COMPETITION SHORT DOCUMENTARY
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Directors: Anand Rama Krishnan
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2026
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Invented language, Miscellaneous
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India
Billam
Synopsis
Billam documents the traditional gleaning and hunting techniques of Lakshadweep's island communities in the Indian Ocean, one of the world's most climate-vulnerable locations. With food security as a critical challenge, communities have historically relied on seafood. The film follows fishers practicing ancestral ways—using simple gear and deeply embedded ecological knowledge passed through generations. It captures the unique relationship between Lakshadweep's people and their lagoons, a bond beginning in childhood and lasting throughout life. Against modernising fishing practices, these fishers continue hunting fish and octopus in the intertidal reef. As they attest, keeping these traditions alive ensures food security for all. The documentary celebrates the adaptive resilience of island societies against climate change.
Details of Crew
Anand Rama Krishnan (Cinematographer/DP), Anand Rama Krishnan (Co-producer), Rohan Ullatil (Editor), Anand Rama Krishnan (Editor), Siddharth Sadashiv (Sound Designer ), Sudhanva Atri (Other), Hemanth Kumar (Cinematographer), Siddhi Jaishankar (Cinematographer), Ivan Michael (Other), Al Badush (Other), Rajeswari BT (Other), Irfan Mubarak (Other), Arifa Beegum (Other)
Producer Details
Anand Rama Krishnan, Nature Conservation Foundation
Writer Details
Al Badush , Anand Rama Krishnan , Rajeswari BT