Manisha Makwana’s Directorial Debut Gudgudi To Be Screened At The 79th Cannes Film Festival - DEETS

Headlined by Ahsaas Channa, Produced by White Peacock Films and Mukesh Chhabra, the short film Gudgudi has its market premiere under the Marché du Film segment at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, 2026, running from 12-23 May, 2026.

Making her debut as a director and at Cannes, Manisha K Makwana has spent nearly a decade working behind the scenes on shows like The Family Man, Farzi, Guns & Gulaabs and Citadel: Honey Bunny with D2R Films. Drawn to character driven stories and quiet, honest moments, her work blends humor with emotional truth, shaped by her mentorship with Raj & DK and writer Suman Kumar.

Talking about her film and its Cannes celebrations, Manisha says, "Gudgudi comes from a very personal place, so watching it grow into what it is today and be showcased on an international platform like Cannes is incredibly surreal. It stands as a testament to faith, self-belief, and the power of telling an honest story."

Presenting the film as co-producer is industry mover and shaker Mukesh Chhabra. Talking about his association with the film and Manisha, he says "An endearing thing about Gudgudi is it's a very heart touching story. The moment Purvi and I read it, we fell in love with it and we knew. And the idea behind bringing Ahsaas onto the film was that we were very excited to give Manisha's vision an honest life and see the wonderful chemistry between this incredible director and actor pair. The film has turned out remarkable. I am thrilled to be on this journey and proud of how the film is touching so many people and taking its own course. It certainly is, a very exceptional film."

Talking about being part of Gudgudi and her first film screening at Cannes, Ahsaas Channa says, "It feels surreal... I started as a child actor with just a dream, and today that dream is taking me to an international stage like Cannes. Gudgudi being my first film there makes it even more emotional. This moment means everything to me it's not just a milestone, it's a dream I've carried for years finally coming true."

Produced by Harshvardhan Patel and his venture White Peacock films, distributed by Crewbella, Gudgudi has already created quite a stir within the industry and hoping to make India proud at the international film festival(s).

About Gudgudi:
Ritu, a 25-year-old woman, lives a life stretched thin, caring for her younger brother, supporting her distant mother, and working an unusual job. Life is a blur of bills, demands, and survival. By day, she puts up a furry mascot costume and performs at a children's amusement park - dancing, smiling, and hiding behind a mask, both literally and emotionally. On one such ordinary workday, Ritu crosses paths with Aarav - a quiet, observant 9 year old boy on a school picnic who seems just as out of place as she feels. Their connection begins with a simple question form Aarav about magic? What happens next is a quiet companionship. Through small, heartfelt exchanges Aarav, in his innocence and honesty, holds up a mirror to Ritu's own loneliness. As Ritu begins to let down her guard, she's forced to confront the emotional weight of her routine, the humiliation of unpaid EMIs, and her longing to be seen, not just as a provider, but as a person. When she finally speaks up, not with a grand gesture but through a raw, personal announcement over the park PA, she finds her voice and a bit of healing. Gudgudi is not a story about grand transformation, but about the quiet, barely noticed moments that stir something inside - the flutter of a heart, the flicker of understanding. And how sometimes being seen, truly seen, is the most magical trick of all.