A PIXELEXR PRODUCTION · 2024
VELVET
SECRETS
Award-Winning Tamil Short Film · Written · Directed · Produced by Shanthini Balasubramanian
“When Asha discovers a red velvet dress in her daughter’s room, curiosity leads her to try it on — and a quiet journey of self-exploration begins.”
The Film
Velvet Secrets is an award-winning Tamil short film exploring identity, curiosity, and transformation through an intimate family lens.
Written, directed, and produced by Shanthini Balasubramanian, it was the first Tamil-language film created through the Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon — developed with support from the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
The Journey
Since its premiere at MAMM19, Velvet Secrets has screened at over twenty international film festivals across Canada and India — including the Goa Short Film Festival, Kerala Short Film Festival, Tamizhagam International Film Festival, Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, Bridge Fest, and the Vancouver Short Film Festival, among others.
Along the way, the film received over ten awards and recognitions for screenplay, direction, cultural contribution, and independent filmmaking.
In 2025, the journey continued with the KDocsFF Sundar Prize Emerging Filmmaker Residency.
Selected recognitions
In the Press
“The first Tamil-language film to come out of the Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon.”
InFocus Film School
“KPU welcomes a new KDocsFF Emerging Filmmaker in Residence — following Velvet Secrets from marathon production to international recognition.”
Runner Magazine · 2025
Behind the Film
Made in Ten Days
Velvet Secrets was produced through the Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon — a ten-day intensive filmmaking program supported by the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. Principal photography took three days. Post-production followed over seven.
Throughout, the cast and crew worked with the clarity and trust that tight timelines demand. Every creative decision had to serve the story. As a result, the film feels precise — because it had to be.
The MAMM19 Gala Premiere followed shortly after. Then came the festival circuit.
More from PIXELEXR
From narrative Tamil-language film to visual effects compositing — all of it storytelling.