The accomplished ad exec-turned-even-more-consummate filmmaker behind Bareilly Ki Barfi, short films, docu-series on tennis, a web series and more, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari began her glorious career in cinema with a short film, What’s for Breakfast?. As a writer, producer and director, this gold medallist in Commercial Arts has now come full circle—she has been chosen to be on the Short Film Jury at the 2025 International Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari on being on the Short Film Jury for International Film Festival of Melbourne, “Films shortlisted from among 100 submissions are state-of-the-art”
Bollywood Hungama spoke to the hugely talented wearer of many hits (she has even authored the acclaimed book, Mapping Love) on the eve of Ashwiny’s departure for the Festival.
Excerpts from an interview.
So how does it feel to be on the Short Film Jury of the prestigious International Film Festival of Melbourne?
What I particularly like is the fact that there will be Australian and Indian films and the interconnectedness. There is a lot of dynamism and there are so many fresh minds and fresh storytelling. The kind of films the Festival Director has shortlisted from among around 100 submissions are so state-of-the-art and so nice that sometimes I feel, Oh my God, it’s so nice to see youngsters thinking in a different direction and not playing to convenience.
Could you elaborate on the last aspect?
What I mean is that they are trying to do different things within the given means. Also the way they are shooting it—it’s not in the tried-and-tested way. That’s great.
Who are your co-jurors?
There is only Shootjit Sircar and it is nice that I am working with him.
You too began your career with a short film, What’s for Breakfast? in 2012. But it is one of those rare works of yours that I have never watched.
Oh, but I have also made one more short! I directed Ghar Ki Murgi for Sony LIV in 2020. What’s for Breakfast was made while I was in advertising. That is also available on YouTube.
So what are you going to look for here? Is it just the newness?
I think that both Shoojit and I are looking for a unique voice, and within the given means how best they have done. It’s a short film festival and we have to encourage youngsters to tell more stories, so we cannot be very traditional, and I think the freshness of the story is very important.
So will the emotional angle count more or the technical aspects? How will you balance out looking at these films?
The emotional factors, including performances, will count more, as you have only so much of means to express what you want. The story will be more important for me than the technical aspects, which will be secondary.
So what is happening on the Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari front?
A couple of things. We will announce slowly and steadily!
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