Indian short films need to be shorter: Nicholas Mason

Indian short films require tight editing to be shorter than their usual length, says Nicholas Mason, director of Manhattan short film festival.
Short film entries form India have made it to the six-day international festival, which will span across the world, including Mumbai and will be held in September-October this year.
"Short film entries from India are good on a whole. I think they could be shorter. There are times a filmmaker gets lost between making a short film and something else.
"Filmmakers really need to ask themselves the question 'What's this film about?' during the shooting and the edit process. If it does not move the story forward, then cut it. Less is more with a short film," Mason said in an interview.

Mason said he enjoyed the short film 'Ten past Twelve' by Samaya Bhattacharya recently.
"It is screening on ManhattanShortIndia.Com as an entry for the 2014 Festival and has appeal, because it has that sort of mystery Roald Dahl (novelist) thing going on.
"That suits India well. The colours, the theme suits. It falls down in the acting though, But of all the shorts I have seen, that one kind of stayed with me," he said.
Mason added that he would like to watch more Indian films, both feature and short movies, to understand the country's cinema.