Mehar Malhotra, a student at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, has gained international acclaim with her Punjabi-language short film, *Shadows of Moonless Nights*, which has been selected for the La Cinef section of the Cannes Film Festival 2026. This section is dedicated to showcasing works by film school students and is considered a prestigious platform for emerging filmmakers. The film tells the story of Rajan, a man who works night shifts at a busy warehouse in Pune and grapples with feelings of exhaustion and loneliness in his small flat. Malhotra, who moved to Mumbai at 18 to pursue her film career, described the film as a personal exploration of restlessness. She shared her excitement on Instagram, stating, “Life is not easy, being an artist is not easy, but moments like these make you believe in dreams.” The La Cinef awards will be presented at a ceremony on May 21, 2026.