Rules & Regulations
Official eligibility criteria, prize distribution, submission parameters, and legal terms for the 3rd Pazhassi Short Film Festival 2026.
Awards & Endowments
Season 03 PurseBest Short Film
Festival Trophy & Citation
Best Director
Festival Trophy & Citation
Best Cinematographer
Festival Trophy & Citation
Best Popular Short Film
Audience Electronic Voting & Citation
Key Entry Guidelines
Maximum Runtime
Total running time must not exceed 30 minutes, including opening and closing credits.
Submission Deadline
All entries, screening links, and registration fees must be received on or before 30 September 2026.
Technical Delivery Format
Submissions must be delivered in Full HD (1080p minimum) in MP4 (H.264 / AAC) broadcast quality.
Official Screenings
Exactly 10 films will be selected by the screening committee for official public screenings at the festival venue.
Entry Fee
A non-refundable registration fee of ₹1,000 is required per submitted entry.
Multiple Entries
Filmmakers, production companies, or academic institutions may submit multiple films. Each requires a separate entry and fee.
Terms, Conditions & Legal Clauses
1. Eligibility & Production Year
- •Films completed between 01 September 2023 and 31 August 2026 are eligible for competitive consideration in Season 03.
- •Entries in languages other than English or Malayalam must have embedded or burn-in English subtitles.
- •Works that have previously been entered into past editions of the Pazhassi Short Film Festival are not eligible for re-submission.
2. Copyrights, Music Licensing & Clearances
- •The applicant guarantees that they possess full legal authority to submit the film and that all copyrights, music synchronization licenses, actor releases, and literary properties have been lawfully cleared.
- •The festival committee, organizers, and venue partners assume no responsibility for copyright infringements, unauthorized samples, or intellectual property disputes arising from submitted works.
- •Applicants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Pazhassi Short Film Festival, Drishtidosham Chalachithravedi, and affiliated bodies against any third-party legal claims, damages, or costs.
3. Selection, Screenings & Promotional Rights
- •The official selection of 10 films will be curated by the screening panel. Selection decisions are final and binding.
- •Once a film is confirmed for the Official Selection, the entrant cannot withdraw the film from the festival program.
- •By submitting, the applicant grants the festival the non-exclusive right to screen the film at the festival venue and utilize up to 60 seconds of video footage, trailer clips, stills, and posters for non-commercial promotional and broadcast purposes across print and digital media.
4. Adjudication & Jury Decision
- •Competitive awards will be determined by an independent jury panel based on official scoring rubrics.
- •The Popular Film award is decided exclusively by audience voting on-ground at the venue.
- •The decision of the jury is final, sovereign, and not subject to appeal, review, or legal challenge.
5. Disqualification & Force Majeure
- •Entries with incomplete screener links, corrupted files, unpaid fees, or runtime exceeding 30 minutes will be disqualified without refund.
- •The festival directorate reserves the right to alter the schedule, venue arrangements, or award presentation format in the event of unforeseen technical circumstances, severe weather, or force majeure events.
Submit Your Short Film
Entry Fee: ₹1,000 • Deadline: 30 September 2026 • Runtime ≤ 30 Minutes