What makes "Avala Hejje Short Film Festival – 2025" special is that, for the first time in Karnataka, a competition was organized exclusively for Kannada short films made by women. Submissions for short films were open in March and April 2025. The competition received an overwhelming response. Nearly 60 short films, directed by women with diverse backgrounds from across Karnataka - including a 14-year-old young filmmaker and a Kannadati from the United States - were submitted. 
 
The selection process was highly competitive. A distinguished jury panel comprising Sunayana Suresh, Madhu Daithota, Sanjotha Bhandari, Shwet Priya Naik, Gowri Neelavar, Akhila Vidyasandra, Pooja Sudhir and Poornima Malagimani meticulously reviewed the entries and shortlisted films for screening at the short film festival. The first screening of the short films selected in the competition and the announcement of the award winners were held on June 14, 2025 at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC).

The announcement of the winners and the award ceremony were held in the presence of the chief guest of the film festival, renowned director D. Suman Kittur. The first prize of ₹1 lakh in cash and the "Avala Hejje" award was won by the Kannada short film Unheard Echoes, directed by Kavitha B Nayak.​ The film also received the Audience Choice Award, a testament to its strong emotional connection with viewers.

Among the special category winners was Kshama Ambekallu, whose short film “Pushpa” received the Student Filmmaker Special Category Prize. 
 

Three other films, each by first-time filmmakers, also received cash prizes for their outstanding work: “The Last Happy Customer” (2024), directed by Mandara Battalahalli, “Cakewalk” (2025), directed by Sinchana Shylesh and “Online” (2025), directed by Sathya Pramodha M.S

The festival also showcased “Neerellavoo Teertha” (2025), a short film produced by Renuka Yallappa Malligar, a woman farmer from Haveri district, under the non-competitive category.

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The festival, which showcased eight compelling short films, drew a full house. A lively Q&A session with the featured filmmakers engaged the audience, who asked thoughtful questions and showed strong support for them.
 

A key highlight of the festival was a panel discussion titled “Finding the Female Voice in Kannada Cinema”, moderated by journalist Sunayana Suresh. The panel featured acclaimed filmmaker Roopa Rao (Gantu Moote), film educator Shobha C. S. of Tent Cinema School, and chief guest D. Suman Kittur.
 

Roopa Rao spoke candidly about the gendered biases she has faced in the film industry:

“Financiers and distributors would often speak directly to my male assistants instead of addressing me.” She emphasized that only “madness and passion” keep filmmakers going in spite of repeated rejections and financial hardships.

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Suman Kittur shared a striking anecdote about a financier who refused to fund her project because their horoscopes did not match — a surreal but telling example of the irrational barriers that continue to exist for filmmakers.

The overwhelming response and support received in the first screening led to the re-screening of the short films. The second screening was organized on July 12, 2025 at the Indian Institute of World Culture (IIWC), Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. The third screening was held on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at the Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy, Bengaluru.