A short film exploring absurdity in crisis

APOCALIFT

Genre: Short Film, 2023
Role: Concept, Script, Direction, Videography, Editing
Tools: Iphone, DaVinci Resolve
Team Project (NIFT Shillong)

“Apocalift” is a satirical short film that unfolds inside a single elevator, moments after a viral WhatsApp message

claims that the world is ending. Through chaos, comedy, and confrontation, it mirrors how humans react to collective

panic, sometimes with fear, sometimes with absurdity, and sometimes with self-importance.

The Story

Inside a cramped lift, five strangers get stuck just as a WhatsApp message goes viral, claiming the apocalypse is here.

Aryaman Pandey

Ira (Current Girlfriend)

Minakshi (Ex Girlfriend)

Rhea (Ex- Bestfriend)

The Stranger


  • Self-centered

  • Unbothered rich brat

  • Takes nothing seriously

  • Thrives on attention



  • Possessive yet Classy

  • Naive in her trust





  • Self Aware

  • Emotionally Intelligent

  • Still stuck on the past

  • A little arrogant







  • Self-centered

  • Emotionally composed

  • Has strict boundaries









  • Anxious

  • Claustrophobic

  • Bookish

  • Introverted

Apocalift was the first short film I ever made, back in my 4th semester and it came with every kind of challenge a first-time

filmmaker could imagine. We were just a bunch of students experimenting, figuring things out as we went, but completely driven

by curiosity and excitement. What made this project special was how we handled everything from start to finish, from developing

the concept, writing the script managing the shoot, and finally editing the film. It was the first time I truly experienced how each

stage connects, and how filmmaking is a beautifully layered, collaborative process.


The biggest technical hurdle was shooting inside a lift that had a large mirror, which made framing incredibly tricky. Every shot

risked catching a reflection of the camera, so we had to be extra precise with angles, blocking, and lighting. Working in such a

confined space also meant dealing with sound reflections and managing actor comfort during long takes.


But despite all of that, this project was the turning point for me, the moment I realized how much I loved storytelling. It’s where

my passion for filmmaking truly began to take shape.

© 2025 Akshara Kachhawa. All Rights Reserved.

+91 8983043012

Assistant Director

Akshara Kachhawa

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