NHRC invites entries for short film competition, last date June 30​

New Delhi, April 10 Looking to encourage creative cinematic efforts aimed at promoting and protecting human rights, the NHRC on Friday began inviting entries for its 12th annual short film competition, an official said.​

The last date to receive entries is June 30, he said in a statement.​

The results of the competition will be announced via a press release, an X handle post, and uploaded to the Commission's website, said the statement. Last year, the first-prize winner received Rs 2 lakh.​

The short films may be in English or any Indian language, with English subtitles. The short film should be a minimum of 3 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes.​

"The themes of short films should be broadly based on various socio-economic, cultural, and political rights. The film could be a documentary, dramatisation of real stories or a work of fiction, in any technical format, including animation, within the ambit of right to life, liberty, equality and dignity,” said the Commission.​

The short films may cover issues specific to bonded and child labour, women and children's rights, rights and challenges of elderly persons, rights of persons with disability, manual scavenging, right to healthcare, issues of fundamental freedoms, human trafficking, domestic violence, human rights violations due to police atrocities or custodial violence and torture.​

The themes may also include socio-economic disparities, rights of Nomadic and Denotified Tribes, prison reforms, right to education, right to clean environment including environmental hazards impacting life on planet earth, right to work, right to equality before law, right to food and nutritional security, rights of LGBTQI, human rights violations due to displacement on account of either man-made or natural calamity, celebrating human rights and values in Indian diversity and development initiatives improving life and living standards, it said.​

There is no entry fee or limit on the number of entries an individual can send to participate in the contest. However, participants must send each film separately with a duly completed entry form, the statement said.​

The Short Film Awards competition was instituted by the Commission in 2015. It aims to encourage and acknowledge the cinematic and creative efforts of Indian citizens, regardless of age, in promoting and protecting human rights.​

An NHRC circular said that the Commission will have the right to use the awarded films for any purpose it deems fit, including uploading them on its website/social media. For this, an undertaking will be taken from the applicants.​

The NHRC said participants may continue to retain their rights to their films and may be free to participate in any other competitions/festivals without restricting the Commission from using them.​

The applicant whose film is shortlisted for the award will be required to send a coloured poster (A3 size) depicting the title of the film, a brief theme in English, and names of the main crew, only in soft copy, said the NHRC.​

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