Kolkata Hakka Short Film Heads to Berlin
Shomik Basuray's short film From Nowhere will screen at Interfilm Berlin on November 12 and 14, after a prior run at the Mumbai International Film Festival.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Foreign
Director Shomik Basuray travels to Berlin on November 7 for screenings of his short film From Nowhere at Interfilm Berlin on November 12 and 14. The film has already been shown at the Mumbai International Film Festival.
Why it matters
The film is believed to be India's first Hakka-language short, giving a small Kolkata Hakka Chinese community a rare presence on an international festival stage. Its Berlin screenings extend its reach beyond the Indian festival circuit.
The film's festival record so far includes one confirmed screening at the Mumbai International Film Festival and two scheduled Interfilm Berlin screenings on November 12 and 14. No box office, distribution, or viewership figures were reported.
The players
Shomik Basuray
Basuray is the director and writer of From Nowhere, a Kolkata-based filmmaker whose project centers on the city's Hakka Chinese community.
Interfilm Berlin
Interfilm Berlin is a short film festival in Berlin that hosts international screenings of independent and experimental short works.
The details
Basuray wrote the script in English and worked with translators and cultural experts to render every line in Hakka. The cast is made up of non-actors who underwent months of intensive acting workshops, and the film was shot between Tangra and Tiretta Bazaar in Kolkata.
Timeline
Around 2020: Basuray befriends Henry, a Hakka Chinese youth, after meeting actress Hillary on an ad film shoot.
November 7: Basuray departs for Berlin.
November 12 and 14: Screenings at Interfilm Berlin.
Industry Dynamics
From Nowhere's path from a Mumbai festival to Berlin reflects how Indian short films increasingly reach European festival audiences through the international short-film circuit. The film's Hakka-language focus sets it apart from mainstream Indian regional-language cinema.
Audiences who attend Interfilm Berlin can see the film in person on November 12 or 14. The source does not indicate whether the film will be available for streaming or wider release afterward.
The takeaway
Independent short films made with non-professional casts and minority-language scripts can find international audiences through festival circuits. Following a film's screening schedule is the most direct way to see it.
What happens next
The film's Interfilm Berlin screenings are scheduled for November 12 and 14.
Further reading
Explore more in Foreign film coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
