Kolkata student film 'A Doll Made Up of Clay' earns coveted spot at Cannes 2025
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A short film created by students of Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) has earned international recognition by securing a place at the 78th Festival de Cannes in 2025.
Titled A Doll Made Up of Clay, the film has been selected for the prestigious La Cinef section, which celebrates exceptional works by film school students worldwide.
The project showcases a unique blend of Yoruba and Bengali languages and explores themes of identity, hope, and resilience.
A Doll Made Up of Clay follows a young Nigerian footballer who sells his father’s land to pursue his football dreams in India, only to face devastation after a career-ending injury. The film delves into his journey of healing through reconnecting with his ancestral traditions.
The story centers around Ahmed, a 23-year-old Nigerian footballer who initially came to Kolkata to play seven-a-side football matches and ended up starring in the film. The lead role is portrayed by Ahmed himself, a non-professional actor from Nigeria’s Yoruba community, who brought authenticity to the character by drawing from his real-life experiences.
Ahmed, speaking about his acting debut, said, “I had acted in plays during my school days, but never in front of a camera. Here, I just played myself.”
The film is written and directed by Kokob Gebrehweria Tesfay, an Ethiopian student at SRFTI, and produced by Sahil Manoj Ingle. Speaking about the journey, Executive Producer Uma Kumari reflected on her roots in Rewari, Haryana, saying, “Coming from a small town to representing India at Cannes is a dream come true. As a woman from a place where cinema isn't often seen as a career, this is a proud moment for me and for every dreamer.”
Made under SRFTI’s zero-budget initiative, the team relied on institute-provided locations and mobilised additional resources creatively. Producer Sahil Manoj Ingle described the experience as a major learning curve and expressed pride in the film’s achievement.
Kokob, originally from Zalmbessa in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, previously studied theatrical arts at Addis Ababa University before coming to India through an Indian Council of Cultural Research scholarship. Drawing from his documentary background, Kokob crafted a deeply personal fictional narrative inspired by African footballers' real struggles in Kolkata.
“In my documentary work, I explored the lives of African footballers in Kolkata, and this film continues that theme,” Kokob explained. “It’s a story of survival, hope, and transformation, and being mentored by Putul Mahmood, Mehdi Jaan, and Siladitya Sanyal made the journey even more enriching.”