Media Release

Bengaluru, May 25: ‘Rotti”, directed by Supriya Shankara Nippani, won the prestigious Rs 1 lac ‘Avala Hejje’ grand prize at the 2026 Edition of Avala Hejje Women’s Kannada Short Film Festival, organized by Gubbivani Trust.

Supriya Shankara Nippani, an accomplished filmmaker, artist, and social worker recognized for her award-winning short films ‘Appa Belli Alla’ and ‘Raji’ , has extensive experience as an associate director across multiple languages and has produced impactful cinema under her banner, including the feature art film ‘Churumuriya’.

In addition to the grand prize, four films were awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 in various special categories. Among the special category winners was Bengaluru-based media veteran, casting director, and script mentor Sunayana Suresh. Her debut film, 'Mouna Raaga', won the ‘Goodininda Gaganadedege’ special category prize for Stories of Identity, Existence or Exploration.

Shreya Sunil’s ‘Aa Maadi’ won the special category prize for Humour & Satire. In the film for Social Change category, two prizes were awarded: to Vanu Patil’s ‘Nitya’, a poignant story of overcoming childhood trauma, and Sourabha Rao’s ‘Huliyappa’, a documentary highlighting human-wildlife co-existence. Huliyappa’s award was sponsored by the ‘Avian and Reptile Rehabilitation Center’ (ARRC), an organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife.

This celebration of diverse storytelling set the stage for a power-packed panel discussion titled ‘Her Steps in Cinema - from 'A' to 'Z'’ , moderated by Festival Director Shanthala Damle. The panel featured acclaimed actresses Neethu Shetty (‘Gaalipata’) and Greeshma Sridhar (‘Naanu Kusuma’), filmmaker Sanjothaa Bhandaari (‘Pen to Premier’ initiative), and journalist & marketing strategist Sangeetha Nanjundaswamy (‘Belagutirali Bellitere’ initiative).

The panelists explored the evolution of women’s roles in the industry over the past 15 years, emphasizing that mentorship and female solidarity remains key to future growth. Drawing on their own experiences, they advised aspiring professionals to approach the industry with patience, discipline, and absolute conviction.

Reflecting on the core vision of the festival, Malavika Gubbivani, founder trustee of Gubbivani Trust, stated: “This is not just a short film festival – it is a movement to provide a platform for women’s experiences and perspectives in storytelling and to promote gender equality. Based on the success of this event, we have started receiving requests for rescreening.”