Rules & Regulations
Read this before you submit your short film.
Opens
Oct 15, 2025
Deadline
Nov 20, 2025
Notification
Dec 5, 2025
Fee
₹500 (non-refundable)
- Open to short films of all genres.
- Max runtime: 25 minutes (including credits). No minimum length.
- Films completed after January 1, 2023 are eligible.
- Any language is okay, but English subtitles must be clear and readable.
- Current/past students or faculty of Dadasaheb Phalke School of Film Studies are not eligible.
- Submit via FilmFreeway or the official HISFF website.
- Submission fee: ₹500 (non-refundable).
- Registration opens: October 15, 2025.
- Final deadline: November 20, 2025.
- Provide a screener link (Vimeo or private Google Drive link).
- For screening, we prefer high-quality DCP / ProRes / MP4.
- Poster (Horizontal): PNG/JPG, min 1920×1080
- Poster (Vertical): PNG/JPG, min 1080×1500
- Teaser: MP4, max 10s
- Trailer: MP4, max 90s
- Synopsis: 100–150 words
- Selection Committee shortlists films for Competition/Showcase.
- Preview committee shortlists for screening; Jury decides awards.
- All committee decisions are final.
- Notifications by December 5, 2025 (email + FilmFreeway).
- 1st Prize: $1,100 / ₹100,000
- 2nd Prize: $800 / ₹75,000
- 3rd Prize: $500 / ₹50,000
- Promising Endeavour (I): $200 / ₹20,000
- Promising Endeavour (II): $200 / ₹20,000
- Jury Special Mention (I): $100 / ₹10,000
- Jury Special Mention (II): $100 / ₹10,000
- People’s Choice Award (1): Trophy & Certificate
Awards include Plaques and Citation Certificates of Merit. Jury’s decisions
are final.
- Festival is not responsible for any copyright infringement.
- Submitter must hold and indemnify all legal rights.
- By submitting, you grant HISFF a non-exclusive screening right during the festival.
- Selected films may also be used for roadshows/education/promotion (with prior intimation).
- Copyright stays with the filmmaker.
- Accepted: DCP, ProRes, or high-quality MP4 (1080p min, 4K preferred).
- Preferred frame rate: 24 fps.
- Burned-in English subtitles required for all films.
- Ensure your file is free of technical errors.
- Submitting means you accept all festival rules.
- We may reject films that violate legal, cultural, or ethical guidelines.
- No films promoting hate speech, explicit pornography, or political propaganda.
Key Dates
- Opens Oct 15
- Deadline Nov 20
- Notification Dec 5
- Festival Dec 19–21
Before You Submit
- Teaser (≤ 10s) & Trailer (≤ 90s)
- 2 Posters (1920×1080 & 1080×1500)
- Synopsis (100–150 words)
- Private screener link ready
- Burned-in English subs