Rahul Roye’s ‘Aman’ Selected For TIFF 2026, Puts Trans Masculinity And Pregnancy In Focus

Rahul Roye's short film Aman has been chosen for the Short Cuts program at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival. The film, co-written with nonbinary filmmaker Elle León, explores the life of a trans man discovering he is pregnant, delving into themes of identity, masculinity, and fatherhood. Rahul Roye, the filmmaker, explained that the film was born from his own discomfort with the colonial, heteronormative gender binary.

The intimacy of the film's portrayal aims to challenge simplistic categorizations and celebrate individual freedom. By casting transgender activists Kabir Maan and Sirat Taneja, Roye ensured that the film's narrative was rooted in lived experience. Their activism provided a political context, while their personal journeys brought authenticity and detail to the story.

Aman's pregnancy, Roye argued, reveals the fragility of gender definitions. It questions what constitutes masculinity and forces viewers to reconsider the foundations of gender roles. The film also touches on the accessibility of healthcare for transgender individuals, a concern that is particularly pronounced for transmasculine people in India.

The film's release comes at a time when the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, has narrowed the legal definition of transgender individuals, removing express categories and rights previously afforded. Aman, Roye believes, underscores the limitations of such categorisation. The production team, consisting of queer-affirming individuals, further ensured the film's inclusive and sensitive portrayal.