Sri Sathya Sai Short Film Festival

Last updated on 24^th January 2025

The following guidelines, conditions and/or rules are applicable to the Sri Sathya Sai Short Film Festival (”Festival”) which is being organised by the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, India (“Organiser”). These guidelines and condition may be updated later before the submission window opens. Participants are expected to check their emails regularly for updates related to the festival after resgistering themselves.

A. Theme of the Festival

The Theme of the festival is “Service to Mankind”. All films shall be created on this theme in order to be considered eligible.

B. Important Dates

The following dates are important for the timeline of the festival:

• Announcement and Launch: 24th January 2025
• Registration: 7th February 2025
• Submission Period: May 2025
• Evaluation: June – July 2025
• Grand Finale: August 2025

Exact dates, where applicable, shall be announced later.

C. Registration and Participation

1. Admission to the festival is free of charge.
2. Each registration may include a team of maximum five members, all of whom must be of the same age group and gender (either ladies or gents). Mixed-gender teams are not allowed for registration.
3. Teams may register under the following age categories:
   • Category 1: Ages 13-15
   • Category 2: Ages 16-22
   • Category 3: Ages 23-35
4. After the registration opens, only the team lead, who will be considered as the Director for all purposes, may register. Details of other members may be provided later, either during the submission or before, as may be required.
5. Each participant should only register as part of one team, and each team will be allowed to submit only one film. Duplicate team registrations or submissions will result in rejection of both the teams in which the participants are registered.
6. The Team members whose film is selected for the final round, which will be held in New Delhi and/or Puttaparthi, shall be required to travel to these places at their own expense.

D. Production and Submission

1. All footage must be filmed on or after the launch date i.e. 24th January 2025
2. Films that have been previously submitted to other contests or festivals are not eligible and will be immediately disqualified.
3. Films may be in any language; however, submissions in languages other than English must include English subtitles.
4. The submission must adhere to the norms of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, India and must not contain any content, including audio and visual effects, that is obscene, violent, sexual, or indecent.
5. Submissions can be made only during the submission period.
6. Films once submitted shall be final and cannot be modified, replaced, or withdrawn.
7. All expenses incurred in the production of the film shall be borne exclusively by the respective team.
8. Respect cultural sensitivities and ethical boundaries.
9. Refrain from showcasing any political or religious biases.

E. Evaluation

1. Every submission will be evaluated by a team of Jury.  The jury will comprise of industry professionals, film critics, and representatives from the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, India.
2. Films will be evaluted on the following parameters. (Scoring methodology shall be updated as part of these rules in due course.)
   • • Creativity & Originality
     • Technical Excellence
     • Adherence to Theme
     • Storytelling & Impact
3. The evalution may involve various levels. Not all films submitted shall be selected for grand finale. Details on this apsect shall be duly updated as part of these rules. 
4. The Organiser reserves the exclusive right to make all final decisions regarding the film festival, including the acceptance of submission and the selection of films for screening.
5. The Organiser retains the right to reject any submission without providing a reason.
6. The decision of the jury shall be final and binding, with no provision for appeals or further explanations.

F. Technical Requirements

1. The total runtime of the submission, including both opening and ending credits, must not exceed 10 minutes (600 seconds).
2. Submissions must be encoded in MP4 format with 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels or higher.
3. Film must be produced in 10-bit format. While shooting in 4K resolutions is permitted, the final output should be delivered in HD quality.
4. The film can be shot even on mobile phones as long as the quality is able to meet the above criteria and basic requirements of a professional filming.

G. Legal and Copyrights

1. The finalised film should be submitted by the team lead (Director). Once submitted, all rights including copyrights of the film and all related content shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, who shall be entitled to use the film in full or any part thereof in its sole discretion and in the manner it may deem fit or decide. Thus, the team lead (Director) shall, at the time of submission, ensure that he is the absolute holder/owner of all legal rights of the content for all purpose.
2. The ownership rights of the short films, post submission, will remain with Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, India, the Organiser.
3. The use of copyrighted materials, including video effects and audio, is strictly prohibited unless proper licensing is obtained. In such instances, a valid copy of the license must be submitted along with the submission.
4. The Organiser shall not be held liable for any unforeseen incidents or adverse events that may occur during the course of the film festival process.
5. Release Forms: All participants must submit signed release forms for:
   • On-screen individuals (actors, extras, etc.).
   • Locations and property featured in the film.
   • Background music or soundtracks used.
6. Copyright Adherence:
   • Films using third-party content must include valid licensing documentation.
   • A template for licensing declarations shall be made available on this portal.
7. Liability Waiver:
   • Participants are solely responsible for resolving any legal disputes related to their submission.
   • The Organiser or any of its affiliates or any individual associated with it shall not be held accountable for unauthorised use of copyrighted materials or submitted media by third parties.