Did you know that 18 feet was symbolic distance, which the Dalits had to maintain while crossing the upper castes in Kerala? "In some cases, it was eight feet, sometimes, 66 feet, depending on the community one belonged to," says Kochi-based film editor Renjith Kuzhur, who highlights the subject in his debut directorial, 18 Feet. The 77-minute documentary, produced by Films Division, premiered at the Mumbai International Film Festival in February and bagged Kuzhur an award for Best Editor. "Many in the audience were oblivious to the discriminatory practices in modern-day Kerala," adds the 33-year-old graduate from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. Kuzhur will showcase the film in Mumbai as part of a screening organised by The Vikalp Archive at Jnanapravaha.

PR Remesh (wearing a garland) gets a grand reception after winning  Kerala State Folk Lore Academy Award in 2014; a still from the documentary; and 18 Feet's poster