Siliguri International Short Film Festival (7)

Festival start: 21 December 2025      Festival end: 21 December 2025

Film Making is an art and it needs more patience and determination to recreate your ideas to a motion picture. Films Festivals although are typically annual events, they acknowledge various genre of films, mostly from across the globe and encourage people engaged in cinema. They also provide an opportunity for unknown filmmakers to get their movies in front of a real live audience and to have their films reviewed by professional critics. Filmmakers whose movies get accepted into a festival also get valuable press attention and exposure to prospective agents and buyers, not to mention a sometimes sizeable cash award if they win.

From time immemorial, films have played a very important part in bringing people of varying backgrounds together and entertaining them. But, most of the times, the hard work behind making these fields go unnoticed and therefore film festivals started all over the world.

Venice Film Festival is the oldest one in the world, there are two other prestigious Film Festivals of Cannes and Berlin. Although the main crux came from international countries, India also has its very own set of Film Festivals in accordance to different states. Stating a few would be, Bangalore Film Festival 1996, Kolkata Film Festival 1995, Mumbai Film Festival 1990 and many more.

Siliguri is situated at the base of the Himalayan Mountains in the plains of Darjeeling District beside river Mahananda. It is the 2nd largest city in West Bengal and is also known as the Gateway to the North-East. The strategic location of the place makes sure that travelers to North-East India have to pass through this city.

Siliguri is not a very old city, but it ranks in the 19th number amongst 35 places to visit in West Bengal. Being a cosmopolitan city, it shelters a wide number of people with varying cultures and languages, along with a few tribal populations. Although the common language spoken in Siliguri is Bengali; Hindi, English, Nepali, Marwari, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Assamese, Rajbangshi, Tibetian and many more varieties of linguistic people reside together.

Not only these, but the entire region of Siliguri is also famous for 3 T‘s namely: Tea, Timber, and Tourism. There are 45 tea gardens to spread over the blocks of the sub-division. Two important adjacent areas – Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Baikunthapur contribute a lot to the microclimate of the region. It also has the best communication network along with the nearest railway station being NJP (New Jalpaiguri). Bagdogra Airport is the only airport in the distance of 12km which caters to the needs of Sikkim.

Talking about films, the quintessential Barfi, directed by Anurag Basu, starring Priyanka Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor, Ileana D’Cruz, Ashish Vidyarthi, Saurabh Shukla, Jishu Sengupta, Rupa Ganguly had been shot in Darjeeling, also known as The Queen of Hills which also falls under the North-East region. There are also plenty of regional films that are shot in or nearby this place, thus making it a hub for every type of genre!

PRODUCTION AWARDS

Best Short Film (Open to all) 1st,2nd, 3rd (Cash Prizes Rs.8000/ IC, Rs. 5000/ IC, Rs. 3000/IC) and Trophy and Certificate.

Best Education Documentary/Short Film (Participate only Educational Institution) 1st,2nd, 3rd (Cash Prizes Rs.5000/ IC, Rs. 3000/ IC, Rs.2000/ IC) and Trophy and Certificate.

Best Musical Album (Open to all) 1st,2nd, 3rd (Cash Prizes Rs. 3000/IC, Rs.2000/ IC, Rs. 1000/IC)and Trophy and Certificate.

IN ALL CATEGORY (CREATIVE AWARDS)

Best Direction (Cash Prizes Rs.3000/ IC and Trophy, Certificate.)

Best Editing (Cash Prizes Rs.3000/ IC and Trophy, Certificate.)

Best Cinematography (Cash Prizes Rs.3000/ IC and Trophy, Certificate.)

Best Music (Cash PrizesRs.3000/ IC and Trophy, Certificate.)

IN ALL CATEGORY (PERFORMANCE AWARDS)

Best Actor (Cash Prizes aRs.3000/ IC and Trophy, Certificate.)

Best Actress (Cash Prizes Rs.3000/ IC and Trophy, Certificate.)

Best Supporting Actor/Actress (Cash PrizesRs.3000/ IC and Trophy, Certificate.)

CATEGORY

Short Film
Educational Documentary / Short Film
Musical Album
Individual
spiritual

INDIVIDUAL

Best Direction
Best Story
Best Editing
Best DOP
Best BGM
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Screenplay
Best Concept

1. Certificate of a nominated film will be given to all nominees. The winner will be honored with certificate and trophy and cash prizes.

2. The film must be subtitled in English if the language is other than English.

Entry submission as per rule and regulation.

3. The decision of the jury will be final and can’t be challenged.

4. Once the film submitted can’t be withdrawn in any circumstances, however festival director reserve to right to disqualify any film on certain grounds.

5. By submitting the movie to Siliguri International Short Film Festival, Filmmaker /Producer takes the whole responsibility of copyright issue of music, script and other creative and technical aspects of the film.

6. 1st Siliguri International Short Film Festival-19 does not take any type financial commitment for the expense incurred on the correspondence by the participant. All travel, lodging and boarding, and other miscellaneous expenses will have to be borne by the participant himself for attending the festival. No request for the same will be entertained.

7. Delegate registration to attend SISSF. All nominated filmmakers must have registered as a delegate to attend the festival. Hospitality charges are applicable for filmmakers and attendees, which include lunch, tea /coffee with cookies. On spot delegates’ registration are not allowed.

8. The short film must have been completed after 1st January 2012.

Applications can send the Film in DVD or in Pen Drive (Video Format .MP4 or .MOV).

