Shaneil Deo heading for Cannes

Filmmaker Shaneil Deo, who is currently in the city to shoot for a Telugu film, is heading to the 68th Cannes Film Festival as his short film ‘Layla’ has been selected for the Short Film Corner. Fiji-born Deo has written and directed the 20-minute film, which was also screened at the Oakland International Film Festival on April 4 and 5.

‘Layla’, a drama laced with situational comedy, explores the themes of loss, human connections and the sentimental values given to objects. It tells the tale of a young woman who struggles to overcome her attachment to her late father’s scooter. Deo is also the cinematographer of the short film, which stars Nina Jordan as the titular character.

“Cannes was a pleasant surprise. We made this film as an honest attempt to tell a simple story with the best of our abilities and resources. It is an honour to be a part of such a prestigious event,” said Deo, who will be attending Cannes in May along with producer Graham E King.

Deo, who grew up in Oakland, California, USA, traces his passion for filmmaking to when he started working as a DOP and directing music videos, short films and commercials in the U.S. After working on several independent projects, he joined the Telugu film industry, where he made two movies.