Jackson Heights Set Short Film “Half A Life” Premieres Online as NukhuFest 2026 Semifinalist
Acclaimed Twin Directors and Notable Cast Spotlight Immigration, Identity, and Underground Economies in Queens Set Crime Drama
Jackson Heights, Queens, New York (February 10, 2026) - A powerful new short film rooted in the streets of Jackson Heights, Queens will premiere online this week as part of NukhuFest 2026, the annual global film festival presented by the Nukhu Foundation. Half A Life, directed by identical twin filmmakers Ranju Majumdar and Sanjit Majumdar, premieres Wednesday, February 11 at 12 AM ET on nukhu.com as an official NukhuFest 2026 semifinalist.
Set and filmed in Jackson Heights, Half A Life follows an immigration documents counterfeiter whose underground operation is exposed by local film students chasing online notoriety. The four minute crime drama uses the lens of a noir thriller to explore immigration, identity, and survival in one of New York City’s most culturally complex neighborhoods.
The film stars Finn Wittrock, widely known for his work in major studio and prestige productions including The Big Short and Origin, and his upcoming portrayal of Milton Hershey in the forthcoming HERSHEY biopic. Wittrock leads a cast that reflects the diversity of Queens and the immigrant stories at the heart of the film.
The directors, Ranju and Sanjit Majumdar, are seasoned filmmakers whose earlier work includes the feature Determinism, which later premiered on Netflix, and post production work on films that debuted at Sundance and Tribeca. Their connection to the story is deeply personal.
“When conceptualizing Half A Life, we wanted to express the immigrant experience through a classic American genre,” said the Majumdar brothers. “Jackson Heights is a place where countless people are reinventing themselves every day, often under enormous pressure. This story comes from what we have seen, heard, and lived in this neighborhood.”
Produced on a budget of three thousand dollars and shot on the Arri Alexa 35, Half A Life exemplifies the kind of independent storytelling that NukhuFest was created to support. The festival curates films from independent creators around the world and uses a public voting model to determine which projects receive development and distribution support.
As a NukhuFest 2026 semifinalist, Half A Life is now eligible for public voting through September 19. The ten films with the most votes advance to the fall finalist showcase, with the top voted project receiving the Best Nuvee development to distribution grant, announced September 19 at 8 PM ET.
In addition to the online premiere, the Nuvee Club will host a virtual conversation with the filmmakers later this month. Nuvee Club hosts Sanjay Singh and Big Mike Sangiamo will interview Ranju and Sanjit Majumdar about the film, its Queens roots, and the larger creative universe they are building. Details for the live stream will be announced via Nuvee Club and Nukhu social channels.
The filmmakers hope the success of the short will help build momentum toward a larger narrative project expanding the world introduced in Half A Life.
The film will be available to stream beginning February 11 at:
https://nukhu.com/nuvee/1815
More information about NukhuFest can be found at:
https://filmfreeway.com/nukhufest
https://www.nukhufoundation.org/nukhufest
For updates on the filmmaker Q and A and festival programming, follow the Nuvee Club on Instagram or Nukhu on YouTube.
About NukhuFest
NukhuFest is a global film festival presented by the Nukhu Foundation that champions independent filmmakers and underrepresented voices. Through a curated selection and community driven voting process, NukhuFest provides filmmakers with visibility, audience engagement, and access to development and distribution resources.
Website: https://www.nukhufoundation.org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nukhu
