3 minutes of readingNew DelhiUpdated: January 30, 2026 06:42 pm IST
KC College launched the third edition of Blitzkrieg, its International Film Festival, on January 29, with The Indian Express as its media partner. Turning the campus into a lively center of film celebration, the festival featured a carefully curated selection of short films that explored diverse themes, bold narratives and innovative storytelling.
One of the highlights of the event was the screening of The White-Skinned Boy, by filmmaker Simon Pranay. The French short film, currently nominated for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Live Action Short Film category, attracted widespread public attention. Set in the gold mines of West Africa, the film explores powerful themes of superstition, survival and community, further reinforcing Blitzkrieg’s growing international stature.
The festival concluded on a high note with the announcement of winners in multiple categories. Nikhil Shinde’s Dumpyard emerged as the biggest winner in the curated film category, bagging the Best Film award along with a cash prize of Rs 25,000. The film also won the award for Best Director, making it one of the highlights of the evening.
Rohan Apte’s Varas impressed the jury and won the awards for Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography, while Vivek G’s Marigold captured the hearts of the audience and took home the Audience Award.
The event, which began with a tribute to late Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, was judged by actor-writer Abhijeet Deshpande and actor Arunima Sharma.
Addressing the gathering, Director Prof. Dr. Tejashree Shanbhag said, “The screening of an Oscar-nominated film at the IFF marks an important milestone. I congratulate the media teachers and the Blitzkrieg team for their dedication and hard work.”
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Echoing similar sentiments, Vice Principal and Head of the Department of Media, Prof. Dr. Shalini R Sinha, highlighted the growing reach of the festival. She said: “This year, the IFF witnessed a significant increase in film entries, including regional films, women-led projects and animated films.”
The festival concluded with the presentation of student magazines The GuptVogue and Boli Bachake Rakhna, which demonstrated the creative diversity of Blitzkrieg through striking visual storytelling. The kingdom-inspired magazines were judged by Sharat Chandra and Khushi Thakkar, while the overall event was judged by Professor Anjuman Sharma.