A strong film deserves a strong submission. Use this practical checklist to make your DPIFF nomination clear, complete and ready for review.
The Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) is currently inviting filmmakers worldwide to submit short films for its 2027 awards programme. The live nomination page welcomes independent filmmakers, documentary creators, animation artists, student storytellers and AI filmmakers across five award categories.
This guide is designed for creators searching for a reliable short film nomination checklist. It brings the current eligibility rules, deadlines, fees and application materials into one preparation plan—so you can spend less time fixing avoidable submission errors and more time presenting the film itself.
Current DPIFF nomination dates and fee
The nomination schedule and fee below reflect the live DPIFF nomination page checked on 19 October 2026. Deadlines, fees and requirements can change, so confirm the official page immediately before payment and submission.
Choose the category that fits the film
Category choice is part of your application strategy. Select the award category that describes the finished work most accurately.
Best Short Film
Narrative and independent short-form cinema.
Documentary
Non-fiction stories and real-world subjects.
Animation
Animation-led visual storytelling.
Student
Eligible student and film-school projects.
AI Film
Projects using AI as part of filmmaking.
Check eligibility before opening the form
The current DPIFF 2027 nomination information accepts films from filmmakers around the world. Films may be in any language, but films not in English or Hindi must include accurate English subtitles. Eligible films must have been completed between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2026, and must run between 1 and 40 minutes, including opening and closing credits.
Do not submit until the category, completion period, runtime, language and screening link have all been checked against the live rules.
Build your nomination package
The form asks for enough information to identify the filmmaker, understand the project and review the film. Prepare the following before you begin your DPIFF nomination:
- Film title, director name and applicant contact details.
- City and country information that matches your official submission details.
- A readable film poster in JPG, JPEG, PNG or PDF format, up to 5 MB.
- A concise short synopsis and synopsis document in DOC, DOCX or PDF format, up to 10 MB.
- A working YouTube, Vimeo or Google Drive screening link.
- The password, if your screening link is protected.
- Student institution, student ID or graduation information where requested.
- AI tools and software used, plus the level of AI involvement for AI entries.
- Accurate English subtitles when the film is not in English or Hindi.
Four submission mistakes worth avoiding
What recognition is available?
DPIFF currently lists cash prizes, official trophies, winner certificates, festival laurels and international recognition across the five categories. The published prize information lists ₹1,00,000 for Best Short Film and ₹10,000 for each of the Documentary, Animated, Student and AI categories. These are programme opportunities, not guarantees of selection or an award; review the current terms before submitting.
Submit your short film to DPIFF
Once your film is eligible and your materials are ready, complete the official online nomination form. Each film should be entered separately with its own information and applicable fee. For the latest rules, current deadlines and the live application form, use the official DPIFF nomination page.
Is your film ready for review?
Choose your category, test your screening link and submit a complete nomination before the current deadline.
Submit Your Film to DPIFF
