SUPVA Student’s Film ‘The Zero Line’ Wins Top Honour at Marrakech Short Film Festival

Rohtak, December 19, 2025: In yet another remarkable achievement for Dada Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts (DLC SUPVA), Rohtak; a short film by Chaman Ramesh Kishan, a final-year student of the Direction Department, has earned prestigious international acclaim. His film, The Zero Line, won the Coup de Cover Prize at the Marrakech Short Film Festival, held in Morocco.

The Zero Line, based on three short stories by Saadat Hasan Manto and Manoj Das, is a poignant exploration of dignity, survival, and societal hypocrisy. Through intimate and compelling narratives, the film reflects the harsh realities faced by marginalized individuals and exposes a world that often denies them respect, agency, and basic humanity.

Produced by DLC SUPVA, the film is a collaborative effort, involving over 40 students from the Faculty of Film & Television as cast and crew. Beyond its win in Morocco, The Zero Line has been officially selected for screening at several prominent international festivals, including the International Film Festival of South Asia, Toronto; International Student Film Festival at Pernambuco, Brazil; Zuma International Film Festival, Nigeria, among others.

Chaman’s excellence as a storyteller has been consistently recognised on the global stage. Earlier this year, he won the Best Director Award at the prestigious Watersprite Film Festival, Cambridge, in March 2025 for his film A Flight of the Lost Dreamy Bird. That film was screened and awarded at 19 international film festivals over a span of two years. Chaman has also been invited to serve as a Jury Member at the Watersprite Film Festival 2026, marking a rare honour for a student filmmaker.

Set to complete his degree this year, Chaman aspires to establish himself as an independent filmmaker and plans to launch his own production house in the near future. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Amit Arya felicitated the entire film team at his office. Registrar Dr. Gunjan Malik Manocha, HOD Film & Television Dr. Mahesh T.P., along with faculty members of the department, were also present on the occasion.

Congratulating the students, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Amit Arya described the achievement as a testament to the varsity’s vibrant creative ecosystem. “This accomplishment marks a significant milestone for DLC SUPVA, reinforcing its reputation as a breeding ground for creative excellence and a launchpad for future industry leaders. Such works exemplify the originality, depth, and innovative storytelling that we strive to nurture in our students.”

Praising the collaborative spirit behind the film, Registrar Dr. Gunjan Malik Manocha  said that this success belongs not only to the director but to the entire team of students and mentors who worked together to bring this vision to life.

Reflecting on the achievement, Dr. Mahesh T.P., HOD Film & Television, said, “Chaman’s journey reflects the power of rigorous training combined with fearless creativity. The Zero Line demonstrates how students at DLC SUPVA are encouraged to engage deeply with literature, society, and cinematic form. Seeing our students gain international recognition validates our pedagogy and motivates us to push creative boundaries further.”