RULES
1. Indoor Shooting Only
The shoot must be done entirely indoors (can include balconies or terraces that are already part of your current accommodation). Public spaces like lifts, courtyards and shared terraces are not allowed.
2. Crew Members
The film should be made with roommates/family members who are already living with you. The maximum crew members cannot be more than 5 (including the cast), unless collaborating virtually/remotely. Solo films shot on tripod are appreciated.
3. Safety First
The film should be shot and made with adherence to the Indian government health advisories and national, state and local lockdown directives.
4. Theme of Your Choice
The theme can be anything of your choice. It does not necessarily have to be about the lockdown or quarantine.
5. Duration of the Film
The film should be under 60 minutes. There is no lower limit.
6. Other awards
All submissions are eligible for other awards on SHORTED - Short Film of the Day, Short Film of the Month, and Short Film of the Year.
6. Resubmission of a Film Already on SHORTED
If your movie has already been featured on SHORTED, it can be resubmitted for the challenge. Please use the review link of your film on our platform for the submission. All resubmissions will receive a cashback of 50% on their submission fee.
EVALUATION
1. Submit Your Short Film
Fill the form above to submit your film. You can submit Youtube, Vimeo or Google Drive links. The last date for the submission for the Challenge is May 15, 2020. Regular submissions outside the eligibility criteria of this award can be made throughout the year.
2. Review
All short films that are selected get reviewed internally by our team. It usually takes 8-10 days for the completion of the reviewing process.The film is evaluated on aspects like story, screenplay, production and performances. If your film is not shortlisted and reviewed, your entire fee will be refunded. Please note that failure to meet the Lockdown Film Challenge criteria would mean that it will automatically be considered for the 'Short Film of the Day' award. If the film is featured in either of the two categories, refund will not be applicable.
3. Voting
All shortlisted films with public links are placed in a queue to be voted on by users.The filmmaker will be notified when the voting begins. For private links, the short films will be reviewed only internally by the SHORTED team and is not open to voting. Please be assured that the private/public nature of your links does not affect your chances of winning the award.
4. Winner
Based on the combined score of our team's rating and user votes (in case of public links) or only the rating (in case of private links), the highest-scoring film will be chosen as the winner and win the cash prize.
OTHER AWARDS
5. Short Film of the Day
All the nominees with public links are placed on a queue to appear as 'Short Film of the Day'. SOTD is awarded based on the ratings given by the team. Your film competes with other films added around the same time. It usually takes 12-15 days for a nominee to show/or not show up as 'Short Film of the Day'.
6. Short Film of the Month
Based on the combined score of our team's rating and user votes (in case of public links) or only the rating (in case of private links), the highest-scoring film will be awarded 'Short Film of the Month'(SOTM). All submissions made between the first and the last day of the month are eligible for the award for that respective cycle.
The result will be announced by the 20th of the following month. Please note that all SOTM entries are also eligible for 'Short Film of the Year'.
7. Short Film of the Year
The submissions for 'Short Film of the Year, India 2020'(SOTY) have now closed. All submissions made starting April, 2020 will be considered for 'Short Film of the Year, India 2021'. The SOTY winner will be chosen by a combined score of our team's rating and voting which will be opened to users in April 2021.
8. User Profiles
Users will also have the opportunity to create their personal SHORTED profile that will be linked to all their submissions on SHORTED as well as showcase more information about their work.
Winner 2020
Kartavya
drama
FAQs
How do you showcase short films?
We review the films and embed the Youtube/Vimeo link along with it. We also add detailed information of the cast and the crew. For films traveling in the festival circuit, we add the festival information.
Can I submit older films?
All films which follow the rules mentioned above are eligible for the challenge.
Can I submit films shot on mobile?
Yes, you can.
Is my film submitted for Lockdown Film Challenge eligible for Short Film of the Month?
All submissions are eligible for other awards on SHORTED - Short Film of the Day, Short Film of the Month, and Short Film of the Year.
What is the last date of submission?
The last date of submission for Lockdown Film Challenge is May 15, 2020.
How long does the review generally take?
The review takes approximately 8-10 days to go live on the website.
If I submit, am I guaranteed a feature?
Unfortunately, no. We showcase the best short films with our viewers which is why not all films get featured. They are judged for screenplay, direction, production and performances. You will get a full refund if you are not featured. Please note that failure to meet the lockdown criteria would mean that the film will automatically be considered for the 'Short Film of the Day' award. If it is featured in either of the two categories, refund will not be applicable
I am submitting my film to other festivals. Can I still submit to SHORTED?
Yes, you can. If you wish to keep your short film private, you can share a private link with us. For Vimeo links with a password, please add the password next to the link in the form. We also accept Google Drive links. Private links are only for internal reviewing purposes and won't be shared anywhere publicly.
Do you accept Private Links?
Yes, you can share a private link with us. For Vimeo links with a password, please add the password next to the link in the form. We also accept Google Drive links. Private links are only for internal reviewing purposes and won't be shared anywhere publicly. They will not be playable on the website.
My film is in Tamil/Telugu/Punjabi/Bengali. Can I still submit it?
Yes, we take pride in showcasing regional films. The short film should have English subtitles.
How long will my short film be on SHORTED?
If selected, your short film will never be removed from the website. However the filmmaker can notify us if they wish to remove their short film.
Will I mantain the ownership of my film?
SHORTED only reviews and showcases your content. We have zero ownership of the short films you submit. It remains a property of the creator.
Will I be notfied if my film does not get nominated?
Yes, you will be notified if your film does not get nominated along with the refund details. However after nomination, only filmmakers who progress to next rounds (Short Film of the Day, Lockdown Film Challenge etc.) will be notified.
What happens if my film is disqualified from the Lockdown Film Challenge?
If disqualified for not meeting the rules of the Challenge, the film will automatically be considered for the 'Short Film of the Day' award. If it is featured in either of the two categories, refund will not be applicable.
My film has been a nominee for more than 15 days. I have not heard anything from SHORTED.
Unfortunately, your film did not qualify for further rounds.
My film is not playable on SHORTED, but I can see the review. What should I do?
This is because you submitted a private link. Please share a public Youtube/Vimeo link with us to make it playable. Youtube unlisted links also work.
