As the first talkies in Shillong, the Festival is named after the Kelvin Cinema Hall in Meghalaya which was founded in 1926 by (Rai Bahadur) Jeevan Ram Goenka. There was a war that shaped the future of cinema in the region, as its founder Jeevan Ram Goenka is the father of the philanthropist Shankar Lall Goenka. Kelvin Cinema Festival is presented by Jeevan Ram Mungi Devi Goenka Public Charitable Trust.

It is being organized with the aim to raise the standard of filmmaking in the state of Meghalaya and it is being supported by the Fraternity Art Cine Entertainment Shillong (FACES).

The Festival also seeks to encourage the entrepreneurs of the film industry in North East India to come up with new exciting ideas that will contribute towards the development of the film industry and the state.

Best Film ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Director ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Actor ( Male ) ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Actor (Female) ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Cinematography ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Editor ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Sound Design ( Trophy + Cash)

Rules & Regulations

Please read and carefully consider the following details and guidelines before submitting your short film.

The Kelvin Cinema Festival is applicable and open only for films made by filmmakers from India in any language.

Entries should be a minimum of 10 minutes, but not exceed a time limit of 30 minutes inclusive of ALL titles and credits.

KCF only accepts completed short films from all over India.

We accept submissions only through FilmFreeway

KCF will consider films to be North-East India premieres, and if the film has been screened in any parts of North-East India before the festival, it will not be considered

No fees will be paid to screen these films.

Only films completed on or after January 2022 are eligible for submission.

If the film is not in English, then it must have hard-coded English subtitles.

Ensure that all content in your film (including footage, music, images, props, etc.) is your own. If you include any copyrighted content, you must be able to provide written permission for its use.

Entries containing any unauthorized content will be disqualified.

If music or additional film material used in your film is not original, then permission from the source must be obtained. The responsibility for this rests entirely with the filmmaker.
Failure to obtain clearance could result in your film being withdrawn from the Festival.

KCF reserves the right to refuse to screen any submission deemed by the Festival to be inappropriate.

Should you wish to question KCFF about their decision, you can contact us by email at kelvincinemafestival@gmail.com.

All submissions are screened and evaluated by the KCF Preview and Selection Committee, appointed by the Artistic Director and Joint Artistic Director. Due to the number of films, we will be receiving, only the top-scoring films will go through into the competition. These shortlisted films will be screened and judged at our main venue.

The winning films will then be chosen from this shortlist and announced on the day of the Festival’s closing ceremony.

KCF will determine the time when submissions will be screened and cannot be held accountable for changes to the schedule after the festival line-up is announced.

The submission of a film to KCFF will be considered to be an acknowledgment of the festival rules.

We would like to ensure that the judges view your film in the highest quality possible so we will only accept final cuts. Please make sure that your film is ready at the time of entry with embedded English subtitles.

Any films which are present on any other online platforms are not eligible for submission.

If you have any questions or are having trouble submitting your entry online, please email kelvincinemafestival@gmail.com

The last Date of Entry is August 9th, 2023.

Exclusively the participant shall pay all fees in relation to, the uploading or transportation of submissions from their place of origin to the address of KCF. The Festival will not be responsible for the cost of receiving any additional materials i.e. DVDs, posters, photos, etc.

Dubbed/ Revised/Remade/ Re-edited versions of an Indian Film will not be eligible. All films must be presented in their original version/language.

KCF will contact you if there are any problems with your film and will attempt to resolve any technical matter related to a submission.

For more information and queries, contact kelvincinemafestival@gmail.com

Please note that if your film is selected and screened, filmmakers attend at their own discretion. KCF will take care of accommodation expenses if the director or producer of the selected films decides to attend, but only with prior notice, post announcement of being shortlisted for the Competition.

The winners will be awarded in the following categories.

Total Cash Prize 4 Lacs

Best Film ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Director ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Actor ( Male ) ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Actor (Female) ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Cinematography ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Editor ( Trophy + Cash)
Best Sound Design ( Trophy + Cash)

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • El Dhar

    I am privilege to have been part of Kelvin Cinema Festival. The Jury and organisers made such a wonderful selection for the official screening/competition. Such diverse films from extraordinary filmakers were screened. I am so honoured that my film was also in the Official selection. Such wonderful reception from the attendees also.

    November 2023