What better method to promote the message of road safety than with the limitless power of visual storytelling? The entries for the 2nd edition of the National Road Safety Short Film Festival are now open; the deadline for submission is November 17th, 2023.
The festival aims to enhance awareness of road safety issues and encourage more participation in road safety cooperation in the state of Odisha as well as across the country in order to reduce road accidents and fatalities.
Speaking at the launching ceremony of the festival, Tukuni Sahu, Minister, Commerce & Transport who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest said, “Every life is precious.Road safety is a high priority area for our Government.Short Films can be an effective tool of communication for spreading the message of Road Safety.”
Addressing the gathering, Sunil Kr. Bansal, DGP, Odisha who graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour said, “As a society we have become insensitive to road accident deaths. Road accidents and fatalities related to it are like slow haemorrhage. Over speeding is the root cause of many road accidents. Road safety is a shared responsibility. Together we can make a difference.
Earlier during his welcome address, Amitabh Thakur, Transport Commissioner said, “The festival offers an unbiased and a democratic space to storytellers, who are willing to share their ideas about road safety through the audio-visual medium.Like last year the festival will be in two categories- Odia language & Non-Odia language, subtitles in English must for all the entries.The festival will offer cash prizes in different categories worth Rs. 8 lakhs plus.”
A judging panel of film industry professionals and non-industry professionals, as well as luminaries from many walks of life, will determine the winners. The festival’s jury members were introduced during the launching event, which included ArchitaSahu, Film Actor & Model, ArunBothra, IPS, Addl. DG, CID-CB & MD, CRUT, JitendraBiswal, Disability Rights Activist & State Awardee Cine Actor, Kuna Tripathy, Chairman, OFDC & Odia Film Actor, RaghvendraKumar, Helmet Man of Siba Mohanty, Resident Editor, The New Indian Express, Bhubaneswar, and Sidhant Mohapatra, Veteran Odia Film Actor. Former member of the House of Commons, Sujit Mahapatra, Bakul Foundation Secretary and Author, Sneha Mishra, Social Worker and Activist, Sofia Alam is an Odia film actress and youth leader. Surya Deo, eminent film critic and author, and Varsha Priyadarshini, film actress and social activist, are the founders of the Surya Deo Foundation. Sammanita
In an effort to raise awareness about road safety, the Transport Department of the Government of Odisha organized the first edition of the National Road Safety Short Film Festival in 2022, a first-of-its-kind event in the country.The festival was a spectacular success that exceeded all expectations. A total of 230 entries in 6 languages from 8 states were received. It was recognized as one of the finest practices for road safety awareness by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety.
Entries can be submitted by filmmakers, amateur film aficionados, and students. Documentary, experimental, narrative, fiction, non-fiction, or animation films are all acceptable. The source film should be in FULL HD (19201080) or higher resolution. The whole length of the film, including the front and end credits, can be no more than 120 seconds (2 minutes).
Filmmakers can mail their entry via Google drive or We Transfer Link to roadsafetyshortfilms@gmail.com.
All the details are available on http://odishatransport.gov.in/.
The Prize money in different categories:
Odia Category
Best Film:Rs.1,00,000,First Runner Up-Rs.80,000, Second Runner up- Rs.60,000
Best Director: Rs.25, 000
Best Music: Rs.25, 000
Best Cinematography: Rs.25, 000
Best Actor/Actress: Rs.25, 000
Non-Odia Category
Best Film:Rs.1,00,000,First Runner Up-Rs.80,000, Second Runner up- Rs.60,000
Best Director: Rs.25, 000
Best Music: Rs.25, 000
Best Cinematography: Rs.25, 000
Best Actor/Actress: Rs.25, 000
Film screenings will be organized at Berhampur (01.12.2023),Sambalpur (04.12.2023) and Angul(07.12.2023). The grand finale of the festival will be held in Bhubaneswar on 12.12.2023.