The Shorts Program

  • The Shorts Program is Rickshaw Film Foundation’s first execution-based program, dedicated to helping teams take their short films from script to production. We will be equipping teams with knowledge and tools under the guidance of experienced industry advisors who specialize in the nuances of pre-production, financing, production, post-production, and distribution.

    This program is primarily geared towards teams consisting of a Writer/Director/Producer that have started working on a script they are hoping to put into production. Over the course of the program, these teams will work on a series of tangibles that will prepare them to fundraise, shoot, and distribute their projects.

    ***Please note that Rickshaw will not be providing financial resources for selected projects.***

    Applications closed on October 22nd, 2023 at 11:59pm PT

  • All project teams looking for guidance through the execution of their short films are encouraged to apply. At least one applicant from each team must be available for a 1.5 hour weekly virtual meeting over the 10 week period. Additionally, applicants should expect to communicate updated to their peers and advisors once per week.

    While we do not require any prior filmmaking experience, we do expect a deep passion for storytelling, personal accountability, and a strong work ethic from each of our applicant teams.

  • Applications open: October 2nd, 2023

    Applications close: October 20th, 2023

    Selections announced: November 6th, 2023

    Program start date: Week of November 13th, 2023

    Winter Break: December 23rd - January 6th

    Program end date: Week of January 29th, 2024

    10 week workshop; 1 meeting per week, 1.5 hours in length.

  • All projects developed in The Shorts Program must be short films.

FAQs

  • You do not have to be South Asian or of South Asian descent to apply, but your application must show a willingness to uplift South Asian stories. If you’re for the mission of uplifting South Asian art, then you belong in the room.

  • The Shorts Program is built to aide in the execution of short films. For those seeking to work on a feature or pilot, please consider applying with a proof-of-concept short that you would like to execute.

  • You do not need to live in the US to apply, but if selected, you must be available for the weekly meetings. Please keep this in mind when providing weekly availability in your application.

  • Yes, you may still apply again for Cycle 5, but please understand that your application will be objectively reviewed as with all other applicants. No preference or special treatment will be given to participants from past Cycles.

 

Meet the Team

 

Akshay Ravi

Room Lead

Akshay Ravi is a director and producer based in LA. He graduated from USC's Zoom School of Cinematic Arts in 2020 and has since been independently producing and directing (in addition to his VFX day job). Akshay is passionate about telling stories that challenge your views and hopefully also warm your heart, and his films have screened at various film festivals around the world. When he's not working, you can find Akshay in a kitchen, reading, coming up with his next bit, playing PS5, or learning to firebend (progress is slow here).

Kalyan Sura

Room Lead

A Writer, Director, Producer, and Visual Effects (VFX) Supervisor, Kalyan Sura is a virtuoso storyteller who creates live-action and animation content featuring South Asians and other minorities.

After a decade at the highest levels of the VFX industry, Kalyan successfully transitioned into Writing and Directing personal stories across science-fiction, fantasy, dramedy, and animation.

Kalyan’s short film ‘THE LIE GAME’ achieved the rare distinction as the first sci-fi short featuring an all-South-Asian cast to be distributed by DUST, YouTube’s largest sci-fi channel. His sci-fi feature script ‘MEMORY LANES’ placed in the top 0.1% of a Netflix-supported contest, and his action-adventure animation pilot ‘JACKIE & JILAL’ won the ISA TV Pilot Pitch Contest 2023. Kalyan’s Netflix-backed coming-of-age immigrant short ‘DOS BROS FORCE’ has screened at over 30 international film festivals, bagging 13 awards, and is continuing a strong festival run.

Kalyan is an alumnus of the renowned USC School of Cinematic Arts and a member of the prestigious Visual Effects Society and the Screenwriters Association of India. Currently, Kalyan is focused on combining cutting-edge techniques from Hollywood with cultural stories from India to create inspiring stories for a global audience.