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

Rules & Terms
Submissions:
We will consider the following submission types:
• Feature Films (Over 70 min)
• Short Films (Up to 40 min)
• Documentary Feature (Over 40 min)
• Documentary Short (Up to 40 min)
Filmmakers may submit as many works as they wish to, as long as they have been produced after January 1, 2015. You are entitled to enter as many films as you like to the festival. If an entry does not win then it may be re-submitted in another month for consideration with separate entry fees. We prefer online screeners for the judging process.
We require an official trailer, poster, synopsis and a link to your film. Please select the correct category while submitting to avoid disqualification. We reserve right to re-assign films to the appropriate category.
A filmmaker’s submission fee will not be reimbursed if they decide to withdraw their submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.
No fixed number of awards will be granted. Every submission that meets the level of excellence will receive an award. Films can be in any language with English subtitles. 7thArtIIFF will not make your property available online.
The Official Selection status doesn’t mean that your film will be screened at the festival. It means that you are now eligible for the nomination and you can use the festival logo on your poster.
It is possible that a particular category doesn't have a winner. In this case, the decision of the judges' is final. We DO NOT accept partially completed films.
The 7thArtIIFF is hereby granted the rights to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted for promotional purposes of the festival within India only. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations.
Notification:

Accepted entries will receive an Official Selection notification, laurel and certificate. After judging is completed, winners will receive a second email with their Winner certificates.
Official Selections and Winners will be posted on our website and Facebook site.
Laurels:
Every month selected works (selected for screening) will be screened and winners of each month will be awarded with digital laurel, certificate and Trophy. Filmmakers are allowed to use the 7thArtIIFF Laurels on their winning or selected film ONLY. They can be used on posters as well as other related media.
Disclaimer:
By submitting your film you agree that you own the rights to it and are responsible for the content. By submitting you are granting 7thArtIIFF the right to post the name, synopsis and artwork on our website. There is no refund given if your film is not selected for the festival.

We do not provide any airfare for the submitter to come and attend the festival. They need to arrange their own travel and accommodation for the same. Certificates are digitally printable which we will email to our winners and trophies will be couriered at submitter’s cost. Please note, we will not be responsible for (if) any damage occurs to the trophy or packaging during shipping.

7thArtIIFF may without advance notice amend these Rules & Terms from time to time. Each and every such amendment shall be become effective immediately. It is your responsibility to periodically check for updates of these Rules & Terms

Required Legal Stuff:
The filmmaker releases the festival (7thArtIIFF) from any and all liability for damages or destruction of the entered DCP. The Filmmaker understands that the entered DCP will be retained in a secure facility by the festival, and every effort will be taken to protect and control the viewing of this production. The festival assumes no liability whatsoever for theft, copyright violations or piracy of the entry. All entries are carefully pre-screened prior to the public showing to assure that the DCP does perform to industry Standards. The Festival (7thArtIIFF) assumes no responsibility for any technical difficulties in the presentation of the video at the actual event.
The Film Festival (7thArtIIFF) reserves the complete right to make changes in the program dates and times despite its being selected for screening. The filmmaker will endeavor to present to the Festival (7thArtIIFF) a new and pre-checked Hard disk / DCP for the gala event.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • D I P U None

    Thanks for considering our project and appreciating its merit with an award.
    Yet we felt that the festival could have involved more volunteers and taken certain aspects more consciously to evolve it from where it is now—especially the communication, reception, and Exposure.
    One thing specifically we would want to bring to your notice is that it is not a good/welcoming gesture to ask if the awardee opts for a trophy with a certificate or just the certificate and to pay for the trophy if opted (Where the festival entry is also charged for around 25 Dollars if we remember right). It is not that we wanted the trophy- recognition itself is a big thing for us. But the way we put the communication across makes a huge difference in how the person receiving it feels about it. It would add to the professionalism of the festival. We would not have had the same experience/feeling if only that question was not asked in the mail. :)
    However, we appreciate your effort to organize such an event to encourage the upcoming filmmakers. :) Grateful for that.

    November 2024
  • Uma Magal

    This is a wonderful festival and we are proud and happy to be included among the film that were curated by 7th Art Independent International Film Festival. Our team is also delighted to receive an Outstanding Achievement Award from them. Wishing them long and continued success in promoting good cinema as they do.

    November 2024
  • Jijo Johny Cheruvathoor None

    7th Art Independent International Film Festival is great initiate for god's own country Kerala's cultural development by Mr. Venu Nair and his colleagues .

    Each arts form are artists’ statements on the human current condition for social empowerment . This festival also gives artists the opportunity to interact each other on an international level for encouragement, support and inspiration.

    This all people involved are to be highly commended .

    November 2024
  • 김규민 Gim

    Excellent festival, thank you very much

    November 2024
  • Hari K.Sudhan

    Thank you for selecting my film "FALL FROM GRACE" and honoring
    me with the Award of "EXCELLENCE IN CREATIVITY" at the 7th AIIFF, I'm so proud to be the part of this festival, Great communication and Hospitality throughout the festival, Thank you.

    October 2023