Terms & Conditions

1.1 Eligibility

The National Reel & Short Film Festival 2026 ("Competition" / "Festival") is open to eligible individuals, students, creators, filmmakers, families, institutions, NGOs, community groups and other categories expressly notified by the Organiser.

Age, residency, category and other eligibility requirements shall be as specified on the official Competition website. Where a participant is a minor, participation shall require appropriate consent from a parent or lawful guardian.

1.2 Originality

Every submitted entry must be created or lawfully controlled by the participant/team submitting it. Participants must not knowingly submit:

• plagiarised content;
• stolen videos;
• unauthorized third-party footage;
• copyrighted music without appropriate permission;
• unauthorized photographs;
• misleadingly altered material;
• content submitted by another person;
• content previously submitted by another participant without appropriate rights.

1.3 One Entry / Multiple Entries

The Organiser may permit multiple entries, subject to the category-specific rules and applicable registration requirements. The Organiser reserves the right to limit, combine or modify categories where operationally necessary.

1.4 Compliance

Participation constitutes acceptance of: Competition Rules; Privacy Policy; Copyright Policy; Consent Policy; Submission Guidelines; Jury Framework; Refund/Cancellation Policy; and all other policies published by the Organiser.

1.5 Disqualification

The Organiser may disqualify an entry where it reasonably determines that the entry:

• violates the rules;
• infringes third-party rights;
• contains unlawful or prohibited content;
• contains fraudulent information;
• manipulates the evaluation process;
• uses fake engagement or automated manipulation;
• breaches consent requirements;
• violates copyright or privacy;
• or otherwise compromises the integrity of the Competition.

The Organiser may request supporting documents, declarations or evidence before or after selection.

1.6 Modification of Competition

The Organiser reserves the right, for legitimate operational, legal, technical or force-majeure reasons, to modify dates, categories, submission requirements, award structures or procedures. Where a material change occurs, reasonable notice will be provided through the official website or registered communication channels.

The Organiser respects the privacy of participants, creators, judges, volunteers and other persons whose personal information is processed in connection with the Competition.

Personal information may include, as applicable: name; age/date of birth; contact details; email address; mobile number; address/location; profile photograph; creator profile; submitted content; payment/transaction information; participation information; communications and correspondence.

2.1 Purpose of Collection

Information may be collected and processed for legitimate Competition purposes including: registration; participant verification; communication; submission management; judging; award administration; certificates; creator identification; fraud prevention; customer/participant support; legal compliance; Competition administration.

Additional consent may be sought where information is intended to be used for promotional or unrelated purposes.

2.2 Data Security

The Organiser will adopt reasonable technical and organisational safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information processed.

2.3 Consent

Where consent is required, it will be obtained in an appropriate and informed manner. Participants may have rights available under applicable data-protection law, including rights concerning consent withdrawal and personal-data handling.

2.4 Third-Party Service Providers

The Organiser may use trusted technology, payment, hosting, communication, analytics, storage and operational service providers where necessary for Competition administration. Such providers may process information only to the extent necessary for the relevant service and subject to applicable contractual/legal safeguards.

2.5 Retention

Personal information and Competition records may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary for Competition administration, legal obligations, dispute resolution, audit, archival and legitimate organisational purposes.

2.6 Data Protection Framework

The Organiser intends to operate its data practices in accordance with applicable Indian data-protection requirements, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and applicable Rules as and when their relevant provisions become operative. The Government has notified the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 with a phased commencement framework.

Any registration fee, if applicable, will be clearly displayed on the official Competition website before payment.

3.1 Registration

A registration becomes effective only after successful completion of the required registration process and, where applicable, successful payment confirmation.

3.2 Refunds

Unless expressly stated otherwise on the relevant registration page, Competition registration fees are generally non-refundable once registration has been successfully completed, because registration activates administrative, technology and participant-support processes.

However, the Organiser may consider a refund where:

• a duplicate payment has occurred;
• payment was successfully debited but registration was not created;
• the Competition is cancelled by the Organiser;
• or a refund is required by applicable law.

