Los Angeles: Indian director Shubhashish Bhutiani's short film "Kush" has been selected by the Academy in the short-list of 10 live-action shorts that will advance in the Oscar race. Three or five films out of these 10 films will be selected for Oscar nomination by the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members. "Kush", a 25 minute film, stars Sonika Chopra, Shayaan Sameer and Anil Sharma. It has been produced by Shubhashish's father Sanjay Bhutiani through their Red Carpet Moving Pictures banner.

Shubhashish made the film, inspired by a true story that his teacher told him, for his graduation project at New York's School of Visual Arts. An excited Shubhashish said the news is yet to sink and his focus now is to take the movie to as many people as possible. "It's still not setting in. This is the product of the hardwork of a lot of people who have supported 'Kush', and it's amazing that our film has connected with people across the globe! This is an amazing moment but we hope we can go all the way," Shubhashish, who is currently in Italy, said. "The focus is still to keep getting 'Kush' out there for the world to see," he added. The film's story takes place during the riots that followed the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.

The story revolves around a school picnic where a teacher is trying to protect Kush, the only Sikh child in the group from the violence raging around them. "I came to make this particular story because it was based off a true story that happened to one of my teachers in school. After doing intensive research, I wrote the film that I wanted to make on the subject. I always knew this story would connect with people because it resonated with me for so many years," Shubhashish said. "Kush" won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 70th Venice International Film Festival 2013 and jury prize at Hamptons International Film Festival.