1. Eligibility
- Open to filmmakers of all nationalities and backgrounds.
- Films must align with the festival’s theme: “Celebration of Life in 120 Secs.”
2. Film Specifications
- Maximum duration: 120 seconds (including titles & credits).
- Must be an experimental film—open to unique storytelling, abstract visuals, and creative editing.
- All genres and formats (live-action, animation, stop-motion, etc.) are accepted.
- Films must be in HD (1920x1080) or higher resolution for better perception
- Films/ Work to be submitted as open screen online link (preferably youtube link)
- Non-English films must include English subtitles - if required
3. Originality & Rights
- Submissions must be original work by the entrant (Only Human Input)
- The filmmaker must own all rights to the content, including music, images, and third-party materials.
- No AI-generated films
- Films that have been publicly released or screened at other festivals are also eligible
4. Submission Guidelines
- Submissions must be made via the official festival platform
- Submissions are open
- Submission deadline: 30 May 2025 (Registration Window is closed)
- No Entry fees for submission
5. Selection & Judging
- Films will be evaluated based on creativity, storytelling, originality, and adherence to the theme.
- The selection committee’s decision is final.
- Selected films will be notified via email and showcased on the festival page - on or before 10th June 2025
6. Jury Recognitions
- Best Experimental Short Film – Grand prize for the most outstanding experimental film.
- Best Director – Recognizing innovative and visionary direction.
- Best Cinematic Impact – Awarded to the film with the strongest visual and emotional impact.
- Best Editing – For creative and masterful editing techniques.
- Best Sound Design – Celebrating exceptional use of sound and audio experimentation.
- Best Cinematography – Honoring outstanding visual composition and camera work.
- Best Use of Concept – Awarded to the film that best embodies the festival’s theme.
- Jury Prize for Innovation – Given to the most groundbreaking or unconventional film.
- Best Mixed-Media Film – Recognizing excellence in blending different visual styles.
- Most Thought-Provoking Film – Awarded for films that challenge perspectives.
- Best Abstract Narrative – For a film that tells a compelling story in a non-traditional way.
- Best Experimental Animation – Honoring artistic and technical innovation in animation.
- Best Minimalist Film – Celebrating creativity within extreme simplicity.
- Best Social Commentary Film – For films addressing social, political, or cultural theme
- Special Mention - Jury's perogative to recognize a special body of work
Winning and selected films will be featured on the festival’s website, social media, and relevant partner platforms. Jury recognitions will be provided with an e-certificate.
7. General Conditions
- By submitting, filmmakers grant Cinimontaz Film Festival Organizers the right to screen their films during the festival and for promotional purposes.
- The festival holds the right to disqualify entries that contain hate speech, Inappropriate content/explicit violence, or any content deemed inappropriate by the Festival Organizers.
- The festival is not responsible for technical issues, submission errors, or lost files.
- The films will be reviewed and only those that meet the quality criteria will be judged and only those films will be considered for awards/recognitions.
Date for Online Film Festival will be updated on the website.
For updates and further details, visit www.cinimontaz.in
For any clarification please email us at - cinimontaz@gmail.com