RULES & REGULATIONS

COMPETITION THEME: Rang-e-Cinema: Frames of a New Jammu & Kashmir

REGISTRATION & SUBMISSION: 6-31st August 2026

IFFJK 2026 EVENT DATES: 7-10 September 2026

EVENT LOCATIONS: Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg, J&K

Organised under the aegis of the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Jammu & Kashmir

The IFFJK Emerging Filmmakers Competition 2026 is a time-bound short-film challenge created to identify and recognise emerging filmmaking talent domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir. Eligible participants must independently conceptualise, produce and submit one original film within the prescribed window.

Official Theme
Rang-e-Cinema: Frames of a New Jammu & Kashmir

Participants are invited to create an original short film that reflects Jammu & Kashmir as a destination for contemporary cinema, storytelling and creative expression. The film may explore the region's people, culture, landscapes, heritage, traditions, aspirations, creative industries or emerging cinematic ecosystem.

The narrative should communicate the spirit of a renewed cinematic era in Jammu & Kashmir while naturally incorporating the vision of IFFJK 2026 as a celebration of cinema in the Union Territory.

1. The applicant must be an Indian citizen.

2. The applicant must be between 18 and 39 years of age as on 1 September 2026.

3. Participation is exclusively reserved for applicants domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir.

4. Domicile verification shall be completed during registration.

5. The applicant must submit only original work.

6. Each participant shall produce and submit one original short film based on the competition theme.

7. Joint submissions are not permitted unless the participants are officially credited as Co-Directors or Co-Writers.

8. The applicant must comply with all technical specifications and submission requirements prescribed by the festival.

1.   The film and all submitted material must be original.

2.   The submitted work must not infringe any copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right.

3.   Any dispute arising from an intellectual-property violation shall remain the sole responsibility of the participant.

4.   Participants must independently manage scripting, production, shooting, editing and post-production using their own resources.

5.   The competition does not provide workshops, mentorship, production grants or equipment support from DIPR or the Festival Organising Committee.

Important

Technical compliance does not replace originality or rights clearance. Every visual, music track, performance and other creative element used in the film must be properly owned or authorised by the participant.

1.   Register through the official IFFJK website.

2.   After successful registration, use the confirmation email containing the unique submission link.

3.   Prepare one Google Drive folder containing the three required folders listed below.

4.   Submit the Google Drive folder link through the official submission form before the deadline.

•     The submitted Drive folder must contain all three required folders.

•     Only complete submissions received before the prescribed deadline shall be considered for evaluation.

•     Incomplete or late submissions shall not be evaluated.

Submission Deadline

Registration and submission close on 26th August 2026. Participants should complete the upload and submit the Drive-folder link through the official form before the deadline.

1.   All eligible entries shall undergo technical scrutiny for compliance with the competition guidelines and submission requirements.

2.   Entries satisfying the eligibility and technical criteria shall be evaluated by the appointed Jury.

3.   The Top 5 entries shall be shortlisted following the initial evaluation.

4.   The shortlisted filmmakers shall participate in a brief interaction with the Jury regarding their creative approach, production process and filmmaking experience.

5.   Following the interaction, the Jury shall finalise the winning entry.

6.   The decision of the Jury shall be final and binding.

Evaluation Total

The assessment framework carries a total weightage of 100%.

IFFJK 2026

Festival dates: 7-10 September 2026 | Event locations: Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg, J&K

Winner

•     Invitation to attend IFFJK 2026.

•     Felicitation during the Festival Closing Ceremony.

•     Certificate of Appreciation.

•     Official showcase of the winning film during the festival.

•     Feature across the official digital platforms of IFFJK and DIPR.

•     Opportunity for collaborative promotion through the official social media handles of IFFJK and DIPR.

Top 5 Finalists

•     Official recognition as a Top 5 Finalist of the IFFJK Emerging Filmmakers Competition 2026.

•     Digital Certificate of Participation issued through email.

1.   The IFFJK Emerging Filmmakers Competition remains an intellectual property of IFFJK and DIPR, Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

2.   Participants retain authorship of their submitted films.

3.   By participating, participants grant IFFJK and DIPR a perpetual, non-exclusive and royalty-free licence to screen, exhibit, archive, publish and utilise the submitted films, with due credit to the filmmaker, for festival promotion, educational initiatives, cultural programmes, publicity and other non-commercial promotional purposes.

4.   Participants remain solely responsible for ensuring that all submitted material is original and free from copyright infringement.

Before submitting, confirm that every requirement below has been completed.

•     I am an Indian citizen, aged 18-39 as on 1 September 2026, and hold a Jammu & Kashmir domicile.

•     I have created one original short film specifically for the competition.

•     The film is no longer up to 20 minutes, including credits.

•     The film is Full HD 1920 x 1080, 16:9 landscape and MP4 H.264.

•     English subtitles are included if the film is in a regional language.

•     All creative material is original, owned or properly authorised.

•     The Portfolio is a PDF not exceeding 10 MB.

•     Making Bytes contains no more than 5 photographs and 5 videos, with a combined size not exceeding 500 MB.

•     The Final Film is included in Folder 3 and complies with the technical requirements.

•     The Google Drive folder is complete and the link is ready for submission through the official form.

•     The complete submission will be made by 31st August 2026.

Final Conditions
Only complete, eligible and technically compliant submissions received within the prescribed timeline shall proceed to Jury evaluation. The Jury's decision shall be final and binding.

Note: The final submission link will be provided via email 7 days before the competition end date. Participants are required to submit their final film through the provided link.