Competition Rules

These Competition Rules apply to all participants in the National Reels & Short Film Competition 2026. Please read these rules carefully before registering. Participation constitutes acceptance of all rules.

A. Entry Rules

1. Each registered participant may submit one (1) entry per registration.
2. Entries must be original works created by the registered participant(s). AI-generated films without substantial human creative input are not eligible.
3. Entries must address one of the five approved theme groups: Family, Memory, Legacy, Life Story, or Future.
4. Entries previously submitted to another competition or previously broadcast/published in a public competition context are not eligible.
5. All entries must be in one of the accepted languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, or Odia.

B. Format Rules

1. Short Reel: Maximum 90 seconds. Vertical (9:16) or square (1:1) format preferred. Suitable for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts.
2. Short Film: Minimum 90 seconds, maximum 10 minutes. Standard cinematic formats accepted (16:9, 4:3, 2.35:1).
3. Documentary Segment: Minimum 10 minutes, maximum 20 minutes. Must maintain documentary authenticity. Dramatisation should be minimal and clearly disclosed.
4. Minimum resolution: 720p HD. 4K preferred where available.
5. Audio must be clear and comprehensible. Subtitles in English are recommended for non-English entries.

C. Content Rules

1. Content must be suitable for general audiences of all ages.
2. If your entry depicts historical injustice, trauma, or difficult experiences, it should be handled with sensitivity and respect.
3. Entries must not contain political propaganda or content that could be reasonably interpreted as targeting specific political parties, candidates, or ideologies.
4. Entries depicting religious practices must do so respectfully and authentically.

D. Rights and Consent Rules

1. All people who appear in your entry must have given their informed consent to be filmed and included in a competition submission.
2. Written consent is strongly recommended. Where written consent is not possible, documented verbal consent (recorded) is acceptable.
3. If your entry features footage of locations or archives not owned by you, you must hold the appropriate licence or permission to use such material.
4. Music used must be original, licensed, or royalty-free. The Organiser recommends sources such as YouTube Audio Library, Free Music Archive, or Artlist.

E. Submission Rules

1. All submissions must be made through the official Creator Dashboard before the published submission deadline.
2. Late submissions will not be considered.
3. Submissions must include: title, description (max 150 words), theme, sub-theme, language, video URL or file, credits, and completed consent declarations.
4. Video links must remain active and accessible (public or "anyone with link") throughout the entire judging period.
5. Once finalised, submissions cannot be edited. The Admin may reopen a submission in exceptional circumstances at their sole discretion.

F. Judging Rules

1. All eligible entries will be reviewed by the National Family Story Jury.
2. Entries will be assessed on: storytelling quality, emotional impact, visual and audio quality, authenticity, and relevance to the chosen theme.
3. Jury decisions are final and binding. No appeal or review is available.
4. The Organiser reserves the right to add, remove, or modify jury members at any time without notice.
5. The exact scoring rubric and jury member scores will not be disclosed publicly.

G. Disqualification

An entry may be disqualified without refund for any of the following:

• Providing false information during registration
• Submitting content that violates these rules
• Attempting to influence or manipulate the judging process
• Harassment or abusive behaviour toward competition staff, jury members, or other participants
• Submitting a video link that becomes inaccessible during the judging period

H. Communication

1. All official competition communications will be sent to your registered email and, where opted in, your WhatsApp number.
2. It is your responsibility to ensure your contact details are correct and your inbox is accessible.
3. The Organiser is not responsible for communications missed due to incorrect contact details, spam filters, or network issues.