Short film about Ri Bhoi kayaker gets first prize in intl competition
Ashish Jatiani from Shillong followed the young sportsperson's struggles and documented his daily struggles
Shillong, Jan 31: Ashish Jatiani, a documentary filmmaker from Shillong, has won the first prize for his short film, Against the Current, in a competition presented by PaddleOut and Kayak Session.
The magazine, Kayaksession reported that the Short Film Awards 2025 received a range of entries. “The overall quality made judging especially demanding, a clear sign of how high the bar has been set. Beyond the action, more films are leaning into strong narratives and purposeful themes, using paddlesports as a lens to explore culture, environment, and human connection.”
Jatiani’s film follows a 14-year-old boy, Indra Sharma, whose dedication and perseverance help him balance kayaking feats and daily struggles. The film also shows the support and sacrifices of his family and coach Ian Vincent.
Sharma is from Umtham village in Ri Bhoi. The village, also known as Whitewater village, is popular for kayaking. The annual Meghalaya kayaking festival is organised here and Vincent and his wife, Sheila Vincent, are the main organisers.
