NHRC opens entries for its eighth annual competition for short films on human rights: Last date 15th September, 2022

New Delhi, 8th June, 2022

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has invited entries for its eighth annual competition for short films on human rights. The last date to receive the entries is 15th September, 2022. The entries can be submitted through email only.

The prize money for the best first, second and third films is Rs.2 lakh, Rs.1.50 lakh and Rs.1 lakh respectively. Award of Rs. 50,000 will be given to each of films chosen for “Certificate of Special Mention”.

The Short Film awards scheme was instituted by the Commission in 2015. The aim of the scheme is to encourage and acknowledge cinematic and creative efforts of the Indian citizens, irrespective of their age, towards the promotion and protection of human rights. In all previous competitions the Commission received tremendous response. During 2021 commission received 190 entries.

The short films may be in English or in any Indian languages with sub-titles in English. Duration of the short film should not be less than 3 minutes or more than 10 minutes. The short film could be a documentary, dramatization of real stories or a work of fiction. The film can be in any technical shooting and film making format, including animation.

The theme of the film could be based on any socio-economic, cultural and political rights, within the overall ambit of right to life, liberty, equality and dignity. The film may cover issues specific to bonded and child labour, women & children’s rights, rights of elderly persons, rights of persons with disabilities, right to healthcare including mental health, human trafficking, domestic violence, human rights violation due to police atrocities, custodial violence and torture, socio-economic disparities, rights of indigenous people, prison reforms, right to education, right to clean environment, right to work, right to equality before law, right to food and nutritional security, rights of LGBTQI+, human rights violation due to displacement on account of either man made or natural calamity etc.

There is no entry fee and bar on the number of entries which can be sent by an individual for participation in the contest. However, the participants will be required to send each film separately with a duly filled in entry form. A copy of entry form can be downloaded from website of the Commission (www.nhrc.nic.in {Click here }). The film along with a duly filed in entry form and other requisite documents may be sent through email at nhrcshortfilm@gmail.com using Google drive.

For any further queries, Deputy Director (Media & Communication), NHRC may be contacted.

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