Welcome to FirstCut, one of India’s biggest International festivals for
student films organized by FLAME University, Pune! Set up to provide
an active platform for young filmmakers all over the world, FirstCut
encourages them to explore the medium of film as a potential agent of
growth and change.

In its 2023 edition, FirstCut received 380+ short films from students from over 40+ countries.

As part of the final event of FirstCut, shortlisted works will be screened for a live audience and an eminent jury from the Indian film industry. Screenings will be followed by panel discussions and talks with renowned film personalities.
We believe that freedom is essential for any creative work, and provide our participants with the complete freedom to choose their own themes and styles of work. While offering opportunities in fiction, animation as well as documentary filmmaking, FirstCut also has a unique “Nano” film category that aims to challenge the students’ creativity to make super short films.
Winners from each category shall be awarded a cash prize.

Please Note: Submissions to FirstCut are FREE and do not
require a processing fee.
Attending the event is FREE and open to all interested individuals!

Awards & Prizes

Ten films from each category will be shortlisted by a panel of film organizations and screened during the film festival. The jury will select the winning film from each category during the days of the event.

Each awardee will get a certificate and a cash prize*.
*Transaction charges will be deducted from the cash prizes to International winning films.

Rules & Terms

GENERAL RULES & GUIDELINES.

1. A student is allowed to submit multiple films in multiple categories
2. Submitting a copy of STUDENT IDENTITY CARDS
IS MANDATORY and a necessary requirement at the time of submission.
3. Time duration requirements for each category:
Fiction - 20 mins
Non Fiction - 40 mins
Animation - 10 mins
Nano - 2 mins
4. All individuals involved in the production (directors,
cinematographers, editors, scriptwriters, sound designers) who
are pursuing their undergraduate or master's degree or have graduated in the past year and are eligible to submit their films to the festival.

Actors and other crew members involved in the film may be
non-students. There is no restriction on the number of
students participating from an institution.

P R O D U C T I O N G U I D E L I N E S

FirstCut believes that the contents of a film, originality, and innovation are dimensions of a young person’s intellectual property. Therefore, copyright material will not be accepted including music, visuals, and scripts.

Rules:
A film can be submitted under two categories provided it fits the criteria for eligibility
Projection-worthy picture/sound quality is preferred.
All films, even in English, MUST be subtitled in English. Submissions without subtitling will not be considered.
While students have complete freedom in selecting a film’s theme, story, approach, and style, all laws of the land need to be respected (including those relating to obscenity, defamation, copyright, and inciting communal disharmony). The final call regarding the content shall be taken by the jury members.
In the categories of Fiction, Non-fiction, and Nano, all films completed on or after 30 January 2023 shall be accepted for competition. For the Animation Category, all films completed on or after 30 January 2022 (two-year acceptance window) may be submitted.

S U B M I S S I O N G U I D E L I N E S .

All participants must follow the procedure as provided on FirstCut’s Festhome, or FilmFreeway page. Make sure you submit the film ONLY ON ONE PLATFORM. Indian participants can also choose to submit their films using the Google form available on the FirstCut website. It is mandatory for the films to be submitted as downloadable links, either on Google Drive, vimeo or Hidden YouTube links.
10 Reviews
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  • Jacob Ramsay

    Thank you festival selectors and jury for awarding our film, AN EXTRA DAY IN PRAGUE, with the Best Film award in the fiction category! It is truly an honor. Wish I could have attended in person, but I was following along on social media and it seemed like a festival with an exceptional amount of spirit!

    March 2023
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  • gaurangi vyas

    amazing festival! Thanks for selecting our film- Maya. Hope to physically attend this festival someday! :)

    March 2021
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  • Michele Assante

    I am honored and grateful for having my short movie Wicked Desires awarded in this beautiful, student-friendly festival. Totally recommend it!!

    March 2021
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  • Ana Paula Chirino

    It was really well organized, the communication was great, you could find all the information easily. An amazing online event !

    March 2021
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  • Radheya Jegatheva

    Thanks so much for a great fest......a lot of 5 stars provided for the fest. communication was great before the fest but havent heard yet after the prizes were anniunced. I had tried to write a few times. can i please be contacted about the prize? thanks

    April 2020
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