1. The period for submissions is from 10th November 2023 through 31st January 2024
2. Only videos created between 1 January 2020 and 10th December 2023 are eligible.
3. Every submission must meet one of the three categories outlined below
For submitting a short film, the copyright owner of the film must choose one category of competition among the three described below. For entries in category 1 & 2, candidates can submit short documentaries, animation films or fiction films. For category 3, candidates can videos made for original piece of music
Category 1 – Short Shorts – These are films under 3 minutes.
Category 2 – Short Films – These are films between 3 to 15 minutes.
Category 3 – Music Videos – Need to be original music.
4. Technical Requirements for Submission:
a. Every video submitted must be a final edited product: “rough-cuts“ will NOT be considered for the selection.
b. Submissions in each of the categories should not be already distributed to be eligible.
c. A Submission should be in Telugu language; if not then English subtitles must be included.
d. Every submission must be an accessible link which is open for all to view.
e. aha takes no responsibility for submissions that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason. Proof of delivery of the entry is not proof of receipt.
5. Awards for winning submissions:
a. There will be three winners, one for each category described in section 2 above. Each winner will get a prizes worth Rs 100,000. There will be a student prize of Rs 50,000 for any one from any category.
b. aha can decide to pick creators for making fiction originals from the entries received.
c. In addition, Sprite can decide to pick the winner of Shorts Short category to create fully funded brand film for sprite subject to idea shortlisting and discretion of the brand.
6. Who can apply for the festival?
a. Submissions may be made by audiovisual production or broadcasting institutions, nongovernmental organizations, public institutions, schools, universities or individuals 18 years or older. Individuals under 18 years of age may participate with the permission of their parents or legal guardians. If the film of an entrant under 18 years of age is chosen as a semifinalist or finalist, and written parental or guardian permission cannot be provided, aha has the right to reject the entry. In the event an applicant is a minor (under 18), the term “you” in such case refers to the applicant’s legal guardian.
b. Every application must name the individual (or group of individuals), as the “author(s)” of the work / video as per the applicable law , including The Copyright Act, 2012, as amended.
c. In case of a group of authors, all names and ages of all authors must be listed. This group will be considered as a single applicant as well as for the grant/ prize for winners, and in this case the term “you” in these rules refers to each such applicant as an individual and as a group of applicants.
d. Every applicant or group of applicants can submit only one video to this festival. Videos may be submitted in only one of categories one, two, and three.
e. If you wish to be considered for the student prize, you must provide proof of your enrolment in a high school or educational institution during the period when the submitted video was made.
f. Applicants cannot be the staff of (or the family members of such staff) aha & pmf.
7. Legal terms and conditions applicable to a submission to the festival:
a. In submitting an entry for the festival, you agree, and agree to ensure that all production and distribution companies involved in your submission shall also agree, to give a non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid (without any remuneration, consideration, including royalties etc.), perpetual, license to aha for its public screening during the festival events, in case your video will be part of the festival selection. In addition, you agree that aha may extend this license if necessary due to restrictions within its organization of a public screening, to the creation by aha of online events dedicated to highlight the official selection of the film festival, with a written notice to you.
b. In addition, if you are a winner of the film festival, you agree, and agree to ensure that all production and distribution companies involved in your submission shall also agree, to extend the scope of the above-mentioned license to all exploitation and/or distribution of your submission by AHA in its various social media, digital and web platforms, as well as for additional screenings at national or international events in which aha will have an official participation, and further for AHA’s activities relating to public health, consistent with its mandate, and beyond the scope of the film festival. This extension of agreement will grant to aha a perpetual, non-exclusive, sublicensable, world-wide license to reproduce, publish, disseminate, exhibit, and in any other manner use and deal with the video in any format and in any media whatsoever, without any additional payment or authorization to be made between the parties.
c. By submitting an application, you warrant to aha that your submission is your original work and in no way a violation of any existing copyright or other right not declared in above mentioned declaration, certificates etc. , and that you have the power to grant the license/permission described above, and to the extent the submission is not your original work, you have obtained all required permits and licenses to provide the licenses to aha described above.
d. You further warrant that consent has been obtained regarding the name, likeness, biography, picture and clinical details related to any person, including any deceased person, forming part of your submission. Authentic copies of any such permission and consent shall be provided to aha together with the submission.
e. You shall indemnify, defend and hold aha and its associates, its directors, employees and agents harmless, from and against all costs, damages, losses, claims, demands, expenses (including legal and professional expenses) costs and liabilities that may, at any time arise whether directly or indirectly that might arise from your actions or omissions with respect to your application / participation pursuant hereto.
f. AHA may exclude your application from the film festival if you breach these rules, breach any applicable law, or take any act or are party to any act or thing prejudicial to aha’s goodwill, reputation, or overall public image.
g. If your film is selected by aha, for either the shortlist or a prize, you are authorized to mention such selection in your communications, without using the aha logo.
h. Any use by aha of a submitted video will acknowledge the authors and all persons deemed necessary under applicable laws.
i. Entering the film festival does not guarantee that you will win a prize or derive any other benefit. AHA accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you because of entering the film festival or accepting any prize. aha’s further disclaims liability for any injury or damage to you or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials in connection with the film festival. aha’s reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this film festival and the prize competition, with or without prior notice, including due to reasons outside its control. The decision of aha in all matters is final and binding.
j. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India and you submit irrevocably to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts in Hyderabad.