9. Entries MUST be PAL format only .NTSC is NOT accepted. The DVDs or Pen Drive file must be in .MP4 or .MOV format. The Festival Management will not be responsible if the film is not screened due to problems with the DVD or with the Pen Drive.
Total running time must be less than 40 minutes in length, including front and back credits. There is no minimum running time limitation.

10. The short film can be in any language or any genre. All non-English films must have English sub-titles for festival presentation.

11. Censor Certificate is not mandatory for the film screening.

12. Two DVD’s OR one PEN-DRIVE need to be submitted along with the entry. Each preview DVD should be labeled with the Title, Running – time, Contact Email and phone number. If the applicant is sending film in a PEN DRIVE separate paper needs to send with Entry Form mentioning the Title, Running – time, Contact E-mail and Phone number of the application and Producer/Director of the film.

13. Multiple entries can be submitted, but with separate entry forms, preview DVD (OR PEN DRIVE), synopsis/ description, should be enclosed. Each film is considered a new entry.

14. SISFF organization has the right to use the entries/send/selected/nominated films, DVD and materials from the film for festival promotional purposes and to retain DVD copies of each film as part of our festival library.

15. The publicity material (Broacher, Stills, Poster, etc.) and a synopsis of the short film to be enclosed with the entry. Entry materials submitted shall not be returned to the entrant. The Festival will not be responsible or borne to pay if the Courier stuck with the department.

16. Transportation and insurance costs of DVDs, related documents, photographs and publicity materials from the country of origin to the Festival Office shall be borne by the applicant.

17. The festival will not pay any customs duty or registrations to the Customs department at the Indian aviation authority; if the parcel is returned to the applicant because of that the festival organization will not be held liable for any such circumstances.

18. The film should be submitted before the deadline. SISFF is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, postage-due, stolen, or misappropriated entries.

Entry Forms with incorrect/inadequate/ambiguous/incomplete particulars will not be considered. The festival committee reserves the right to accept or refuse any film without assigning any reason whatsoever.

19. DVDs or PEN DRIVE submitted for selection will be considered as final and no changes will be entertained after submission. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to submit DVDs or PEN DRIVE without any physical/quality defects.
20. The competition is open for professionals as well as the student.

21. For further assistance please mail to the festival coordinator.

22.At least 10 submissions must in each category, otherwise, no competition will be held on that category and no cash rewards will be given.

SELECTION

1. The winner is selected by a judging panel of industry professionals consisting of independent producers, production companies, filmmakers, and other film industry professionals who may be substituted at the discretion of the Festival organizers.

2. All films are judged equally based on

2.1. Content Originality (Quality of storyline, script, and acting)

2.2. Production (Camera work, lighting, and shot composition)

2.3. Post-Production (Editing, transitions, pacing, continuity, and flow)
Images (Focus, color, and lighting)

2.4. Sound Quality (Clarity, consistency of audio levels, and lack of noise)

3. No work or artist will be either discriminated against or favored by their country of origin, language, age, race, education, gender, ideology, or by their economic resources. Every content, every form, every technique will be admitted with no censorship of any kind.

4. No work or artist will be either discriminated against or favored by their country of origin, language, age, race, education, gender, ideology, or by their economic resources. Every content, every form, every form, every technique will be admitted with no censorship of any kind.

5. The decision of the selection committee is final and no correspondence will be entered into Finalists will be notified by mail and/or email.

The SISFF will use its best efforts to announce the selected films, winners at the designated time, but will not be held liable for any unforeseen delays.

6. By entering the SISFF, contestants and/ or their parents or legal guardian (if such entrant is a minor) agree to accept and be bound by the decisions of the Festival and its judges which are final and binding in all matters.

7. Selections of films for SISFF will be done by a committee whose decision will be final. However, Festival Authorities reserve the right to accept or reject any film that is likely to offend sentiments, feelings, or sensibilities of any caste, community, religion, and the sector is likely to promote racism or ill will in the society.

8. The Festival Authorities will have the right to screen in different cities of India on a commercial basis. For promotional/ publicity purposes, excerpts from any film entered in the festival may be shown on any Television network/Internet or related media during the festival period or further.

9. Entrant agrees to be bound by all terms of these official Festival rules and regulations as established herein. Siliguri International Short Film Festival reserves the right to extend the Festival deadline for any unforeseen reason if needed. Entry constitutes permission to use the winner’s name, likeness, and voice for future advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

1. Short films that are submitted must be the entrants’ original work and shall not infringe on any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties.

2. Contestants agree that they have obtained all required permission regarding music, sound, and/ or images presented in your short film. By entering the Festivals, the entrant agrees that the SISFF will not be held liable for any copyright infringements perpetrated by you or your short film.

3. The SISFF reserves the right to not screen any film(s) for any reason it deems valid.
The entrants may also run the risk of being prosecuted as per the Indian Criminal Procedure Code and the Indian Media Law for any offense or infringements. Racial, religious, and regional discrimination shall not be portrayed in any part of the film being submitted.

4. Affidavits of winners less than 18 years of age at the time of award must be countersigned by the parent or legal guardian. Affidavits are subject to verification by the SISFF. All the legal issues, if any, shall be under the jurisdiction of Siliguri Juridical only.

5. Siliguri International Short Film Festival organizing, selection committee members, juries are not allowed to participate in the respective festival as a contestant.

Entrants will retain all ownership rights to their films submitted.

6. Any filmmaker, institution, or organization is strictly not allowed to use the name SISFF and festival logo and Official selection laurel for any commercial, non-commercial, cultural, or personal use without the permission of the organizing committee. If any person or organization will find to do strict legal action will be taken against the person and/ or concern institution, all the legal issues shall be under the jurisdiction of Siliguri Juridical only.