The short film Toy Gun, written and directed by Parshuram Thingnam, has won 1st Runner-Up – Best Short Film of the Year 2025 at the Hyderabad International Short Film Festival (HISFF), held at Prasads Multiplex from 19–21 December 2025.
Out of 705 films submitted, only 60 films were officially selected for screening. From these, the jury selected the final winners, placing Toy Gun among the top three films of the year.
Award Winners – Best Short Film of the Year 2025:
- Winner: Sarnevshent (Iran) – Memento, Certificate & ₹1,00,000
- 1st Runner-Up: Toy Gun (India) – Memento, Certificate & ₹75,000
- 2nd Runner-Up: My Father Is Afraid of Water (Iran) – Memento, Certificate & ₹50,000
Toy Gun is a deeply human story that explores childhood innocence in conflict-affected regions, where even a toy can mirror the presence of real violence. Through a restrained and poetic narrative, the film reflects on fear, motherhood, and the lasting psychological impact of guns—whether real or perceived—on young minds.
This recognition is particularly significant as Toy Gun marks Parshuram Thingnam’s debut film, as well as its first screening, first festival appearance, and first major award. The honour signals the arrival of a powerful new voice in Indian independent cinema—one rooted in lived experience and quiet storytelling.
The festival concluded today, reaffirming HISFF’s role as a global platform for socially relevant and artistically bold short films.
