Every film begins with something its filmmaker wants to express.
For Vivek Pranavamurthi, Paper Ghosts begins with loss.
Vivek describes the short as a small, character-driven piece about
a grieving man moving through panic, anger, and helplessness toward
acceptance. In just under two minutes, it follows a deeply personal
emotional journey.
For our first TCL Shorts spotlight, we’re pleased to share
Paper Ghosts and introduce the filmmaker behind it.
Vivek Pranavamurthi is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and former
U.S. Air Force officer whose work explores relationships,
identity, grief, and the uncomfortable moments that shape people.
He writes and directs narrative shorts spanning intimate drama,
dark comedy, and satire, including the festival-recognized
Paper Ghosts, with upcoming projects such as the
award-winning comedy A Never Ending Beginning and
the relationship drama Kanna.
An invitation to filmmakers
Your film could start the next conversation.
TCL Shorts is a growing space for independent films and the people
who make them. Through these spotlights, we want audiences to discover
a film, meet its filmmaker, and keep following their work.
We’re looking for personal stories, strange ideas, and films
with a voice of their own. Drama, horror, sci-fi, thriller, noir,
experimental work—we’re interested in what you have to say.
To submit, email us:
A viewing link to your film (YouTube, Vimeo, or a private screener;
include a password if needed)
No submission fees. No deadlines. Selection is curated, and submission
does not guarantee a feature or screening. We’ll discuss
permission with you before sharing your work publicly.
