The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 Short Film Competition

What does it mean to belong to the mountains? To experience a deep and historic connection with nature? You are encouraged to explore the depths of the mountain valleys through the stories, emotions, and experiences the Himalayas evoke. Let the unique landscape, cultures and traditions, fragile ecosystem, and the human stories that come with it, inspire you.

Eligibility Conditions and Submission Guidelines

Eligibility
i. All films must follow the theme. Please note, films that do not adhere to the theme will not be considered.
ii. The film can be a work of fiction or non-fiction.
iii. The film duration must be between 3 to 5 minutes. Please note, films that do not adhere to this duration will not be considered.
iv. The film should be shot with full HD (1920×1080) resolution (mobile phones with full HD resolution cameras can be used). Films that are not shot in full HD will not be considered.
v. The director must be an Indian national, aged 18 years or above.
vi. The director must be a resident of one of the following Himalayan states and Union Territories: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand. Applications received from directors of non-Himalayan states/UT as mentioned above will not be considered.
vii. The film must not be previously available to view online, and should not have been screened at any festival or event prior to this. You are encouraged to submit fresh works produced for this competition.
viii. Use only footage/music/sound for which you are the owner/right holder or have written permission from the copyright holder.
ix. Films must be subtitled in English if they include spoken dialogue. Films not subtitled in English will not be considered. Dubbed versions will not be considered.
x. You have the option of making a film without dialogue also.
xi. You will be required to produce official government ID proof such as Aadhar card, Driving License, Voter ID.
xii. Only one entry will be accepted per participant.

Awards
a. Winner – Rs 1.5 lakh. Award will be presented to the director of the film.
b. First runner up – Rs 1 lakh. Award will be presented to the director of the film.
c. Second runner up – Rs 50,000/- Award will be presented to the director of the film.

How to apply

Submit your film online by filling the application form and sharing the link to your film by clicking at the given below link:
https://ladakh.nic.in/the-himalayan-film-festival-2023-short-film-competition/

Email your queries

thehimalayanfilmfestival@gmail.com

Rules and Regulations:

Participation in the competition implies acceptance of rules and regulations.
i. The participant acknowledges and confirms that he/she is solely responsible and liable for the Film and its Content (such as media, promotional material, footage, music, sound etc.) he/she submits.
ii. The participant declares that he/she is the owner and/or rights holder of the Film and its Content submitted by him/her, and all rights associated with or relating to the same, according to the relevant national and international regulations. This right includes rights to the musical work, sound recording, and the performers’ rights included in the Film.
iii. The participant gives permission/consent, out of free will, for the Film and its Content to be screened at The Himalayan Film Festival, 2023.
iv. The participant hereby irrevocably grants the organiser of The Himalayan Film Festival 2023, the Department of Information & Public Relations, Administration of Union Territory, Ladakh the right to use, display and exhibit the parts of the Film in any form including without limitation the stills and posters of the Film, online or offline, for promotional and archival purposes and the right to screen, publicise, advertise and promote the Film and its Content.
v. The participant also irrevocably grants to the Department of Information & Public Relations, UT Ladakh the right to sublicense any or all of the foregoing rights to one or more third parties (as may be required) only for the purpose of promotion, advertising and/or publicising of the Film and for editorial coverage of The Himalayan Film Festival 2023.
vi. The participant undertakes and guarantees that the Film and its Content submitted (i) do/does not infringe any copyright or other rights including without limitation intellectual property rights including the moral rights, privacy and publicity rights of third parties or constitute the misappropriation of any trade secret of any third party, and/or (ii) violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation, and/or (iii) is not plagiarised, defamatory, libelous or obscene and/or (iv) is not flouting any rules or regulations.

vii. The participant confirms that the participant has not done or caused to be done or omitted to do or caused to be omitted to be done, any act that has resulted or might result in the abandonment or impairment of such right, title, interest, intellectual property right including copyright, permission, or approval for the Film and its Content.

