Mumbai- The city of celluloid dreams since past century- is the destination of thousands of budding & professional filmmakers in India & world. The city has nurtured many great filmmakers, technicians & entertained the millions worldwide through cinema. People also fondly called it as Bollywood. In the highly competitive age of cinema ‘Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival’ is the platform for short filmmakers to put their work forward among the league of professional.

MSIFF, a progressive cinema movement started in year 2012 with the consultation of senior industry members to highlight the short cinema. The 2012 inaugural year followed 2013 to 2024 editions witnesses the great participation & enthusiasm from filmmakers & industry professionals from India & abroad. The festival objective is to contribute towards the development of upcoming filmmakers & to create short films culture in India.

The festival aims is to feature great cinema of worldwide filmmakers in a big way & at the same time providing professional networking & introducing current trends of cinema to the participants. The festival also strongly advocates the need of commercial short film industry in India & will raise the issues related to short films in front of various governing bodies of cinema.

14th MSIFF-25 will prove one more step towards achieving excellence & enhancing your skills in cinema & fore sure it will contribute immensely in your growth as filmmaker.

Production Awards

Best Short Film
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Music Video
Best Director
Special Festival Mention
Honorable Jury Mention
Best Ad Film


Creative Awards

Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Screenplay
Best VFX


Performance Awards

Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress

Music Awards

Best Original Music
Best Background Music

Rules and Regulations:

14th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival-2025

1. Awards for both professional and students category-

Production Awards

❏ Best Short Film ❏ Best Animation ❏ Best Documentary ❏ Best Music Video ❏ Honorable Jury Mention ❏ Best Director
❏ Special Festival Mention ❏ Best Ad Film

Creative Awards

❏ Best Cinematography ❏ Best Editing ❏Best Screenplay
❏ Best VFX

Performance Awards

❏ Best Actor ❏ Best Actress
❏ Best Supporting Actor ❏ Best Supporting Actress

Music Awards

❏ Best Original Music ❏ Best Background Music

2. Every official selected film in MSIFF will enjoy following benefits-

Promotion & Marketing:

Listing on fest website in official selection section.
Lifetime dedicated film page on fest website in catalogue.
Film team video interviews will be published in Filmmaker’s Cut and promoted on social media.
Film Pitch video will be published in Film Market and promoted among industry professionals.
Film article in News & blog on festival website.

Film Market & Distribution:

Miniboxoffice Film Market subscription for 03 months.
Film Distribution, Sales, Pitching & networking opportunities.
Personal page, project listing & future opportunities.

Recognition & Awards:

Every submitted film will get certificate of participation.
Every officially selected film will get Certificate of Excellence- Official Selection certificate.
Every Award Winner will get Certificate of Excellence- Award Certificate & Trophy.
Every festival attendee will get festival mementos.

Feedback & Criticism:

Festival provide a unique opportunity for every filmmaker to get Jury score sheet in order to understand ‘how the movie performed in festival’ and for scope of improvement.
Audience interaction after film screening.

Learning & Exchange

Master Classes on various current topics & trends.
Culture & business exchange with fellow filmmakers.

3. Year of production & accepted movie duration:

Year of production: Jan-2023 onwards
Short Film, animation and documentaries: up-to 60min
Music Video: up-to 08 min & Ad Film- any duration
Film must be subtitled in English if language is other than English and Hindi.

4. Films participated in MSIFF-2012 to 2024 are not eligible for participation in 2025.

5. The decision of the Jury will be final and can’t be challenged.

6. MSIFF-25 stages/process:

• Entry submission as per rules & regulations.
• Notification of shortlisted regular entries by the festival office on 20 Nov 2025 & shortlisted late entries notification on 25 Nov 2025.
• Delegate registration to attend MSIFF-25 at Mumbai. All filmmakers must have registered as delegate to attend the festival. Hospitality charges are applicable for filmmakers & attendees, which include lunch, tea/coffee with cookies & master classes.
• Festival movies screening & workshops followed by award ceremony in Mumbai on 14 Dec 2025.

7. Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival-25 does not take any type financial commitment for the expense incurred on the correspondence by the participant. All Travel, Lodging & Boarding and other miscellaneous expenses will have to be borne by the participant himself for attending the festival. No request for the same will be entertained. The postal charges are applicable in order to deliver the trophy or certificates to filmmakers addresses.

8. Once the film submitted can’t be withdrawn in any circumstances, however festival director reserve the rights to disqualify any film on certain grounds.

9. By submitting movie to Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival, filmmaker/producer takes the whole responsibility of copyright issues of music, script and other creative and technical aspects of film.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Demian Fuica

    Thank you to the 13th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival for showcasing our short film Virtus et Potestas. We're honored to be part of such a platform celebrating diverse voices and compelling storytelling. Your support means the world to independent filmmakers like us!

    January 2025
  • Harsha M

    Very glad to have participated in this festival. We got to watch inspiring work, meet passionate people and learnt a lot from the organisers about marketting and short film making.

    December 2024
  • Anilkumar Veppatangudi

    Good experience and chance to meet other film makers

    December 2024
  • Asavari Narkar

    Wonderful experience with Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival-25. Highly recommended.

    December 2024
  • ラプター オフィス

    During the festival, the organizers maintained clear and thoughtful communication, ensuring a smooth and well-organized event that provided a sense of reassurance. The considerate attention given to the participants created an environment where we could truly focus on the films.

    I sincerely hope this remarkable festival will continue to support the growth of film culture and flourish even further in the future.

    December 2024