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Ahmedabad’s Short Film GIRAH Selected for EAF Festival

“GIRAH” The Heartfelt Ahmedabad’s Short Film That Reveals Unspoken Family Secrets in New York.

It’s a proud moment for Ahmedabad, as a small team of local filmmakers sees their Hindi short film, GIRAH, head to the big screens in the United States! This special film has been officially picked for the Egyptian American Film Festival (EAFF), which is a great honour. The festival will be held in a very famous place, the Centre for the Arts in Staten Island, New York, and runs from October 31 to November 4, 2025.

GIRAH’s selection for a festival like the EAFF is important because this festival is known for showing films that bridge cultures and highlight different viewpoints, often focusing on stories from the Middle East and the US, but welcoming international films that speak to common human experiences. Holding the festival in Staten Island’s Centre for the Arts means the film will be seen in a vibrant cultural hub in one of the world’s most dynamic cities, New York. This helps a small film from India get noticed by a large and diverse crowd that loves movies.

EAFF Welcomes This Amazing Ahmedabad Film.

The movie itself, GIRAH, is set in a simple, middle-class Indian household. It looks at the little, unsaid things in family life—the quiet love, the hidden worries, and the feelings that people keep secret. The story shows how even happy moments, like a family celebration, can bring out fragile relationships and emotional undercurrents. Films that focus on these honest, everyday situations often connect well with audiences everywhere because people around the world have similar family joys and struggles. This is part of what makes stories from a specific place, like Ahmedabad, feel universal.

The film was truly a homegrown effort. It was directed and written by Pratik Rathod, who also stars in the movie along with Hetal Shrivastav. The beautiful way the film is shot is thanks to Dhrupad Shukla, who served as the Director of Photography and Co-Producer. The whole team is from Ahmedabad, showing that great talent can come from anywhere. For example, Zeal Pithva was the Editor, making sure the story flowed perfectly, and Devkrit Baluni handled the Sound Design. The music that gives the film its feeling was created by Shubham Sengupta, and the eye-catching poster was designed by Dana Soniya & Suyog Tamanekhar. Jeet Ajawalia & Het Panchal worked as Creative Producers, helping to make the project happen.

GIRAH, The Ahmedabad Film, Takes on America

A big help to the team was the guidance of acclaimed filmmaker Paresh Kamdar, who acted as the mentor. Paresh Kamdar is a well-known name in Indian cinema, especially for his skills as an editor and director. He has even won a National Award for his editing work, a very high honour in India. Mr. Kamdar has worked on many notable and critically praised films, like the National Award-winning film The Good Road (2013) and Miss Lovely (2012). Having someone with his experience mentor the GIRAH team is a huge deal, as it means the young filmmakers received advice from a seasoned professional who knows how to make honest and high-quality films. His guidance likely helped GIRAH become the polished and touching film it is today, ready for the world stage.

Pratik Rathod, the director, shared his happiness, saying, “We are truly honoured that a film made in Ahmedabad with our local talent will now reach global audiences.” He added that this selection “strengthens our belief in stories rooted deeply in everyday life.” This feeling of pride is understandable. When a local film travels to a place like New York, it shines a light not just on the movie, but on the whole city of Ahmedabad as a source of creative people.

Dhrupad Shukla, the Cinematographer and Co-Producer, also spoke about the film’s heart. He said, “GIRAH carries the emotional language of simple living. We are grateful that a personal story from our city will be showcased internationally.” His words highlight the hope that simple, truthful stories can connect with people no matter where they are from.

The GIRAH team feels that this international success will be a source of inspiration. They believe this recognition will inspire more filmmakers from Gujarat to create bold and sincere cinema that resonates globally. Gujarat, and its main city, Ahmedabad, has a long history of arts and business, and now its film scene is growing. Seeing a short film like GIRAH get international attention shows other local artists that their personal stories are powerful enough to be shared with the rest of the world. This moment is a step forward for the talented movie makers of the region.