Synergia-Chetana Campus Film Festival (3)

Festival start: 06 February 2025      Festival end: 07 February 2025

Welcome to the Synergia-Chetana Campus Film Festival

A vibrant two-day celebration of student filmmakers' creativity and vision. Organized by the Synergia Campus Youth Forum and Chetana Media Institute, the festival offers emerging storytellers the chance to showcase their work to an engaged community of cinephiles and cultural enthusiasts. Set in Thrissur, Kerala’s cultural capital, the festival features short fiction films competing for jury and cash awards, along with invited screenings of documentaries, animations, and experimental works. At Synergia, your films spark dialogue, inspiration, and connection.

This festival is not just about showcasing talent; it's about building a creative community. Join us for an unforgettable celebration of cinema, creativity, and cultural exchange!

Here’s what you can expect at the festival:

- Competition Section: A showcase of outstanding short fiction films by student filmmakers, with jury and cash awards recognizing excellence.

- Non-Competition Section: Invited screenings of documentaries, animations, and experimental short films, complementing the festival’s focus on creativity.

- Engaged Cinephile Community: An audience that values cinema as a medium for art, expression, and connection.

- Thrissur’s Cultural Energy: Ensures that every film finds a receptive and inspired audience.

About Synergia Campus Youth Forum --
The Synergia Campus Youth Forum is a collective born from the creative energy of students and faculty who came together to seek innovative ways of self-expression and social engagement. Formed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to the isolation and challenges of locked-down life, the Forum has evolved into a vibrant community focused on using cinema and media to address pressing societal concerns.

The Forum’s journey began with Synergia '22, a two-day campus film festival that showcased student films, curated film packages, and cultural performances, laying the foundation for a tradition of celebrating young cinematic talent. Building on this success, the Forum has then initiated several impactful events including a two-day immersive residential film camp, and Campus-On-Reels Travelling Film Festival, which takes selected films from the festival to campuses across Kerala.

About Chetana Media Institute --
As one of the key patrons of the festival, Chetana Media Institute, Thrissur, stands apart as a premier center for media training and professional development. Established in 2002 under the aegis of CMI Devamatha Province, Chetana Media Institute has cultivated a reputation for delivering versatile and practical training in Digital Filmmaking, empowering students to Write, Shoot, and Edit cost-effective films for the digital age.

With a robust curriculum built on Instruction, Production, and Interaction, Chetana provides comprehensive, production-oriented media training designed to create industry-ready professionals. Over the years, it has trained 23 batches of diploma students and more than 100 batches of certificate course students, many of whom have found successful placements in the media industry in India and abroad.

Cash Prizes: 450$

- Best Campus Short Fiction
- Best Campus Documentary Film
- Second Best Campus Short Fiction
- Second Best Campus Documentary Film
- Third Best Campus Short Fiction
- Third Best Campus Documentary Film
- Best Director
- Best Screenwriter
- Best Cinematographer
- Best Sound Designer
- Best Editor

Winners will be recognized with cash awards, trophies, and certificates, selected by a jury of acclaimed filmmakers and industry professionals.

General Guidelines
The Chetana-Synergia Campus Film Festival is open exclusively to student filmmakers who are Indian citizens or currently residing in India, and have created short fiction and short documentaries.

- Films must be under 30 minutes in duration.
- Only films completed after January 1, 2023, are eligible for submission.
- The film must be completed while the filmmaker was enrolled as a student at a recognized film school or educational institution. To certify this, please provide one of the following:
- A scanned copy of your student ID card.
- A letter or certificate from the principal or head of the institution.
- A non-refundable submission fee of ₹500 or $6 (USD) is required for each entry.
- The festival will not accept Work-In-Progress (WIP) films. All submissions must be in their final edit with sound locked.
- The festival does not accept submissions of non-competition films.
- Films cannot be withdrawn from the festival once selected. Submission fees will not be refunded.
- Promotional materials submitted become the property of the festival and may be used for non-commercial purposes, including marketing and promotion.
- The festival reserves the right to refuse or accept any entry without explanation.

Submission Requirements

- Films must be submitted online in Full HD resolution (1920x1080) as a minimum. The maximum resolution accepted for entry submission is 2K (2048x1080).
- English subtitles are required and must be either hardcoded or included as external .srt files.
- Each entry must include:
- A completed submission form.
- A high-resolution digital photo of the director (minimum 600 x 600 pixels).
- A brief biography of the director.
- A synopsis of the film.
- Three stills from the film.
- Multiple entries are allowed, but each film must be submitted separately with its own entry form and required materials.
- Submissions must be in H.264 MP4 format for preview and must be free of physical or quality defects.
- If a film is selected, the festival will notify the filmmaker by January 30, 2025 and provide instructions for digital transfer of the final screening copy with required specifications for screening.
- The festival only screens films in digital formats; no physical copies are accepted.

Legal Implications

- Entrants must ensure their submissions are original and do not infringe on copyrights or other third-party rights.
- Entrants must secure permissions for all music, sound, and images used in their films.
- Films must not contain content that includes hate speech, incitement to violence, or any form of discrimination.
- The festival committee’s decisions are final, including jury decisions and any disputes that may arise.

Contact Information
For questions or concerns, please contact us at:
Phone: +91 70125 34176
Email: chetanamedia@gmail.com