Herizo Bashy has won the top prize for fiction short film for "The Encounter" at the Madagascar Film Festival ISSM Awards 2026. With "The Encounter," Herizo Bashy claimed first place in the fiction short film category at the Madagascar Film Festival ISSM Awards 2026, following a shoot completed under particularly tight deadlines.

When the results were announced, tension quickly gave way to joy. "The Encounter" took home the top prize for fiction short film at the Madagascar Film Festival ISSM Awards 2026 last Sunday. For Herizo Bashy, this award holds special significance: accustomed to animation films, he was competing in a fiction competition for the first time. "I was a bit nervous before the results were announced, but when 'The Encounter' was called out, joy immediately took over. It was immense joy for the entire team that worked on the film," he shared.

"The Encounter" tells the story of a meeting between two people, but also between two different and opposing timelines. True to his cinematic approach, the director prioritizes plot and progressive revelation. The audience should not immediately understand what will happen. Among his inspirations is notably Christopher Nolan's "Memento." The film contains very little dialogue and relies heavily on the actors' performances and emotional expression.

Rushed Production

This award is all the more remarkable given that the film was made in an exceptionally short timeframe. Learning just days before the registration deadline about the possibility of participating in the festival, Herizo Bashy immediately began writing. The screenplay was developed in approximately two hours, then sent to producer Mamihasina Raminosoa, who approved it and quickly assembled the team.

Preparation and shooting then followed in just a few days. The team spent the weekend on preparations before shooting over two days. Meanwhile, Herizo Bashy handled editing each evening for sequences shot during the day. The pre-mixed film was then submitted within the deadline.

The main challenge remained time: writing, shooting, editing, and mixing a film in such a short period required rigorous organization. However, Herizo Bashy could rely on an experienced team composed of several already-awarded professionals. "We were able to exchange many ideas and discuss our perspectives during filming," he noted.

Technically, "The Encounter" was shot with an Arri Alexa Mini camera, accompanied by anamorphic lenses and cinema filters. Sound work also received professional treatment, with mixing done at Studio Ony in a Dolby Atmos 5.1 environment.

For Herizo Bashy, the jury's choice can be explained by his mastery of several cinematic techniques. He also recalls comments from Luck Razanajaona, who had highlighted, before the winner was announced, the film's ability to hold the jury's attention from beginning to end.

Herizo Bashy has worked in cinema since 2012, when he made his first animated short film. The film earned him a Golden Zebu in the animation category. This distinction also opened doors to training at ILOI in Réunion, where he met directors and producers who later invited him to work on the animated feature "Adama" in 2014-2015.

By Cassie Ramiandrasoa