Film Screening: My Hate Letter to Cycles and/or Self Harm

Film Synopsis

Shaurya after being fed up with his environment, comes together with his crew to point out the elephant in the room. After suffering in a dysfunctional family for most of his life and realizing its virulent impact on his mother (Madhu), he convinces her to act in a media project, and tries to raise questions by masking the activity as an “actor’s exercise”. He attempts to create a facade to heal the damage his family has undergone due to the influence of an age-old force that has been passed on to and is hailed in most families in our country - Patriarchy. Shaurya’s father Naval lurks around during the process in order to keep surveillance and that’s exactly what he's been set up for. Along with this, he asks Madhu to perform a few activities to create physical discomfort for her whenever she responds in a way that is deemed unrewarding by them. The nature of this activity is questioned by the parents, especially Naval, as most of the questions are indirectly pointing fingers at him. Due to this, his true character is brought to the forefront. A confrontation breaks out due to the questions at hand, and it leads to an uncanny incident.

Director Bio

Harsh Vardhan Kumar works as a freelance Director/Assistant Director in Films/short Films, Stage Plays, Web Shows, and advertisements. With an experience of 4 years, he has worked on projects associated with Netflix and Amazon. For advertisements, he has covered brands like Olay, KFC, Hettich, Lux, Macroman, etc. On a theatrical front, he has directed plays at a collegiate and professional level that were performed across India. Currently one of his films 'My Hate Letter to Cycles and/or Self Harm' is circulating the film festival circuit and has garnered the attention of multiple short film festivals. Currently, he is attempting to market the f ilm well to gain more ears for the film and create awareness for it. This adds to the next project that he has lined up, a docufiction regarding the interpretation and effect of the age-old social stratification based on caste in varied pockets of a metropolitan juxtaposed with a rural populous to point out the futility, progression and regression that surrounds the subject. 

Director's Statement

I am aware this is not a masterpiece that is going to strike the audience instantaneously, but I am confident that it will hit the right spots. It has its own language in terms of dialogue and visuals that present an insight into my identity. That is the biggest achievement attached to this film for me and I hope the viewers also find that to be true. It's my first film as a director and I know about its highs and lows but still, I love this film for what it is, it's me and my family.

Accolades:

• 13th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival-24 Mumbai India December 10, 2023, Best Film
• 11th Noida International Film Festival-2024 Delhi, NOIDA India January 28, 2024, Best Film - Jury
• Ayodhya Film Festival Ayodhya India December 2, 2023, Best Experimental Film - Jury
• Darbhanga International Film Festival Darbhanga India February 24, 2024, Official Selection
• Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Mumbai India Official Selection (Contingency)
• Aravali International Film Festival Delhi India April 6, 2024, Official Selection
• 8th Indian World Film Fest-24 Hyderabad India March 10, 2024, Official Selection
• LAKECITY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Mumbai India February 24, 2024, Official Selection
• 9th Jaipur Film World 2024 Jaipur India Semi-Finalist