3.3 Cancellation by Participant

A participant may withdraw from the Competition by notifying the Organiser through the prescribed channel. Withdrawal does not automatically create a right to refund unless the applicable refund conditions are satisfied.

3.4 Cancellation / Postponement by Organiser

If the Competition is postponed, modified or cancelled because of circumstances beyond reasonable control—including technical failure, government restrictions, natural disaster, force majeure or other substantial circumstances—the Organiser may reschedule or restructure the Competition. Any refund decision will be made according to the circumstances and applicable law.

3.5 Payment Disputes

Participants should retain payment confirmation and transaction details. Payment-related disputes should be reported within the period specified by the Organiser.

All entries must be submitted through the official digital submission mechanism specified by the Organiser on the website.

4.1 Participant Responsibility

The participant is responsible for:

• correct uploading;
• file quality;
• correct category selection;
• accurate participant information;
• meeting technical specifications;
• maintaining a copy of the original file.

4.2 Accepted Formats

The Organiser may specify permissible file formats, resolution, aspect ratio, duration, file size, subtitle format, and language requirements. Participants must comply with the technical specifications published for the relevant category.

4.3 Successful Submission

A submission will be considered received only after the platform generates an appropriate confirmation or the Organiser otherwise confirms receipt. Uploading a file does not automatically mean that the entry is eligible.

4.4 Technical Failure

The Organiser will make reasonable efforts to maintain submission infrastructure but cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability of the website, internet, hosting systems, third-party platforms or communication networks. Participants should avoid last-minute submissions.

4.5 Digital Certificates

Where certificates are issued digitally, they may be delivered through email, participant dashboard or another designated digital mechanism. The Organiser may retain records of issued certificates for verification purposes.

The Organiser respects the intellectual-property rights of creators. Unless expressly agreed otherwise in a separate written instrument, submission of an entry does not by itself constitute an assignment of copyright ownership to the Organiser.

The participant represents and warrants that:

1. the submitted work is original or lawfully used;
2. the participant owns or controls the rights necessary to submit the work;
3. required permissions have been obtained;
4. the submission does not knowingly infringe copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or other rights of any third party;
5. all required music, footage, photographs, artwork and other third-party materials have appropriate permissions or lawful basis for use.

The Copyright Act, 1957 provides specific requirements for assignments of copyright, including written identification of the work and specification of rights, duration and territorial extent. Accordingly, any separate assignment or exclusive licence intended to transfer ownership or exclusive rights must be documented separately in the legally appropriate form.

Creator Ownership

Subject to the limited licence granted to the Organiser under the Competition policies, creators retain their applicable intellectual-property rights.

Organiser Rights

The Organiser receives only the rights expressly granted through the Competition policies and participant consent.

By submitting an eligible entry, the participant grants the Organiser a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use the submitted content, or excerpts from it, for purposes reasonably connected with:

• Competition administration;
• judging; screening;
• Festival promotion;
• winner announcements;
• award ceremonies;
• website display;
• social-media promotion;
• publicity of allied organiser activities;
• educational or awareness communication relating to the festival.

This licence is intended to be non-exclusive, meaning that the creator remains free to use, publish, license, monetize or otherwise exploit the work, subject to third-party rights and any separate contractual obligations.

No Automatic Transfer of Ownership

Submission does not automatically transfer copyright ownership to the Organiser.

Promotional Editing

The Organiser may reasonably edit excerpts for duration, format, subtitles, technical compatibility or promotional presentation, provided that such use is consistent with the purpose of the Competition. The Organiser will not knowingly represent an edited promotional excerpt as the creator's complete original work.

Commercial Exploitation

Any separate commercial exploitation, assignment or exclusive licensing of a participant's work beyond the Competition-related purposes should be subject to a separate agreement with the rights holder.

Participants are responsible for obtaining appropriate consent from identifiable individuals appearing prominently in their submitted content where such consent is legally or ethically required.

