7th Ooty Short Film Festival (Ooty SFF)

December 26-28, 2025

The NilgirisNext Foundation for Arts & Culture (NXF), formerly known as Nilgiris Film Club (NFC), is thrilled to announce the 7th edition of the Ooty Short Film Festival (Ooty SFF), scheduled to take place from December 26th to 28th, 2025. We cordially invite filmmakers from across the globe to join us in celebrating the art of independent short films in the picturesque mountains of the Western Ghats.

About the Festival

Since its inception, Ooty SFF has grown into a vibrant platform for showcasing exceptional short films. Our carefully curated sections feature some of the most remarkable experimental and artist-made short films, ensuring a diverse and inspiring cinematic journey for all attendees.

In 2025, we are excited to introduce a new initiative: Citizen Jury, A citizen jury at our short film festival evaluates films from a public perspective, offering a crucial non-industry viewpoint.

Our Vision

At Ooty SFF, we strive to curate a program that embodies unique and original artistic visions. Our focus is on short films that boldly push the boundaries of both form and concept, opening up numerous avenues for interpretation and understanding.

We have a special interest in works by emerging filmmakers and artist-made shorts, believing that these voices bring fresh and innovative perspectives to the cinematic landscape.

Opportunities for Filmmakers

Ooty SFF is more than just a screening platform. We provide filmmakers with:

* A platform to share their work with a discerning audience
* Exposure to diverse filmmaking styles and narratives
* Opportunities to be part of a growing community of independent filmmakers
* Recognition through our Golden Elephant Awards for Indian filmmakers and digital awards (NFTs) for international filmmakers, ensuring both physical and modern digital forms of recognition

Submit Your Film

We welcome submissions from filmmakers of all backgrounds and experiences. If you have a short film that challenges conventions, explores new territories, or tells a compelling story in an innovative way, we want to see it!

Join us for the 7th Ooty Short Film Festival and be part of a celebration of cinematic creativity in the heart of the Nilgiris.

The Ooty Short Film Festival is produced by the NilgirisNext Foundation for Arts & Culture (NXF), formerly known as Nilgiris Film Club (NFC).

Awards & Prizes

Awards at the Festival

The Golden Elephant Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in filmmaking, with distinct categories for both Indian and international filmmakers, each tailored to honor their unique contributions in meaningful ways.

For Indian Short Films:

The Golden Elephant Awards recognize exceptional talent within Indian short films, with winners in the following categories:

Best Film
Best Director
Best Performer

Winners will receive:

A Golden Elephant Trophy, a prestigious physical award symbolizing their cinematic achievements.

A Certificate of Excellence, commemorating their contribution to Indian cinema.
Additionally, festival laurels will be provided to the winners, which can be proudly displayed on film posters, trailers, and social media to enhance the film’s credibility and recognition.

For International Short Films:

International filmmakers will be honored through innovative digital awards, reflecting the festival's commitment to modernity and inclusivity. These awards provide verifiable and enduring recognition, celebrating the filmmakers' global impact.

Award Categories:

Best International Film
Best International Director
Best International Performer

International Award Package:

NFT Award: A custom-designed digital trophy, minted as an NFT (Non-Fungible Token), representing the international award category. This unique and collectible digital asset will be a lasting and verifiable token of the filmmaker's achievement, enhancing their portfolio in the digital era.

Digital Certificate: A beautifully designed certificate recognizing the winner’s excellence. Fully shareable and downloadable, it can be prominently displayed on the filmmaker’s website, social media, or promotional materials.

Film Laurels: Winning international filmmakers will also receive festival laurels, which they can display on their film posters, trailers, and across digital platforms, further adding prestige and credibility to their work.

Final Round and Screening:

The final round will showcase all selected Indian and international films, screened in front of the curator, jury, and a selected audience. Following the screenings, the winners will be announced, and the respective awards will be presented:

Golden Elephant Trophies for Indian filmmakers.
Digital Awards (NFT and certificates) for international filmmakers.

Rules & Terms

Eligibility Criteria:

Completion Date: Films must have been completed after January 1, 2023, to qualify for submission.

Duration: Only films with a runtime of 30 minutes or less, including credits, will be considered.

Types of Films: We welcome all forms of short fiction, including experimental shorts, animations, avant-garde, and poetry films.

Submission Limit: Each director can submit only one film for consideration.

Excluded Film Types: Please note that industrial and commercial films are not eligible for submission.

General Rules:

Submission Formats: If your film is selected, you will need to provide a high-quality digital file in one of the following formats: mov, avi, mpg, h264, pro-res, or Blu-ray DVD/DCP.

Submission Deadline: If your film is selected, a high-quality digital file must be submitted by November 15, 2025. If the selected movies' screening copy isn't submitted before this deadline, it automatically becomes ineligible for screening and shall not be screened at the festival.

Promotion: Selected films may be featured online or in promotional materials. This includes the use of excerpts, trailers, and stills.

Legal Authority: By submitting your film, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights for its public screening and that you authorize the festival to use your film for its intended purpose.

Agreement to Rules: Submission implies acceptance of all festival rules and regulations. In the event of a dispute, the festival's decisions are final.

Liability:

Copyright Responsibility: You are responsible for securing and maintaining all copyrights related to your film. This includes rights for sound, visuals, and any other content.

Rights Assurance: Ensure that all necessary rights are secured before submission. The festival is not liable for any copyright infringements.

Ownership: All copyrights remain with the filmmaker.

Liability Disclaimer: While we handle all submissions with care, the festival is not responsible for any damage or loss during the submission and screening process.

Cultural Objectives: As a non-profit organization, the Ooty Short Film Festival uses submitted works solely to further its cultural mission and enhance the community's appreciation of diverse cinematic expressions.
37 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Liton Paul

    Thank you to the jury members and the selection committee for honouring our film with the Best Cinematographer Award.

    Liton Paul
    Director, Nyingma: Through Her Eyes

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Param Tomanec

    I am glad that world premiere of my contemplative short film Sangama (Confluence) from Kumbha Mela has in Ooty.

    I wish the Ooty film festival bright and strong future.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Anirudh A

    Excellent and world class festival to be a part of, I am happy that I was able to participate and witness the same😊✌️

    December 2025
    Helpful
  • mohammad rasai

    I really enjoyed attending your festival.❤💐
    Very nice

    January 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We're so glad you enjoyed the festival! Your feedback means a lot to us. We're committed to bringing world-class films to our audience and creating a space where both viewers and directors can connect. Hope to have you back at our upcoming editions as well.

  • SAKTHIVEL SAMINATHAN

    THE SCREEN & PROJECTION QUALITY OF THE THEATRE IS SUBPAR. THE OUTPUT OF THE FILM IS TOTALLY DEGRADED . HAD AN HORRIBLE VIEWING EXPERIENCE

    January 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    First of all, thank you for taking the time to share your review. We truly appreciate your feedback.

    We sincerely apologize for your experience. At the Ooty Short Film Festival, we always aim to deliver the best possible viewing experience. For this reason, we utilized a laser projection system from Qube Technologies to ensure high-quality visuals, complemented by a high-end audio setup in the theater. While we made every effort to use the best technology available, we regret that it may not have met your expectations.

    Please know that we take your feedback seriously and are committed to improving. We will thoroughly evaluate this matter and work towards delivering an enhanced and satisfactory screening experience in the upcoming editions. Thank you for helping us grow and improve.