Ragini Bhasin, a South Asian writer/director and Chapman University’s film school alumna, specializes in everyday thrillers and socially conscious films told with a feminist lens. Her short films have screened at several Oscar-qualifying festivals, including two recent short films opening at Palm Springs ShortFest. Her work has also been featured in The Wrap’s ShortList festival, selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick, and distributed by ARTE Channel, ShortsTV, Argo Channel, and PBS. Ragini received the Meredith MacRae Memorial Award from Women in Film (WIF), was a BAFTA Newcomer (2021–2024), won the 2022 Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge hosted by CAPE and Janet Yang Productions, was a Film Independent’s Project Involve Directing fellow in 2023, and is a director at AFI DWW+ cohort of 2026.

No Hugging, No Kissing — A survivor of an acid attack, Ritu —a young, disfigured woman still overcoming her past trauma— confesses her romantic feelings to her new friend Deepak, another acid attack survivor. As they plan to spend a romantic night out in the foggy winter of New Delhi, Ritu navigates public scrutiny while growing doubtful of Deepak’s intentions as her ingrained mistrust of men continues to haunt her.