‘Delulu’, Experion Technologies, Technopark); Best Actor: Vishnu R Prem (‘Onachathan’); Best Actress: Gouri Vinod (‘Neena - Signing off’); Best Cinematographer: Nithin Singh (‘Vila -Desire and Due’); Best Editor: Ajay Dev Dinesh (‘Neena Signing off’); and Audience Award: ‘Neena Signing off’ (Dir: Ajay Dev Dinesh, High-level India Pvt Ltd).

Reels competition winners

First Prize: Entry No: 10 – Sajeevkhan A (Allianz), Second Prize: Entry No: 42 - Akhil S P (TCS), Third Prize: Entry No: 11 - Sajeevkhan A (Allianz), and Audience Award: Entry No: 8 - Praise Sebastian (Icon).

AI video competition winners

First Prize: ‘Chaavu Rise of the Dead’ (Amjad V K, QBurst, Infopark, Kochi), Second Prize: ‘Chapter 1 The Rise of Behmooth’ (Ajith Menon, Tryzens India Pvt Ltd, Technopark), and Third Prize: ‘The Divine Prompt’ (Rohit K A, TCS, Infopark).

Prathidhwani conducted week-long programmes, including an acting workshop, a filmmaking workshop, and a screening of the State award-winning film ‘Feminichi Fathima’ on the sidelines of the event. Besides, the drama ‘Mathavilasam’ and a musical night were also performed.

Ends