Mumbai : Pioneering Partnership brings the best short films from India and around the world for Indian viewers
ShortsTV, the world’s first and only 24/7 TV channel dedicated to short films, was officially launched in India on Tuesday 27th November 2018 in Mumbai.
The service ‘Tata Sky ShortsTV’ is available to Tata Sky subscribers through their televisions and the Tata Sky Mobile App. The service features thousands of award-winning and premium titles from around the world, including Oscar nominated short films.
ShortsTV has also partnered with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films to bring their catalogue of high-quality Indian shorts to TV screens for the first time.
The launch event was hosted by Mr. Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive of Shorts International Ltd (the owner of ShortsTV) and an Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) Member.
The special guests for the evening were Mr. Jon Bloom, Oscar nominated short film producer/director and current AMPAS Governor (Short Film and Feature Animation branch), and Ms. Kristina Reed, Oscar winning producer of the Disney animated short film, ‘Feast’. Both guests travelled to India from Los Angeles specially to attend the launch events.
In addition, the evening was graced by personalities and celebrities from the Indian film fraternity, including Radhika Apte, Rasika Duggal, Pooja Gor and Shweta Rohira.
The evening started with an interesting panel discussion on the short film industry in India and around the world. The panel consisted of Mr. Jon Bloom, Ms. Kristina Reed, Actress Rasika Duggal, Arun Unni (Chief Content Officer, Tata Sky) and it was moderated by Mr. Carter Pilcher.
The conversation started on how the market share and popularity of short films is growing. The discussion enveloped the importance of film festivals in a country and their prominence leading to films getting recognition internationally.
Mr Jon Bloom noted how no Indian film festivals are currently accredited by the Oscars, which means if an Indian film wins an award at a local film festival they are not automatically considered for an Oscar – the highest award in film. Mr Carter Pilcher emphasised ShortsTV’s goal of working with Indian short film festivals to get them recognised by the Oscars so that more Indian films can have the potential to win an Oscar in the future. Ms Rasika Duggal concluded the discussion by highlighting how new platforms like ShortsTV are also helping independent filmmakers reach wider audiences.
· Feast, a 2015 Oscar-winning animated short from Disney.
· Shunyata, a 23-minute short film from Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films, made by Indian director Chintan Sarda and starring celebrated actor Jackie Shroff.
· The 11 O’Clock, nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the Academy Awards in 2018.
· The Phone Call, starring Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) and winner of Best Live Action Short Film at the Academy Awards in 2015.
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