A scene from the movie "The Fourth Man," being shown in the International section of the 14th Oscar-accredited Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF), which is currently taking place. This year's festival offers a unique experience by combining online and in-person screenings. Virtual screenings started on August 8, and live screenings will be held from August 16-18 at various locations including Suchitra Film Society, Indian Institute of World Culture, Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre, and Goethe Institut Max Mueller Bhavan. Festival director Anand Varadaraj shared that the top films from the festival could be eligible for an Oscar nomination as the festival is Oscar-qualifying. The focus on short films has increased in Karnataka since the Kannada short film "Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know" won at Cannes, bringing pride to the Kannada film industry. This year's festival will showcase over 280 films across eight sections, including the International Competition, Women's Cinema Collective, and Indian entries.The festival will feature various categories including competition, Let’s Include, Karnataka Competition, Queer Qorner, Animation (International & Indian), and a non-competitive category. Anand expresses excitement about the increase in quality and quantity of Indian submissions in the animation category, making the selection process from over 3,000 entries a challenging task. The festival's theme of Inclusion and Exclusion highlights its dedication to diversity and inclusivity, with a spotlight on filmmakers with disabilities, the introduction of Queer Qorner for greater representation, and the Women's Cinema Collective showcasing commitment to gender equality. The event will also offer workshops and panel discussions, such as a workshop on editing short films by Kannada writer Sri Crazymindz, panels on new cinema products, casting, promotion, and filmmakers transitioning from shorts to features, as well as discussions on the impact of AI on the film industry.