This is particularly important for:

• interviews;
• personal stories;
• family histories;
• children/minors;
• vulnerable persons;
• medical or sensitive experiences;
• private locations;
• confidential information.

7.1 Interview Consent

Where a participant records an interview, the participant should obtain appropriate permission from the interviewee for recording and intended publication.

7.2 Minor Participants

Where a person is a minor, the participant must obtain appropriate consent from a parent or lawful guardian before recording and submitting the material.

7.3 Sensitive Stories

Participants should avoid publishing private or sensitive information without appropriate permission.

7.4 Historical Material

Where old photographs, letters, documents or archival recordings are used, the participant is responsible for ensuring that appropriate rights or permissions exist.

7.5 Organiser Protection

The Organiser may request evidence of consent where a legitimate complaint or rights concern arises. The Organiser may temporarily restrict, remove or disqualify content where necessary to protect an individual's privacy, dignity or legal rights.

The Competition is intended to evaluate storytelling quality and meaningful creative contribution, not merely social-media popularity. Entries may be assessed against criteria such as: originality; storytelling; authenticity; emotional impact; social value; cultural value; legacy value; creativity; technical execution; overall impact.

8.1 Multi-Level Evaluation

Eligibility Screening → Preliminary Evaluation → Shortlisting → Expert Jury → Final Selection

8.2 Jury Composition

Jury members may be selected from relevant fields including: filmmaking; media; literature; arts; culture; education; social work; journalism; digital media; heritage preservation.

8.3 Conflict of Interest

A jury member should disclose a material conflict of interest and may be excluded from evaluating a relevant entry.

8.4 No Guaranteed Award

Registration or submission does not guarantee selection, publication, award, prize or commercial opportunity.

8.5 Jury Decision

Subject to the published rules and applicable law, the decision of the designated final jury shall be final for the Competition.

8.6 Safeguards

The Organiser may take reasonable steps against: fake engagement; vote manipulation; plagiarism; impersonation; fraudulent entries; bribery or attempted influence; automated manipulation; harassment of judges; misuse of participant information.

The Competition recognizes that creators increasingly use artificial intelligence, editing software and digital tools. AI-assisted creation is permitted subject to the category-specific rules.

However, participants must not use technology to:

• falsely impersonate a real person;
• fabricate a person's statement without disclosure where disclosure is required;
• create deceptive evidence;
• misrepresent historical events;
• infringe third-party intellectual property;
• create unauthorized voice or likeness reproductions;
• manipulate competition results.

Where AI-generated or substantially AI-assisted content is specifically required to be disclosed, the participant must provide the requested disclosure.

9.1 Copyright Infringement

If a submitted work is alleged to infringe third-party rights, the Organiser may investigate the complaint and may suspend, restrict or remove the entry pending resolution.

9.2 Participant Responsibility

Participants remain responsible for ensuring that their submissions comply with applicable law and third-party rights.

9.3 Indemnity

To the extent permitted by applicable law, a participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Organiser, its trustees, officers, employees, volunteers, technology partners and authorised representatives from third-party claims, losses, liabilities, costs or reasonable legal expenses arising directly from:

• the participant's unlawful conduct;
• infringement of third-party intellectual-property rights;
• lack of required consent;
• unauthorized use of personal information;
• unauthorized use of music, images, footage or other protected material;
• or material breach of the participant's representations under these policies.

This indemnity does not apply to the extent that the relevant loss arises from the Organiser's own wilful misconduct, gross negligence or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

These policies are intended to establish a transparent framework for participation in the National Reel & Short Film Festival 2026.

Nothing in these policies is intended to unlawfully exclude any right or remedy available to a participant under applicable law.

The Organiser may update these policies from time to time to reflect changes in the Competition, technology, applicable law or regulatory requirements. The latest version published on the official Competition website will govern future participation, subject to applicable law and any accrued rights.

Where any provision is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue to operate to the extent permitted by law.

The Competition shall be governed by the laws of India. Any specific jurisdiction clause, dispute-resolution mechanism and venue should be finalised by the Organiser's legal counsel based on the Foundation's registered office and applicable law.