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Filmmaker Aastha Tiku's directorial debut Dreamboat, billed as a quirky, eclectic fantasy comedy-drama, is set to have its world premiere at the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF). The 24-minute film is backed by national award-winning filmmaker Amit Masurkar, best known for Newton (2017), Sherni (2021) and Sulemani Keeda (2014).
Dreamboat is led by rapper Sofia Ashraf in her acting debut. She is joined by stand-up comedian and digital creator Supriya Joshi, and Tenzin Dalha, who most recently appeared in the feature film Tenzing, starring Tom Hiddleston and Willem Dafoe.
The fantasy-comedy also stars Prayrak Mehta, who last headlined Mehar Malhotra's Shadows of Moonless Nights (2026), which became the only Indian entry in the La Cinef section at the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
According to the makers, Dreamboat explores the possibilities of a cinema that breaks away from conventional narrative logic, using the fantastical to reveal something deeply human. It brings to life an unconventional romance, centering on an underground musician and her unusual love story with her pillow, which is curtailed by her mother.
As the musician spirals into a delirious journey through Mumbai, she finds her friendships and sense of reality tested by a mysterious homeless poet. In her search for love and connection in an increasingly alienating city, the abandoned pillow begins to develop a will of its own. Using this storyline, film embraces a surreal way of storytelling that aims to slowly blur the line between the bizarre and the strangely relatable.
Writer-director Tiku revealed that Dreamboat actually came to her in a dream. "I spent a few months trying to decipher it and mould it into a screenplay. I wanted the world of the film to feel relatable, at the same time coded in dream logic. Through the fantasy genre with a female protagonist the intent was to capture the relationship of an artist and her muse - a pillow. The film allowed me to follow my instincts and make something honest, punk and experiential.”
Producer Masurkar also noted that he was drawn to Dreamboat because of its "unconventional premise and the treatment boards" Tiku had prepared for the film.
"I love how she used pop culture, music, colour, language, fashion to create this campy and surreal fever dream. We are excited to begin our festival journey with DIFF.”
DIFF will run from October 29 to November 1.