Honouring Cinematic Excellence Across Every Creative Spectrum

Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) is India’s most prestigious and widely respected platform for celebrating cinematic brilliance and artistic innovation. Instituted in memory of Dadasaheb Phalke—the father of Indian cinema—DPIFF has consistently honoured the best of Indian and global film talent.

With a commitment to recognize both veterans and visionaries, DPIFF presents a wide spectrum of award categories, spanning mainstream cinema, independent films, digital content, music, television, and lifetime contributions.

In this blog, we take you through every award category of DPIFF in detail—highlighting their purpose, criteria, and contribution to shaping the future of cinema.

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DADASAHEB PHALKE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

(Expanded Award Category Descriptions)

 Cinematic Excellence – National and International Categories

1. Best Film
This award shall be presented to a full-length feature film that, in the opinion of the jury, exemplifies the highest standard of filmmaking. It shall reflect an extraordinary synthesis of direction, performance, script, music, editing and overall impact, thereby standing as a cultural benchmark for the cinematic year in review.

2. Best Actor
This award recognises an individual male artist for a principal role in a motion picture, wherein the actor has demonstrated exceptional character immersion, emotional intelligence and performance calibre, effectively bringing depth and believability to the screen.

3. Best Actress
Conferred upon a female lead performer, this award honours her for a portrayal that exhibits precision, authenticity and an advanced understanding of the narrative, contributing significantly to the success and message of the film.

4. Best Director
Awarded to the director who has exhibited outstanding control over all aspects of the film’s creation, including visual storytelling, pacing, actor guidance and thematic integrity. The award acknowledges the director’s central creative role in shaping the film’s vision.

5. Critics’ Best Film
Selected through an independent panel of veteran film critics, this award honours a film that may or may not be commercially driven but excels in cinematic language, social commentary, cultural relevance and intellectual stimulation.

6. Critics’ Best Actor
This award shall be conferred upon a male actor whose performance has been distinguished by critics for its nuance, subtlety and technical mastery, demonstrating a high level of artistic commitment.

7. Critics’ Best Actress
Recognises a female actor whose role, though potentially unconventional or understated, has earned critical acclaim for complexity, depth and contribution to the advancement of the narrative form.

8. Critics’ Best Director
Awarded to a director whose vision, storytelling method and command over cinematic techniques have earned the admiration of the critical community for originality and substance.

9. Best Cinematographer
Presented to a Director of Photography whose technical excellence in lighting, framing and camera movement has enhanced the visual aesthetics of the film, contributing fundamentally to mood, tone and storytelling.

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 Performance Excellence – Supporting and Character Roles

10. Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Awarded to a male actor in a non-lead role whose performance added significant value to the film’s emotional and narrative strength through subtlety and strong character delineation.

11. Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Conferred upon a female actor who portrayed a non-lead character with depth, restraint and authenticity, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the cinematic experience.

12. Best Actor in a Negative Role
Awarded to a male actor for portraying an antagonist or morally ambiguous character with psychological realism, intensity and screen command, thereby creating a layered opposition within the storyline.

13. Best Actress in a Negative Role
Presented to a female actor for her remarkable portrayal of a negative or anti-heroic role that contributed to the film’s dramatic conflict and moral texture.

14. Best Actor in a Comic Role
Recognises a male actor who delivered exceptional performance in a comedic role, demonstrating precise timing, improvisation and narrative relevance with humour.

15. Best Actress in a Comic Role
Awarded to a female actor whose comic character portrayal added levity, charm and relatability, bringing balance and entertainment to the film.

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 Versatility, Debut & Lifetime Achievement

16. Most Versatile Actor of the Year
This award recognises a male performer who has, over the course of the year, demonstrated excellence across a wide range of genres and roles, exemplifying depth, risk-taking and artistic maturity.

17. Most Versatile Actress of the Year
Conferred upon a female actor whose body of work over the year represents remarkable adaptability, showcasing a command over diverse characters and formats with finesse.

18. Most Promising Actor
Awarded to a debut or emerging male actor whose performance has shown extraordinary potential and whose entry into the industry has made an impactful impression.

19. Most Promising Actress
Presented to a female artist who, through her debut or early performances, has signalled significant talent and promise for a long-standing contribution to cinema.

20. Film of the Year
The highest cinematic recognition of the year, this award shall be given to a film that achieved extraordinary acclaim both nationally and internationally, embodying cinematic values, cultural strength and creative achievement.

