Dia Mirza-Backed Marathi Film Panha Wins Best Indian Short Film at ALT EFF

Ziya

Dec 9, 2025

The Marathi short film Panha, backed by Dia Mirza and directed by Sakshi Mishra, has won the Best Indian Short Film award at the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF). The film tells the poignant story of a family of mango farmers facing eviction from their ancestral land due to a bullet train project.

Actor, producer, and environmental advocate Dia Mirza, known for her passionate work in sustainability and conservation, shared her thoughts on Panha’s selection at the festival. She said, “Panha is a story very close to my heart because it reflects what so many communities across India are experiencing—the delicate balance between progress and preservation.

I’m deeply grateful that ALT EFF is giving this story a platform to reach audiences who care about the world we are shaping for future generations.”The All Living Things Environmental Film Festival continues to spotlight films that ignite conversations around sustainability, biodiversity, and the planet’s future, uniting filmmakers, activists, and viewers committed to driving positive change.

Reacting to the win, Dia Mirza said, “This win is for the farmers who opened their homes and hearts to us, and for every child whose story deserves to be seen and felt. Cinema, to me, is at its most powerful when it reminds us of our shared humanity.”Director Sakshi Mishra added, “Panha was never about spectacle — it was about stillness, intimacy, and listening.

The news is getting viral, how about checking the same as under:

. @raodyness and @deespeak share excitement as their films #Humans in the #Loop and #Panha are selected to be part of India’s largest environmental film festival https://t.co/Q3hXxW2vx1 pic.twitter.com/XH4NXTPU0b

— Urban Asian (@UrbanAsian) November 28, 2025

The farmers of Maharashtra didn’t just lend us their orchards; they trusted us with their lives. This award belongs as much to them as it does to our team.”The ALT EFF curtain-raiser was held on December 4 in Mumbai, and the festival will continue until December 14. Dedicated entirely to cinema for environmental change, ALT EFF spotlights films focusing on wildlife, sustainability, and climate action.