When Sidharth Harikumar left Kerala for Berlin to study cinematography at MetFilm School, he didn’t expect his final project to travel so far. His Malayalam short film, Vasu, has now been recognised as a finalist at the 2025 Student Academy Awards, often called the Student Oscars.
Out of 3,127 entries from student filmmakers around the world, only 28 short films made the cut. Vasu, a 16-minute Malayalam drama set in rural Kerala, is among them — competing in the Narrative category at one of the world’s most prestigious platforms for emerging filmmakers.
College Project All the Way to the Student Oscars
When Kerala filmmaker Sidharth Harikumar left Berlin film school, he never imagined his graduation project would reach Hollywood’s doors. His short film Vasu, a haunting reflection on guilt and mental health, is now a finalist at the 2025 Student Academy Awards.
