🎬 5th EthnoKino Film Festival Online Shorts Showcase 11-25 Nov

Only if the Baby Cries by Shadab Farooq

EthnoKino proudly presents a curated selection of award-winning short films from its 5th Film Festival in Bern (September 2025)  now available to audiences worldwide!

From November 11–25, immerse yourself in powerful cinematic stories that cross borders, cultures, and perspectives. These outstanding short films celebrated for their creativity, depth, and resonance explore the many ways we live, connect, and transform together.

Join us online and experience the spirit of EthnoKino from wherever you are!

Only if the Baby Cries by Shadab Farooq

This award is presented in recognition of a profoundly moving film set in the world’s only deaf-mute village, where silence is both language and life. As Misra Khatoon nears childbirth, the community gathers outside her home, beating drums in a ritual of anticipation, listening for a response that could break or continue the village’s sacred silence. Through its delicate narrative and immersive soundscape, the film transforms silence into a powerful cinematic presence, exploring the boundaries between communication, isolation, and collective identity. It stands as a testament to the art of visual storytelling and to cinema’s capacity to reveal the unspoken depths of human experience.

Ade on a Sunday By Theja Rio

Ade on a Sunday by Theja Rio

Ade on a Sunday tenderly portrays everyday resilience and joy within a vibrant Nagaland community. With grace and humor, the film captures the intimate rhythms of life, friendship, and self-expression, offering a refreshing and empowering portrayal of Naga youth living in the rural, beyond stereotypes.

Aabua Paika Kabu Bageya by Sneha Mundari.

Aabua Paika Kabu Bageya by Sneha Mundari

This award is presented in recognition of a remarkable film that illuminates a martial art dance form deeply rooted in the traditions of the Munda Indigenous community. More than a medium of performance or entertainment, the artform stands as a living chronicle of history, commemorating the community’s struggles, resistance, and triumphs through rhythm and movement. By intertwining body, memory, and collective identity, the film preserves a powerful cultural legacy , one that continues to inspire resilience and pride across generations. It is an ode to the enduring spirit of Indigenous expression and to the transformative strength of art as a vessel of remembrance and renewal.

Guru Padmasahambhava by Aparna Sanyal.

Guru Padmasambhava by Aparna Sanyal

This award is presented in recognition of a cinematic work that traverses centuries of Tibetan Buddhist lore to bring to life the profound story of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). Through evocative storytelling , the film illuminates his pivotal role in establishing the Buddha Dharma in Tibet during the 8th century and founding the Nyingma Lineage, the oldest living school of Tibetan Buddhism. By bridging history, spirituality, and culture, the film honors a timeless legacy that continues to inspire Buddhist practice and wisdom across the Himalayan regions. 

Q&A with filmmakers