Launched in 2022, the Chalchitra Film Festival has emerged as a student-led platform for smartphone filmmaking in India and globally. Chalchitra is South Asia's only competitive mobile film festival, organized annually by the School of Liberal Studies and Humanities at UPES, Dehradun. The festival champions the democratization of creative expression, empowering filmmakers to craft compelling fiction, and nonfiction narratives using only smartphones. It provides a dynamic space for emerging and established storytellers to push creative boundaries. Through workshops, screenings, and discussions, Chalchitra fosters a vibrant community of digital-first filmmakers.

Chalchitra aims:

• Provide a global platform for mobile filmmakers to showcase their talent and creativility.
• Foster appreciation for diverse film cultures and socially relevant narratives.
• Highlight the potential of mobile filmmaking in addressing sustainability challenges.

This year’s theme sets an agenda for exploring Society, Politics, Psychology, and Cinema for Sustainable Futures which helps in reinforcing the festival’s commitment to leveraging storytelling as a catalyst for meaningful change.

• Best International Film (under 15 minutes): Gift vouchers + certificates for top 3 and Trophy 🏆 for the Winner
• Best in India Film (under 15 minutes): Gift vouchers + certificates for top 3 and Trophy 🏆 for the Winner
• Best in UPES (under 15 minutes): Gift vouchers + certificates for top 3 and Trophy 🏆 for the Winner

Note: Prizes will be in the form of gift vouchers/coupons.

• Minimum duration: 2 minutes | Maximum duration: 15 minutes (Animated films: minimum 1 minute)
• Films must be completed between September 1, 2024, and March 11, 2026.
• Films must be in MP4 or MOV format; English subtitles are required for international entries.