21. Best International Feature Film
This award honours a feature film produced outside India, which, in the opinion of the jury, embodies artistic excellence, cultural depth and international relevance, thereby fostering global cinematic exchange.

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 Digital Content – OTT & Web Series Categories

22. Best Web Series
Awarded to an original episodic production released on an OTT platform, which has demonstrated consistency in quality, storyline, direction and audience engagement.

23. Best Actor in a Web Series
Presented to a male lead in a digital series for outstanding performance, authenticity and contribution to character evolution across multiple episodes.

24. Best Actress in a Web Series
Conferred upon a female actor whose digital performance in a lead role has brought originality, depth and cultural conversation to the streaming format.

25. Best Director (Web Series)
Recognises a digital content director whose creative command over the episodic format resulted in compelling storytelling, thematic richness and visual continuity.

26. Critics’ Best Web Series
Selected by a distinguished panel of critics, this award goes to a digital series that stands out for its intellectual value, social commentary and artistic execution.

27. Critics’ Best Actor in a Web Series
Awarded to a male actor whose digital performance has been critically praised for realism, commitment and storytelling impact.

28. Critics’ Best Actress in a Web Series
Presented to a female actor in a digital series whose work reflects emotional range, complexity and critical recognition.

29. Critics’ Best Director (Web Series)
Awarded to the director of a digital series whose vision and execution have pushed the boundaries of episodic storytelling and earned the favour of cultural critics.

30. Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Web Series)
Conferred upon a male actor whose performance in a supporting role within a web series contributed significantly to plot dynamics and character structure.

31. Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Web Series)
Awarded to a female actor in a supporting digital role whose presence enhanced both the emotional core and ensemble narrative of the series.

32. Best Actor in a Negative Role (Web Series)
Presented to a male actor portraying an antagonist in a digital production with complexity and psychological intensity.

33. Best Actress in a Negative Role (Web Series)
Awarded to a female actor in a digitally streamed content role for her embodiment of a negative or morally complex character executed with narrative sensitivity.

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 Music, Technical and Artistic Excellence

34. Best Short Film
Recognises a compact cinematic work (under 45 minutes) which exhibits storytelling finesse, creative risk and strong thematic relevance, contributing to short-format cinema.

35. Best Music Director
Awarded to a composer whose original score has deeply influenced the tone and mood of the film, enhancing the viewer’s immersive experience.

36. Best Playback Singer – Male
Presented to a male vocalist whose rendition has powerfully elevated the lyrical and emotional resonance of a song within the cinematic narrative.

37. Best Playback Singer – Female
Awarded to a female singer for vocal excellence and contribution to the cultural and emotional texture of a film’s music.

38. Artist of the Year
Conferred upon an individual who has, through a combination of disciplines — be it acting, music, direction, or design — made a meaningful artistic contribution to Indian entertainment within the award period.

39. Song of the Year
This award acknowledges a song that has achieved massive popularity, musical brilliance and lyrical depth, reflecting the spirit of the cinematic year.

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 Lifetime Recognition and Television

40. Outstanding Contribution in Music Industry
This award is presented to a musical maestro whose timeless contributions have left an indelible mark on Indian cinema and the nation’s cultural fabric. The recipient’s body of work is recognised for enriching the emotional and artistic depth of Indian films through melody, composition and musical brilliance.

41. Outstanding Contribution in Film Industry
This distinguished honour is conferred upon an individual whose lifelong work has significantly shaped the Indian film industry. Through years of dedication, the recipient has contributed to the elevation, innovation and global recognition of Indian cinema. The award pays tribute to legends whose influence transcends generations.

42. Television Series of the Year
Awarded to a television serial or drama that has displayed continued excellence in content, production and audience engagement across the year.

43. Best Actor in a Television Series
Presented to a male performer whose lead role in a television production reflects consistency, character fidelity and viewer appreciation.

44. Best Actress in a Television Series
Conferred upon a female performer whose work in a television series demonstrates exceptional screen presence, emotional authenticity and artistic grace.

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DPIFF: A GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF INDIAN CINEMA

At its core, DPIFF Awards go beyond trophies—they represent India’s storytelling power on a global stage. Recognizing talent across genres, genders, languages, and platforms, DPIFF fosters a community of filmmakers, actors, musicians, technicians, and visionaries whose contributions define each cinematic era.

Whether you’re a filmmaker, critic, fan or future nominee, the DPIFF Award categories cover every realm of creativity—honouring not just stars but storytellers, not just performances but passion.