Chalchitra: An International Smartphone Film Festival 2025

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About

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Awards and Prizes

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Orgainizing Committee

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Eligibility

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Registration

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Previous Award Winners

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About

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Launched in 2022, the Chalchitra Film Festival has emerged as a leading platform for smartphone filmmaking in India and globally. Chalchitra is South Asia's only competitive mobile film festival, organized annually by the School of Liberal Studies and Media at UPES, Dehradun. The festival champions the democratization of creative expression, empowering filmmakers to craft compelling fiction and nonfiction narratives using smartphones. It provides a dynamic space for emerging and established storytellers to push creative boundaries. Through workshops, screenings, and discussions, Chalchitra fosters a vibrant community of digital-first filmmakers.

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Objective

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Chalchitra aims to:
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<li>Provide a global platform for mobile filmmakers to showcase their talent and creativility.</li>
<li>Foster appreciation for diverse film cultures and socially relevant narratives.</li>
<li>Highlight the potential of mobile filmmaking in addressing sustainability challenges.</li>
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This year’s theme—Exploring Society, Politics, Psychology, and Cinema for Sustainable Futures—reinforces the festival’s commitment to leveraging storytelling as a catalyst for meaningful change.

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Awards and Prizes

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<li>Best International Film (under 15 minutes): ₹40,000 + Trophy + Certificate</li>
<li>Best in India (Documentary, under 15 minutes): ₹15,000 + Trophy + Certificate</li>
<li>Best in India (Fiction, under 15 minutes): ₹15,000 + Trophy + Certificate</li>
<li>Best in UPES (under 15 minutes): ₹5,000 + Trophy + Certificate</li>
<li>Best Editing: Trophy + Certificate</li>
<li>Best Script: Trophy + Certificate</li>
<li>Best Cinematography: Trophy + Certificate</li>
<li>Best Sound Design: Trophy + Certificate</li>
<li>Best Direction: Trophy + Certificate</li>
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Note:Prizes will be in the form of gift vouchers/coupons.

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Festival Schedule

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March 20, 2025 (Thursday)

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<li>9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Inaugural Ceremony</li>
<li>9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: High Tea</li>
<li>10:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Fiction Short Film Showcase - The Nolans and Torantinos of UPES</li>
<li>1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch Break</li>
<li>2:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Fiction Short Film Showcase (continued)</li>
<li>4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Media Studio Visit</li>
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March 21, 2025 (Friday)

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<li>9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Documentary Film Showcase - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly</li>
<li>10:30 AM - 11:00 AM: High Tea</li>
<li>11:00 AM - 1:00 PM:Documentay Film Showcase (continued)</li>
<li>1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch Break</li>
<li>2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Open Forum</li>
<li>4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Valedictory and Award Ceremony</li>
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Organizing Committee

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Director: Dr. Seema Shukla - <a href="tel:9501999615">9501999615- </a><a href="mailto:seema.shukla@ddn.upes.ac.in">seema.shukla@ddn.upes.ac.in</a>
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Committee Members:  
Dr. Kaustav Padmapati - <a href="tel:9899441382">9899441382 - </a><a href="mailto:kaustav.padmapati@ddn.upes.ac.in">kaustav.padmapati@ddn.upes.ac.in</a> 
Dr. Minhaj Abdullah - <a href="tel:9993055766">9993055766 - </a><a href="mailto:minhaj.abdullah@ddn.upes.ac.in">minhaj.abdullah@ddn.upes.ac.in</a>
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Categories

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1. International
2. National
3. UPES

Each Category Includes:

Short Documentary (below 15 minutes)
Short Fiction (below 15 minutes)

Additional Awards:

Best Script
Best Direction
Best Sound Design
Best Editing

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Eligibilty

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Films must have English subtitles.
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Minimum duration: 1 minute | Maximum duration: 15 minutes.
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Films must be completed between September 1, 2023, and March 15, 2025.
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<li>Last Date for Submission: March 15, 2025</li>
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Registration

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For National Registration -

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Click Here

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For International Registration -

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Previous Award Winners

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Category	Name	Institute	Country	Film Title
International Documentary	Hamed Jalal Al Shahab	University of Technology Applied Sciences, Sur, Oman	Oman	Longing Home
International Fiction	Adnan Bangali	Bangladesh Cinema & Television Institute	Bangladesh	Chaitanna
Best in India (Fiction)	Gaurav Pati	National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad	India	Nirjara
Best in India (Non- Fiction)	Riah Taipodia	Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata	India	Khiew Ranei
Best Direction	Varun Jinka	Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata	India	Ganga
Best Script	Aditya Pratap Singh	Lovely Professional University	India	Hand Block Printing
Best Editing	Bhaswan Chatterjee	Silver Streaks Production	India	The Retrievers
Best Cinematography	Hardik Rawat	UPES	India	Sukoon ki Talaash- A Travel Documentary to Gamukh- Tapovan
Best Editing	Rahul Dwivedi	UPES	India	The art of not giving up
Best in UPES	Aditya Negi	UPES	India	The Sixth Chapter
Best Sound Designing	Arun P.S	National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad	India	Nirjara