MUMBAI: Independent Hindi short film Fear Kills, directed by Siddharth Kamble, has achieved a significant milestone by being named an Official Selection at the Pan Asian Film Festival 2026, adding an international recognition to the film’s growing journey.
The 21-minute short film explores a powerful female-driven narrative centered on fear, psychological struggle, and inner resilience, presenting the emotional journey of a woman confronting the invisible forces that shape her life. The concept places a female artist at the heart of the story, making the film both emotionally layered and socially relevant.
The official festival certificate confirms Fear Kills as a selected Hindi short film for the 2026 edition, recognizing the work of director Siddharth Kamble and producers Geeta Choudhary, Sweety Kaur, and Nikhil Choudhary.
The film features performances by Khushleen Kaur, Mukul Shrivastava, and Farukh Shaikh, supported by a technically strong team across screenplay, casting, music, and post-production. The project has been presented by Mahamai S Studio in association with N.A. Entertainment, reflecting an independent filmmaking effort focused on storytelling and atmospheric suspense.
A major strength of Fear Kills lies in its female-led psychological storytelling, using suspense not merely as a genre tool but as a metaphor for the emotional fears women often battle internally and socially.
The film’s festival selection positions it among emerging Indian short films gaining visibility in the Asian independent cinema space, where storytelling originality and strong character arcs remain central to recognition. Festival recognition like this can help the film travel further across screenings, OTT short film platforms, and curated cinema showcases.
Speaking about the project, the team emphasized that Fear Kills was developed as a cinematic exploration of fear as a lived female experience, blending realism with suspense to create an immersive short-form narrative.
The short film is currently available for viewing on YouTube, allowing audiences and festival curators wider access to the project as it continues its circuit journey.
