Mumbai: Writer-director Shadab Siddiqui’s short film ‘Ek Safa’ is continuing its journey on the international film festival circuit with its selection at the Lebanon International Short Film Festival.
The selection marks another important milestone for the poetic short film, which began its festival journey in India with the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026.
Held from September 7 to 10, the inaugural IFFJK brought together cinema from India and around the world under the theme ‘Rang-e-Cinema’, with screenings across Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg. ‘Ek Safa’ was part of the festival’s short-film programme and received an encouraging response from audiences for its story, performances and sensitive cinematic treatment.
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Oct 8, 2026At the festival, the film also became part of a larger conversation around literature, poetry and cinema. Shadab Siddiqui spoke about the importance of taking Indian and Kashmiri stories beyond geographical boundaries and encouraging young filmmakers to look towards audiences and festivals across the world.
‘Ek Safa’ is a deeply emotional story built around love, separation, waiting, silence and memories. Written and directed by Shadab Siddiqui, the film draws strongly from the poetry of legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and attempts to translate the emotional world of poetry into a contemporary cinematic experience.
One of the film’s distinctive elements is the voice of acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who has lent his voice to the poetry narration. His voice adds another emotional dimension to the film and became one of the highlights of its presentation at the Jammu & Kashmir festival.
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Oct 6, 2026The film features Preeti Sood and Naseem Mughal, whose performances carry the central emotional journey of the story.
Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry remains at the heart of ‘Ek Safa’. The film uses poetry not simply as a literary reference but as an integral part of its cinematic language, bringing together words, voice, performance, music and visual storytelling.
Following its journey through Jammu & Kashmir, ‘Ek Safa’ is now heading to Lebanon, where it has been selected for the Lebanon International Short Film Festival. The 2026 festival programme includes films from multiple countries, with ‘Ek Safa’ representing India among the selected Indian films.
For Shadab Siddiqui, the journey represents more than another festival selection. It reflects the larger vision behind his work at Katha Ghar – Kaano Wala Cinema, an audio-first storytelling platform that is now expanding into filmmaking, literature-based cinema and original intellectual property.
“Ek Safa” brings together many of the ideas at the centre of Siddiqui’s creative work — Indian literature, poetry, cinema, sound and emotionally driven storytelling.
The filmmaker is now looking to take the film further across the international festival circuit. He has also spoken about pursuing an Oscar journey for ‘Ek Safa’, subject to the film meeting the applicable eligibility and submission requirements.
From Jammu & Kashmir to Lebanon, ‘Ek Safa’ is now travelling beyond its original boundaries — carrying with it the poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the voices of its performers and a story about love, separation and memories that refuse to disappear.
For an independent Indian short film, the journey is only beginning.
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