1) Eligibility

• The Yuva International Short Film Festival (YISFF) is open to filmmakers enrolled in accredited colleges, universities, and film schools across the world.
• All genres of films will be accepted for the competition.
• There will be 3 separate categories for the film selection and awards.
• Films using regional dialects or foreign languages other than english must have English subtitles.
• All works should be less than 30 minutes in length, including title and credits.
• Any film exceeding this limit will not be considered.
• No works in progress. Incomplete entries are ineligible.
• The film has to be produced after 1 January 2021, and the filmmaker must have been an enrolled student at the time.
• While you are allowed to submit multiple films, only one film submission per filmmaker will be accepted as a competition entry and to be shown at the festival if selected.
• Submission must contain the following: a final copy of the film in MP4 format; a one-minute film teaser in MP4 format; and a film poster in 16×20 size.

2) Submission and Selection

*Selection of films to be screened in the Festival will be done by the Selection Committee. The decision of the Selection Committee is final. These films are then screened to the Jury Panel to determine the Awards of Excellence.

*The last date for submissions will be October 20, 2023.

*The Jury Panel is comprised of three academicians and professionals from the film/art industry.

*The decision of the Jury Panel is final.

*The winners are announced during the YISFF Screening and Awards on November 5, 2023.

*The judges have the right not to award any of the mentioned categories if no entry should merit it.

*Participants are not entitled to claim rental or other fees for the screenings of their films at the festival.

3) Competition

YISFF’s Awards of Excellence will be announced at an awards ceremony taking place at the end of the film screening. Each Award will receive a trophy, a winner medal, and a certificate.

YISFF – Competition Categories

International Shorts – Competition Category :

YISFF is open to International students enrolled in (or recently graduated from) an accredited college, film academy, or university. There is no limit to the number of entries a filmmaker can submit but each entry requires a separate entry fee. Any narrative work of fiction & Non-Animation with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes shot outside India, will qualify in the International Shorts competition category. The film has to be produced after 1 January 2021. If the film is found to be produced before this term, it will lead to disqualification.

Regular Deadline

Standard: $12

Gold Members: $10

Indian Shorts – Competition Category :

YISFF is open to Indian students enrolled in (or recently graduated from) an accredited college, film academy, or university inside India. There is no limit to the number of entries a filmmaker can submit but each entry requires a separate entry fee. Any narrative work of fiction and Non-Animation with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes, produced and shot in India, will qualify in the Indian Shorts competition category. The film has to be produced after 1 January 2021. If the film is found to be produced before this term, it will lead to disqualification.

Regular Deadline

Standard: $10

Gold Members: $9

Tamilnadu Shorts – Competition Category

YISFF is open to college students enrolled in (or recently graduated from) an accredited college, film academy, or university inside Tamilnadu. There is no limit to the number of entries a filmmaker can submit but each entry requires a separate entry fee. Any narrative work of fiction and Non-Animation with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes, shot inside and produced in Tamilnadu. The film has to be produced after 1 January 2021. If the film is found to be produced before this term, it will lead to disqualification.

Regular Deadline

Standard: $8

Gold Members: $7

International Shorts (Non-Competition Category)

YISFF is open to International students enrolled in (or recently graduated from) an accredited college, film academy, or university. There is no limit to the number of entries a filmmaker can submit. Any narrative work of fiction and non-animation with a running time not exceeding 30 minutes shot outside India, will qualify in the International Shorts Non – Non-competition category. The film has to be produced after 1 January 2021. If the film is found to be produced before this term, it will lead to disqualification. Selected films will be screened during the festival.

Regular Deadline

Standard: Free

Gold Members: Free

4) General Rules

‘Yuva International Short Film Festival’ occasionally provides short film programs for other film festivals. By submitting your film, the entrant agrees to the inclusion of their film in any such future program.

Excerpts from selected films, trailers, and stills may also be screened or published online to assist in promoting the festival.

The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and to have the work screened publicly, including any necessary permissions. By submitting, the submitter confirms they have all the necessary rights for the screening of the film submitted to be exhibited at the festival.

By submitting their film, all entrants are deemed to have read and agreed to the rules and regulations governing the festival. In the event of any disagreement, the interpretation of the festival will take precedence.

These rules and regulations are subject to change without prior notice. The festival reserves the right to withdraw or include selected shorts from the program as necessary.

It is the responsibility of the submitter to ensure the correct contact email address is supplied to the festival.

5) Liability

The sender of the submitted film is responsible for all copyrights. He or she is legally authorized to enter his or her short film into the festival and, if selected for the festival, is authorized to give screening permission.

The applicant has secured all necessary rights for both pictures and sound, and the exhibition will not violate or infringe upon any rights, including but not limited to music, images, and content.

If selected for the festival, the applicant acknowledges and agrees that an exhibition-quality digital screening file must be made available for screening by November 2nd, 2023.

The film, including all copyrights, remains the property of the author. The films will be handled with the utmost care. However, the contest management will assume no liability for damages or losses.

The applicant has to read and accept the regulations and guidelines for participation.

Failure to comply with these terms and conditions may result in the submission’s being disqualified.

In the event of disagreement concerning the interpretation of the terms and conditions, the interpretation of the contest will take precedence.

The non-profit nature of the Yuva International Short Film Festival activities guarantees that the works submitted will be used only to advance the cultural objectives of the YISFF.

These regulations are subject to change without prior notice.