Every project is forged from the fire of my soul, carrying a fragment of my essence. With each film I craft, I feel as though I have emerged victorious in a battle, leaving an indelible mark on the canvas of time. – Venu Nair, Filmmaker.
Our Mission
The 7th Art Independent International Film Festival is an annual international live-screening event dedicated to pushing the boundaries of filmmaking. Our mission is to promote independent filmmakers with unique visions, showcasing their work to large audiences in an increasingly competitive content landscape. We carefully select and present diverse films to indie film enthusiasts, committed to preserving and exhibiting independent cinema. Our festival unites communities to celebrate the art and power of storytelling, fostering cultural exchange and meaningful dialogue worldwide.
Who We Are
The 7th Art Independent International Film Festival was founded by acclaimed filmmaker Venu Nair, a multiple international award-winner. The festival brings together talented filmmakers, artists, local cinephiles, and international contributors to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala’s cultural heartland. Our goal is to enrich the regional film culture with an eclectic mix of global cinema.
The 7th AIIFF Experience
We seek out the best in film, recognizing that greatness isn’t defined by budget. As a quarterly festival, we present feature films and documentaries across genres, evaluating each entry on its own merit rather than in competition with others. Each season, the selected films are screened, with winners awarded digital laurels, certificates, and trophies.
Live screenings are held seasonally at the Bharat Bhavan Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram, and each season’s outstanding works are celebrated. The BEST OF THE BEST from October 2024 to August 2025 will automatically qualify for the Golden Conch Award, presented at a gala event at Bharat Bhavan on September 26–28, 2025. All official selections, nominees, and winners will be proudly featured on our website.
Awards & Prizes
Selected films will be recognized and awarded The Best of the Best Award, Award of Excellence, Award of Merit, and Award of Recognition. The Best of the Best is chosen as the submission receiving the highest overall score. The Award of Excellence is presented to those entries showing excellence in filmmaking. Those displaying exceptional artistic or technical performance are presented with an Award of Merit. Entries that impress the judges and make an impact in one or several specific categories will receive an Award of Recognition. Each winning film shall receive a trophy and a citation as well.
Awards include:
• Best of the Best Award
Every submission meeting the required level of merit will win one or more of the following awards:
• Award of Excellence
• Award of Merit
• Award of Recognition in Creativity
• Award of Recognition in Directing
• Award of Recognition in Acting(Male & Female)
• Award of Recognition in Cinematography
• Award of Recognition in Background Score
• Award of Recognition in Production Design(Art Direction)
• Award of Recognition in Sound Design
*Award of Recognition in Colour
• Award of Recognition in Film Production
*Award of Recognition in Documentary Feature
*Award of Recognition in Documentary Short
* Award of Recognition in Short Film