Ten months ago Netflix and Film Companion introduced a short film workshop and competition to discover and support emerging Indian filmmakers from varied backgrounds.

Ten up-and-coming filmmakers were identified and underwent an intensive week-long workshop. They were also each given a grant of $10,000 to fund their short films, all based on the topic of ‘Home’.

The ten-month journey has now concluded and Netflix is presenting the ten short films by the finalists, who come from six cities, and whose stories span eight languages.

The program spanned an extensive training curriculum that covered all aspects of filmmaking from pre-production to post-production and provided opportunities to meet with and learn from a wide range of industry professionals.

Twenty of the finest minds from India’s entertainment community mentored the finalists through sessions on topics including working with actors, honing their craft, marketing their work, and more.

According to Netflix, the finalists, along with the mentors and Netflix executives, came together at an event in Mumbai to unveil the short films. All films can be viewed on Netflix India’s YouTube channel.

Aditi Sharma’s ‘Home’ (Hindi) –

• A social drama that explores the themes of inheritance, and exploitation, weaved into a poignant tale of a tea plantation worker.

Barkha Naik’s ‘Salt’ (Konkani)-

• A father-son drama that delves deep into redefining a relationship that has been marked by deafening silence for years.
• Hitarth Rakesh Desai’s ‘Chhoti Si Baat’ (Marathi and Hindi) – A peek into a 12-year-old’s ideal bubble, that is threatened to pop as his well-guarded secret is exposed.
• Murali Krishnan’s ‘Stockholm’ (Malayalam) – A comedy-thriller that explores the humorous relationship between a kidnapped elder and his captives.
• Manasvini Boovarahan’s ‘Bijli'(Tamil, Bhojpuri) – A moving story about motherhood told through the perspective of a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter.
• Ria Nalavade’s ‘Home 2‘(Hindi, English)- A drama takes the form of sci-fi, bringing to the fore the perils of using technology without thinking twice.
• Rohan Shyam Chowdhury’s ‘Lokkhon Rekha‘ (Bengali)- A lunch table conversation that transforms into a battlefront when generational trauma and resentments surface for a dysfunctional family.
• Sandip Krishnan’s ‘Screen‘(Tamil)- An unconventional film that examines the definition of home – is it the people, the place, or just some pictures and sounds that weave together a bit of life?
• Sameeha Sabnis’s film ‘Soul – Kadhi‘ (Marathi)- A concoction of fantasy and drama, exploring the true meaning of freedom through an uncanny bond between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law.
• Suyash Kamath’s ‘Sadabahar‘ (Konkani, Hindi)- A tragicomedy rooted in the feeling of home and belonging for the members of a wedding brass quartet, Sadabahar.

Commenting on the initiative, Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Head of External Affairs, APAC, Netflix, said, “Take Ten has played a transformative role in empowering aspiring filmmakers from all across India. Their varied backgrounds have helped to shape stories across different languages and introduce characters from a variety of socio-cultural environments.

“While we are still in the early stages of this work globally, we are committed to building a legacy of inclusion through our Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, and we look forward to continuing to support India’s incredibly talented creative community,” Lefevre said.

Anupama Chopra, Film Critic, and Founder – of Film Companion, said, “The Take Ten journey has been thrilling, emotional, and rewarding – from finding 10 filmmakers to hand-holding them through the process of filming to watching the films they have made. I hope we have helped the filmmakers of tomorrow take their first step.”