A debut film by an Indian journalist,Penile Code, focusing on re-criminalization of homosexuality, has been shortlisted for the Short Film Corner at Cannes Film Festival.

The 14-minute film directed by 27-year-old Sharat Chandra Bose, is set to be screened at the International film festival between May 13 and May 23 this year.

“The film depicts the life of two urban girls who are in a lesbian relationship living together under various political climates especially during the time of the re-criminalization of homosexuality in India,” says Bose.

For me, a film should be one that is also committed to the aesthetics of cinema, that is in terms of taking the medium forward in all respects and I have constantly tried to do justice to it,” says Bose.

With a running time of 14 minutes and 55 seconds the film was made with a budget of Rs.45,000.

“After viewing your short film, we are glad to inform you that it has been accepted for the 2015 Short Film Corner,” festival organizers said in a statement to Bose.

Bose, an avid movie enthusiast, is fond of contemporary film makers such as Michael Haneke, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Apichatpong, Tsai Ming Liang, Hou Hsiea Hsien and Gyeong.

“It would seem insufficient if I did not mention my years of growing up watching mainstream Malayalam and Hindi films; while I started taking films seriously on gaining exposure to Indian filmmakers like Ray, Adoor, Mrinal Sen, Aravindan, Shyam Benegal, Shaji N Karun and John Abraham,” he says.

Penile Code previously won the Innovative Film award at YOUKI 16 International Media festival of Austria. It was also shown during the Kinofest International Digital Festival in Bucharest (Romania) and at the International Festival of Cinema in Campania (Italy). It is also listed at this year’s Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market.