Switch Off Goes Global: Sandeep Francis’ Thriller Lands in Paris
Abhishek Pathak and Sandeep Francis’ short thriller “Switch Off” has scored another big international distinction with a place at the 32nd edition of the L’Étrange Festival in Paris.
The film is part of the festival’s short-film competition “Suspicion” and it’s also an international premiere.
The 10-minute-30-second Indian fiction film is directed by Sandeep Francis and backed by Abhishek Pathak.
It was staged at the Forum des Images in Paris as part of L’Étrange Festival, which runs from September 1 to September 12, 2026.
There’s something so strange about *Switch Off* that is a technology-powered thriller in the middle of it. It’s about a man getting entangled in a sadistic situation with a smartphone.
The film’s official description of its central theme is that of a man being “harassed by” the smartphone that instantly set the stage for a film that is suspenseful and unconventional.
The Paris selection adds to the film’s growing international festival journey. Before coming to France, Switch Off had already been featured at the BIFAN in South Korea, which is the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
Its place at another genre-laden festival also elevates its reach to international audiences.
For Abhishek Pathak, the recognition in Paris is a different kind of achievement from what is often called commercial success.
He has also talked about the satisfaction of watching a story travel everywhere and connect with audiences in various settings.
The filmmaker was also attracted to Francis’ approach to the story, particularly in the night and the loneliness of its lead character.
Much of the thriller takes place around a mobile repair shop and Kochi. The setting helps create an increasingly tense atmosphere as the protagonist finds himself alone and surrounded by an unsettling situation.
The short runtime also helps the film to keep pace and create suspense.
For Sandeep Francis, “Switch Off” is a major step in his career as a filmmaker. In his role as an editor on high-profile thrillers, he aims for a tight set of stories and audience engagement.
The film’s global journey is not stopping beyond Paris. “Switch Off” is going to have an American premiere at Fantastic Fest 2026 in Austin, Texas, and so the short will have another chance to reach a global genre-filmmaking audience as well, as reported on, and is also set to be presented at the movie’s international launch at Fantastic Fest of 2026.
With its European premiere at L’Étrange Festival and another international screening coming up, Switch Off is steadily gaining attention for its filmmakers and for Indian short-form genre cinema.
Its strange smartphone-centered storyline, compact storytelling and festival run make it a title to watch on the international circuit.
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