Bring ‘Melting Shame’ to Life–A Powerful Animated Short Film

Animated Short Film: MELTING SHAME

I am Shweta Marathe from Mumbai, a 27-year-old Animation Film Director and Co-founder of SKYLUMA PRODUCTIONS®, launched in 2024. My work focuses on empowering narratives, with a particular emphasis on stories that explore emotional resilience and social issues. I am passionate about advancing women's voices in animation. My current project, Melting Shame, is a deeply personal film about overcoming the emotional complexities of abuse.

When I experienced sexual assault as a young adult–it shattered my sense of self-worth. In the aftermath, I found myself grappling with an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame. It’s a feeling that defies logic but is so common in the aftermath of trauma—this irrational belief that somehow, we should have known better, should have done more, should have stopped it. I found myself caught in a spiral of self-blame, questioning whether I could have acted differently. Could I have prevented it? Did I fail myself? These thoughts haunted me.

As I sat with these thoughts, I knew I had to channel them into something meaningful. Going down the rabbit hole of research on this topic and interviewing people with similar experiences made me sensitive to the subtle yet powerful nuances and societal undercurrents that enable such abuse. I felt an overwhelming drive to process and express complex emotions, not just for myself but for others who carry the same weight. The goal became clear: to help people find courage, to remind them that the shame was never theirs to carry, and to inspire them to rewrite their narratives. This led to the creation of ‘Melting Shame,’ an animated short film for teenagers and young adults.

ABOUT THE FILM

"A young film editor, Maya, grapples with shame after freezing in shock in response to insidious abuse by her driving instructor, on confiding in her older sister she realises that the shame was never hers to bear, and seeks to reclaim her power by editing her memories."

Set in contemporary Mumbai, the film unfolds within Maya’s apartment and her intimate editing setup, weaving a narrative of memories through the city’s bustling streets, suburban corners, and the confined space of a learner’s driving car. The world merges realism with surrealism—a slightly abstract version of Maya's reality. Traumatic memories intertwine with her editing screen, depicted as surreal, fragmented pop-ups, collapsing visuals, disappearing faces, and distorted soundscapes, capturing the fleeting, unstable essence of memory.

The tone of the film is bittersweet, empathetic, somber laced with subtle irony, and at times uncomfortable. It’s both intimate and unsettling, capturing an honest portrayal of a young adult grappling with complex emotions like shame and memories of abuse. With thoughts presented as a stream-of-consciousness to simulate the dynamic process of thinking itself, allowing viewers to feel the character’s vulnerabilities.

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS?

This is more than just a film. It’s a message. A chance to start conversations. A way to tell young people that shame does not define them—that they are seen and heard. By contributing, you become part of a movement. A movement that tells survivors: You are not alone. Your story matters.

Join Us in Melting Shame—Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to sharing this film with the world. If you can’t donate, you can still help by sharing our campaign with your friends, family, and community. Together, we can break the silence.

HOW WILL THE FUNDS BE USED?

Your support will directly fund the following key areas of our project: Artists & Animators, Music & Sound Design, Rentals, Compositing, Editing and Festival Distribution.

BENEFITS & REWARDS

* $10 : Post cards + Thank you credits

* $30 : Posters/Post cards + Thank you credits

* $70 : Posters/Post cards + Tote Bag + Thank you credits

* $100 : Posters/Post cards + Tote Bag + Screening ticket + Thank you credits

* $500 : Posters/Post cards + Tote Bag + Screening ticket + Goody Bag + Thank you credits

* $1000+ : Posters/Post cards + Tote Bag + Screening ticket + Goody Bag + Film Financier/Executive Producer credits

Note: We will distribute these rewards once the film enters the festival circuit.

Feel free to contact us for any clarifications or questions you might have.

Thank you!

**UPDATES

Melting Shame (2026) is selected as a finalist from 1,290 entries to pitch in the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit WAVES 2025, Animation Filmmakers Competition, by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, India, mentorship by–Peter Ramsey, Sergio Pablos, Shobu Yarlagadda, and Guneet Monga, which will be held at the Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai, 1-4 May 2025!!