A short film by Shrijal Thapa, a student in The University of Southern Mississippi’s Theatre program, housed in the School of Performing and Visual Arts (SPVA), has been selected for three major festivals in Los Angeles—Independent Shorts Awards, Hollywood Discovery Awards and Indie Short Fest—earning him multiple awards and nominations, including a Gold Award for Best Original Score.
Thapa, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre (performance) at Southern Miss, produced the short film Sonder to shed light on personal human experiences that are universally felt but rarely discussed. The film follows a hopeless romantic who must confront his deepest fears to bridge the silence between himself and a stranger—transforming a simple park bench into a stage for personal redemption.
After completing his short film last semester, Thapa entered it into the festival circuit, and his efforts paid off. The film has enjoyed a highly successful run, and earned him an invitation to the annual award event for the Independent Shorts Awards, held Sept. 6 at Regal L.A. Live.
“Attending a prestigious film festival in L.A. is a dream for any performing arts student and aspiring filmmaker,” said Thapa. “It’s a rare opportunity to learn from and connect with talented actors and directors in the heart of the film industry. This experience represents my first significant step into the professional film world, and the networking possibilities will be invaluable.”
The film was born from a simple observation Thapa made: the profound complexity hidden within seemingly ordinary encounters. By shifting perspectives between the hesitant romantic and the unaware stranger, Sonder uncovers layers of meaning and invites viewers to reconsider how their actions—or inactions—shape relationships. At its core, the film explores universal human experiences of connection, personal growth and the courage to face fear.
“My hope is that Sonder will encourage viewers to reflect on their own experiences and choices,” said Thapa. “While it’s presented as a romantic drama, the story reaches beyond romance to explore personal growth and the moments of redemption that may await on the other side of fear.”
Thapa said the Southern Miss theatre program has been instrumental in shaping his artistic voice—teaching him the power of storytelling and how it can tap into emotions that truly move audiences.
“The love, support, and inspiration I’ve received from friends and faculty in SPVA have fueled my ambitions and sustained my drive to keep creating,” said Thapa. “I am deeply grateful to Southern Miss for being both a foundation for growth and a source of constant encouragement in my artistic journey.”
After Sonder, Thapa shifted from a romantic drama to a romantic comedy, The Proposal, which is currently in post-production. He has four additional projects in the works, with a goal of producing up to six short films by the end of 2026, including two full narratives and four shorts under five minutes.
“It is such a joy to witness the growth and development of students in our school like Shrijal,” said Meg Brooker, director of the SPVA. “Shrijal is a thoughtful artist who explores and excels at all aspects of his craft—from performance to writing to lighting and sound. We are very proud of his achievement and excited to see how his career unfolds.”
The awards and nominations in festivals include:
Independent Shorts Awards
- Gold Award for Best Original Score
- Bronze Awards for Best Romantic Short and Best Student Male Director
- Qualified for the Annual Awards Event
Hollywood Discovery Awards
- Best Short Narrative Winner
Indie Short Fest
- Nominated for Best Student Short
- Nominated for Best Editing
- Nominated for Best Original Score
To learn more about the School of Performing and Visual Arts at Southern Miss, visit the website.