Cuttack: The National Road Safety Short Film Festival 2023, organised by Transport department of Odisha government, has received 247 entries from across the country.
Filmmakers, amateur film enthusiasts and students from 7 states have submitted their entries in form of documentary, experimental, narrative, fiction, non-fiction and animation format in 7 languages.
The qualified entries include 145 films in Odia language and 75 films in non-Odia languages. These include 8 animation films and 7 silent films. Apart from Odia language, films in Santhali language from tribal belts of the state have been submitted. There are also entries in Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam and English on various aspects of road safety.
Apart from Odisha, there are entries from Punjab, Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam, Delhi and West Bengal. This year, students from neighbouring countries including Nepal, Bangladesh and Kenya, who are studying in Bhubaneswar, have also sent their films for the festival.
The winners of the festival will be selected by a panel of judges comprising film industry professionals and non-industry professionals and luminaries from different walks of life. The shortlisted films will be screened at Berhampur on December 1, in Sambalpur on December 4 and in Angul on December 7. The grand finale of the festival will be held in Bhubaneswar on December 12.
The festival aims at promoting awareness on road safety and increasing engagement in road safety in the state as well as across the nation to reduce the accidents and fatalities.
The best film in both Odia and non-Odia categories will get a cash award of Rs 1 lakh while first runner-up will get Rs 80,000 and the second runner-up Rs 60,000. The best director, best music, cinematography and best actor/actress will get Rs 25,000 each in both the categories.
