SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1General Guidelines

The following general rules apply to all teams and submissions participating in the Sri Sathya Sai Short Film Festival 2026.

• Admission to the festival is free of charge.
• Films that have been previously submitted to other contests or festivals are not eligible and will be immediately disqualified.
• Teams may register under the following age groups: Group 1: Ages 13–15; Group 2: Ages 16–22; Group 3: Ages 23–35.
• Each registration may include a maximum of five group members, all of whom must be of the same gender, either ladies or gents. Mixed-gender teams are not allowed for registration.
• Each participant should register with only one team, and each team will be allowed to submit only one film. Duplicate team registrations or duplicate submissions will result in rejection.
• Films may be in any language; however, non-English submissions must include English subtitles.
• The person uploading the submission will be treated as the original creator and the legal rights holder of the content. In the case of group submissions, this must be explicitly specified during the submission process.
• The submission must adhere to the norms of SSSSO India and must not contain any content, including audio and visual effects, that is obscene, violent, sexual or indecent.
• Submissions made after the final deadline cannot be modified, replaced or withdrawn.
• The use of copyrighted materials, including video effects and audio, is strictly prohibited unless proper licensing is obtained. In such cases, a valid copy of the license must be submitted along with the final deliverable.
• Participants must respect cultural sensitivities and ethical boundaries.
• Participants must refrain from showcasing any political or religious biases.

2Judging Criteria

The jury will evaluate films based on the following parameters:

• Creativity & Originality
• Technical Excellence
• Adherence to Theme
• Storytelling & Impact

The jury will comprise industry professionals, film critics and representatives from SSSSO India. Decisions made by the jury will be final and binding.

3Technical Guidelines

Please ensure that the final submitted film follows the technical requirements below.

• The total runtime of the submission, including both opening and ending credits, must not exceed 10 minutes or 600 seconds.
• All footage must be filmed on or after the launch date, i.e. 24th January 2025.
• Submissions must be encoded in MP4 or MOV format.
• The film must be in 16:9 aspect ratio.
• The resolution must be 1920×1080 pixels or higher.
• The film must be produced in 10-bit format.
• Shooting in 4K resolution is permitted; however, the final output should be delivered in HD quality.
• The film may be shot on mobile phones, provided the quality meets the above criteria and the basic requirements of professional filming.

4Legal Compliance

Participants are responsible for ensuring that all legal permissions and declarations connected with their submission are complete and valid.

• Release Forms: All participants must submit signed release forms for on-screen individuals, including actors and extras.
• Release forms must also be submitted for locations and property featured in the film.
• Release forms or valid permissions must be submitted for background music or soundtracks used in the film.
• Copyright Adherence: Films using third-party content must include valid licensing documentation.
• A template for licensing declarations will be available on the submission platform.
• Liability Waiver: Participants are solely responsible for resolving any legal disputes related to their submission.
• The organisers will not be held accountable for unauthorised use of copyrighted materials.

5Organiser Regulations

The following organiser regulations apply to all submissions and participants.

• The ownership rights of the short films, post submission, will remain with SSSSO India.
• The organisers retain the right to reject any submission without providing a reason.
• The decision of the jury shall be final and binding, with no provision for appeals or further explanations.
• SSSSO India, the organiser of the festival or its affiliates, shall not be held liable for any unauthorised use of submitted media by third parties.
• All expenses incurred in the production of the film shall be borne exclusively by the respective team.
• The organisers shall not be held liable for any unforeseen incidents or adverse events that may occur during the course of the film festival process.
• SSSSO India reserves the exclusive right to make all final decisions regarding the film festival, including acceptance of submissions and selection of films for screening.
• All decisions made by SSSSO India will be deemed final and binding on all participants.