Festival Dignitaries & Team
Hyderabad International Short Film Festival 2025
Festival Collaborators
Shri DIL RAJU
Producer • Chairman, Telangana Film Development Corporation (TFDC)
Award-winning Indian film producer & distributor (Sri Venkateswara Creations). Two National Awards (Best Popular Film) for Sathamanam Bhavati (2016) & Maharshi (2019); Nagi Reddy–Chakrapani Award (2013). Producer of Arya, Bommarillu, Fidaa, Balagam. Serving as TFDC Chairman since late-2024.
Smt. Priyanka, IAS
Managing Director, Telangana Film Development Corporation Limited (TGFDC)
Civil servant and arts advocate strengthening Telangana's creative industries — building infrastructure, incentives, and pathways for film, TV & theatre; positioning Telangana as a hub for cultural and cinematic growth.
Festival Promoters
Shri JAYESH RANJAN
Special Chief Secretary (FAC) – Youth Advancement
Tourism & Culture Department, Government of Telangana
Senior IAS officer leading Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture. Drives initiatives across entrepreneurship, tourism, digital innovation and youth empowerment; shaping Telangana's forward-looking global image.
Smt. VALLURU KRANTHI, IAS
Managing Director – Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Limited
Director (FAC) – Department of Tourism, Government of Telangana
Administrator championing heritage, infrastructure, and experiential tourism. Leads sustainable, community-centric projects expanding Telangana's cultural tourism footprint.
Festival Patron & Advisors
C. Umamaheswara Rao
Festival Patron
National Award-winning director & screenwriter. Former Jury Chair (West) and Member (Central) at the 67th National Awards. Founder of Dadasaheb Phalke School of Film Studies; noted for films like Ankuram that explore human rights and relations.
PREMENDRA MAZUMDER
Festival Advisor
Film critic, curator, and organiser; VP, Federation of Film Societies of India; General Secretary, FIPRESCI India; founder of South Asian Short Film Festival & World Film Festival Kolkata. Recipient of Vijaya Mulay (2023), Satyajit Ray Memorial (2018), Ritwik Ghatak (2016).
Christopher Dalton
Festival Advisor
Film critic, journalist, and festival organiser. Founder, Cinema Society of India; CEO, House of Illusions. Co-author and editor (Cinematic Illusions; Journal of Indian Cinema). Served on the Jury of the 67th National Film Awards.
Also Supported By
Members of the Society of Dadasaheb Phalke School of Film Studies.
Administrative Team
C.NANDAN BABU
Festival Director
M.Sc. Electronic Media; 18+ years across film & media. Assistant Director & Cinematographer (under Madhu Ambat), ad films director, Programming Head (Radio Mirchi), Content Editor (Gaana South). Principal, Dadasaheb Phalke School of Film Studies (8+ years).
MADHU MAHANKALI
Festival Director
Madhu Mahankali, an FTII Pune alumnus, is a filmmaker with 15+ feature films across Assamese, Telugu, and Hindi. Through Dhriti Media Pvt. Ltd., he has produced numerous TV shows and ad films. His short The Journey and feature Parampara (2014) won international awards, and his works, including In Search of Buddha, have been showcased at global film festivals.
HESHVANTH GURUKUL
Festival Operations Head
Assistant Director on Telugu features; writing team with director Bommarillu Bhaskar. Short film Breaking Out screened nationally & internationally. Leads HISFF operations, fostering cinematic excellence and dialogue.
Festival Dignitaries
Click on any dignitary to learn more
NASSER
Actor • Director • President, Nadigar Sangam
Acclaimed actor-filmmaker with landmark roles (Roja, Bombay, Baahubali). Strong advocate of artists' welfare; multiple honours across states and national forums.
NAGESH KUKUNOOR
Writer • Director
Pioneer of Indian new-wave cinema with Hyderabad Blues, Iqbal, Dor. National & international awards; mentor to emerging filmmakers.
SASHI KUMAR
Founder, Asianet • Chairman, Asiaville Interactive
Journalist, media entrepreneur, filmmaker; Founder & Chair, Media Development Foundation (Asian College of Journalism). Pioneered India's first regional satellite channel; strong voice on journalism ethics and education.
SUNZU BACHASPATIMAYUM
Documentary Filmmaker
Radicalised Manipuri documentary cinema with Rude Awakening. Producer of National Award-winning AFSPA 1958; Secretary, MSFDS; Director, Eikhoigi Imphal IFF.
ALEXANDER LEO POU
Writer • Director • Producer
SRFTI alumnus; former Director, MSFTI; Film Facilitation Officer (East), NFDC Kolkata; coordinated national language-documentation project; Joint Director, EIIFF (2025).
MANJU BORAH
Writer • Director
Eminent filmmaker from Assam/Northeast; recipient of nine National Awards. Works include Baibhab, Ko Yad, and animated feature on Srimanta Sankardev; strong cultural & academic contributor.
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