Two films associated with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) have secured spots at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, highlighting the diverse generations of Indian cinema on an international platform. Shadows of The Moonless Nights, directed by FTII student Mehar Malhotra, has been chosen for La Cinef, Cannes’ competitive segment for student filmmakers from top film schools worldwide. Simultaneously, the restored version of Amma Ariyan (1986) by FTII alumnus John Abraham, not to be mistaken for the Bollywood actor, has been showcased in Cannes Classics, a section dedicated to landmark restored films.
Student Film Explores Urban Fatigue
Malhotra’s film, shot in Punjabi, Hindi, and Marathi, follows Rajan, a warehouse worker in Pune grappling with exhaustion, insomnia, and the strain of surviving night shifts in a city that never rests. The director revealed that the story was inspired by witnessing his aunt endure punishing call centre shifts while returning home hollow-eyed to a cramped space lacking privacy. “I wanted to make Shadows of the Moonless Nights because Rajan’s story felt like one we all carry but rarely name, the bone-deep fatigue of surviving a city that runs on sleeplessness,” Malhotra said. He described the protagonist as “not a hero or a victim” but an ordinary worker striving to withstand relentless pressure. The film employs long static shots of packing boxes, sparse dialogue, and industrial soundscapes to mirror Rajan’s insomnia and emotional isolation. Malhotra hopes audiences will “recognise their own exhaustion” in the character and question systems “that demand we endure without pause.”
La Cinef: A Launchpad for Emerging Directors
La Cinef is regarded as one of Cannes’ most closely watched discovery platforms for emerging directors. Previous filmmakers featured in this section have achieved major international careers. Earlier FTII student films selected include Afternoon Clouds in 2017, CatDog in 2020, A Doll Made Up of Clay in 2021, and Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know… in 2024, which won the La Cinef First Prize.
Restored Classic Returns to Cannes
Alongside the student film, Cannes screened the restored Amma Ariyan by acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker John Abraham. The 1986 film follows a group of friends traveling across Kerala to inform a mother about her son’s death, unfolding into a political portrait of youth unrest and social fracture. The restoration was undertaken by the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) and preservation partners, continuing Pune’s long association with film restoration and cinema education.
FTII’s Growing Presence at Cannes
“The last decade has been good for FTII in Cannes. This year, we are excited for Mehar and team. With alumni taken together, FTII shows up in almost all aspects of Indian presence at Cannes this year. These recognitions collectively underline FTII’s continuing role as one of India’s foremost centres of cinematic learning and as the custodian of a great legacy,” said Dhiraj Singh, vice chancellor of FTII.
