Kolhapur's 'Sweet Moon' Shines at Stuttgart Festival

Bringing pride to Kolhapur and Indian cinema, the short film Sweet Moon, directed by Mayur Prakash Kulkarni, has been selected for the competitive section of the 22nd Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart, Germany. The festival, celebrating Indian cinema globally, will be held from July 23 to 27.

Sweet Moon stands out with its poetic visuals and emotional storytelling. It is the first short film from Kolhapur to achieve such international recognition. Director Mayur Kulkarni has been officially invited to attend the festival—an important milestone for him and Kolhapur’s creative community.

Kulkarni, a commercial artist by profession, is known for previous award-winning shorts like Bhavtaal, Origin, and Sweet Soon. His work with the Kalamarshi Baburao Painter Film Society has contributed to nurturing local filmmaking talent, making this achievement special for the society as well.

Sweet Moon has already been showcased at festivals in countries like China, England, Brazil, Poland, and Greece, winning awards for Best Short Film and Best Cinematography. It has also earned recognition at national film festivals.

The 15-minute film is directed and shot by Kulkarni, with sound design by Mahadev Patil and executive production by Kaustubh Deshpande. Key support came from Shishir Chousalkar, Karan Chavan, Mahadev Chandekar, and others.

Its selection for Stuttgart marks a proud moment for Kolhapur and highlights the global potential of Indian short films.