viii. The participant further acknowledges and undertakes that none of the rights including intellectual property rights associated with the Films, including those in literary, musical and artistic works have been assigned/licensed to any person, firm or corporation.
ix. The participant unconditionally and irrevocably declares that the participant shall be solely liable for any claims, actions, damages etc. arising out of the Film, its Content and accompanying information and hereby fully indemnifies and hold harmless the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh and each of their representatives and affiliates and implementation agencies from any losses, damages, claims, demands, interest costs or expenses (including legal cost), claims incurred by each of any of them as a result of:
a) necessary clearances, permissions, approvals not obtained by the participant, and/or
b) screening of the Film and its Content at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023, and/or
c) any breach of the Rules & Regulations and/or
d) claims relating to piracy, slander, defamation, infringement or misuse of any proprietary rights, theft or infringement of any third-party intellectual property rights, plagiarism, idea misappropriation or invasion of rights of privacy or publicity and/ or
e) any third-party claims.
x. The participant will be disqualified if it is found that any of the above claims made by the participant are found to be false. The participant will be solely responsible for matters related to copyright issues with regard to the Film, its Content and accompanying information being submitted for The Himalayan Film Festival 2023.
The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh will not be liable for any legal cases related to copyright issues of the submitted entries.

Acknowledgement:

i. The participant acknowledges that the selection of the Film is at the sole discretion of the Department of Information & Public Relations, UT Ladakh and the Department reserves the right to disqualify any Film, with or without any reasons. Also, the Department reserve the right to edit the promotional material for the purpose of promotion of the Film for The Himalayan Film Festival 2023.
ii. The participant acknowledges and declare that all rights granted hereunder to the Department of Information & Public Relations, UT Ladakh are and will be free and clear of liens, encumbrances, or claims of every kind and all royalty and license fees required now or in the future to be paid in connection therewith are or will be paid by the participant.

iii. The participant acknowledges that he/she has no rights to make any use of intellectual property (including, but not limited to trademarks, logos, designs) of the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh to which he/she may get access during The Himalayan Film Festival 2023.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction:

These Rules and Regulations shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Subject to the arbitration provisions hereinbelow, the courts of Ladakh, India shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any dispute arising out of this Rules and Regulations.

Dispute Resolution:
In case of any disputes, claims, controversies or differences arising out of or in connection with these Rules and Regulations or breach or validity hereof as well as in regard to interpretation or construction of these Rules and Regulations, the Participant and the Department of Information & Public Relations, UT Ladakh shall amicably try to settle the dispute through mediation. If such disputes, claims, controversies, or differences cannot be resolved amicably by the Participant and the Organizers, then the same shall be finally settled in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and any amendments thereunder. The arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator to be appointed by the Organizers. The language of arbitration will be English, and the venue shall be Ladakh, India. The arbitration award shall be final and binding.

Declaration:
Submission and participation in The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 organised by the Department of Information & Public Relations, Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh implies acceptance of the Rules and Regulations.
i. I give my permission/consent, out of my free will, for the Film and its Content to be screened at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023.
ii. I allow The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 to use parts of my Film and its Content for promotional purposes.
iii. I declare that I own the copyright of work submitted, according to the relevant national and international regulations. This includes music and sound effects included in the film. I guarantee that no rights of third parties are violated by the material used in the film or accompanying information submitted. I hereby unconditionally and irrevocably declare my copyright responsibility towards third parties in case of disputes over copyright violations. In this respect, I exempt the Department of Information & Public Relations, Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh from all claims by third parties.
iv. I acknowledge that I will be disqualified if it is found that any of the above claims made by me are found to be false. I will be solely responsible for matters related to copyright issues with regard to the Film and its Content being submitted to Department of Information & Public Relations, the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh for competition. The Department of Information & Public Relations, Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh will not be liable for any legal cases related to copyright issues of the submitted entries.
v. I have No Objection for screening of this Film for jury. If selected, the Film will become the sole property of The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh. I hereby undertake that, if my Film is selected, I will issue a No Objection or any other required document effecting the same. I also assure that the said No Objection for the Department will remain valid for any non-commercial use by The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh.
vi. I hereby agree Department of Information & Public Relations, Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh reserves the right to disqualify me without any intimation in the event I do not adhere to the Rules and Regulations of The Himalayan Film Festival 2023.