Latest news with #StudentAcademyAwards
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Young Malayali Filmmaker Sidharth Harikumar's Short Film 'Vasu' Makes It to Student Oscars Semi-Finals
For Sidharth Harikumar, a 32-year-old film‑maker from Thiruvananthapuram, it was nothing short of surreal when an email arrived from the official Oscars address a few days ago. Done as part of his final‑year project at MetFilm School, Berlin, where he pursued an MA in cinematography, his short film Vasu has been named a semi‑finalist in the Narrative category at the 2025 Student Academy Awards, dubbed the 'Student Oscars'. 'My project was completed on October 2 last year. After that, I carefully researched festivals that aligned with my film's theme and shortlisted only a few. The Student Academy Awards stood out as an open competition that supports and recognises student artworks across genres,' Sidharth says. 'I submitted Vasu with ambition, but without expectations. And then, four or five days ago, I received their message. The email mentioned a specific time when the results would go live on the Oscars website. When I checked, my name was there. It took a while to sink in.' The festival features four main categories — Experimental, Documentary, Animation and Narrative. Vasu is one of 15 short films selected worldwide in the Narrative category. More than 3,000 films were in contention, with selections made after four to five rigorous rounds of evaluation. Thus, it is a notable milestone not just for Sidharth, but also for indie filmmaking in India.
Campaign ME
06-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Montage Productions picks Eva Papadakou as Producer
Montage Production has appointed Eva Papadakou as Producer, making her responsible for overseeing all aspects of physical production across the company's expanding slate of regional and international projects. Papadakou joins Montage with more than a decade of international experience spanning consulting, brand management and film production. Papadakou began her career in consulting with PwC before transitioning to Procter and Gamble, where she managed global campaigns for Pampers, including leading initiatives across the IMEA region. Her background in large-scale project management and creative communications laid a strong foundation for her move into the entertainment industry. Holding a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from the Athens University of Economics and Business, she brings a blend of creative vision and strategic expertise to the role. Fuelled by a desire to bridge the gap between creativity and business, Papadakou pursued further studies in Producing and the Business of Entertainment at the New York Film Academy and UCLA. Since then, she has worked in Los Angeles on a variety of short films, music videos and commercial projects before relocating to Dubai. Her production work has been featured at several Oscar-qualifying festivals including Tribeca, SXSW, Sitges, AFI Fest, and the Student Academy Awards. She has also contributed to award-winning films with the American Film Institute. On the commercial side, she has delivered campaigns for high-profile brands such as Google, Pampers, Xbox/PS5, MasterCard, Etisalat and Zoom Market, with credits spanning the US, China, Greece and the UAE. In her new role at Montage TV Productions, Papadakou is set to harness her global perspective and meticulous approach to elevate the company's production capabilities and creative output.
