Deadline: 02-Mar-2026
The Short Film Contest for Safer Roads by IIT Madras’ Centre of Excellence for Road Safety, in collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and MyGov, invites Indian filmmakers, students, and storytellers to create impactful short films promoting responsible road behaviour. The contest rewards original, high-quality visual storytelling that addresses real-world road safety issues, with cash prizes for top entries.
Overview of the Contest
The Short Film Contest for Safer Roads is organized by the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS), IIT Madras, under the aegis of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), in collaboration with MyGov.
The contest encourages filmmakers, students, and visual storytellers across India to create compelling short films that promote responsible road behaviour and raise awareness about road safety challenges.
This initiative uses creative storytelling as a tool to influence public attitudes, promote safe practices, and highlight everyday road safety issues through impactful visual narratives.
Purpose and Theme
The core objective of the contest is to promote road safety awareness through original short films that communicate clear and effective safety messages.
Submissions should focus on responsible road behaviour, real-life traffic situations, and practical safety practices that can help reduce road accidents and injuries.
The contest values clarity of message, originality, creativity, and the ability to translate real-world road safety concerns into engaging visual stories.
Who Can Participate
The contest is open to Indian citizens, including filmmakers, students, and independent storytellers.
Participants may apply individually or as part of a team. Teams can consist of up to five members, and full details of all team members must be provided as part of the submission.
Participants below 18 years of age are required to submit consent from a parent or legal guardian.
Submission Requirements
Participants must submit original, video-based short films that adhere strictly to the prescribed rules and formats.
Videos must be submitted in widely accepted digital formats and should meet standard technical requirements related to resolution, frame rate, and aspect ratio to ensure professional viewing quality.
Each entry must be accompanied by a detailed written description of more than 250 words explaining the concept, message, and relevance of the film to road safety.
The video must be shared via an online drive link with public viewing access enabled. All submitted content must be original, and any form of plagiarism may result in disqualification.
Evaluation Criteria
Entries will be evaluated by a jury appointed by the organizers.
The evaluation will consider storytelling strength, relevance to real-world road safety issues, originality of the concept, and effectiveness of the safety message.
Technical aspects such as cinematography, editing, sound design, and overall visual quality will also play a key role in the assessment.
Awards and Recognition
The contest offers financial rewards to recognize outstanding submissions.
The first prize winner will receive ₹20,000.
The second prize winner will receive ₹12,500.
The third prize winner will receive ₹7,500.
Winning entries will be recognized for their impact, creativity, and contribution to promoting safer roads.
Important Conditions
All submissions must strictly comply with the contest rules, formats, and terms and conditions.
Only original work is permitted, and entries found to violate originality requirements may be disqualified at any stage.
Participants are responsible for ensuring that their submissions meet all eligibility and technical criteria before final submission.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Short Film Contest for Safer Roads?
It is a national video contest encouraging Indian filmmakers and storytellers to create short films that promote road safety and responsible road behaviour.
Who can apply for this contest?
Indian citizens, including students, filmmakers, and independent storytellers, can participate individually or in teams of up to five members.
Are teams allowed to participate?
Yes. Teams of up to five members are allowed, and team details must be included in a PDF submission.
Can participants under 18 years of age apply?
Yes. Participants under 18 must submit parental or guardian consent along with their application.
What kind of videos can be submitted?
Participants must submit original short films in accepted digital formats that clearly convey road safety messages and meet technical quality standards.
How will the entries be judged?
Entries are judged based on storytelling, originality, relevance to real-life road safety issues, clarity of message, and technical quality such as cinematography and sound.
What prizes are offered?
The first prize is ₹20,000, the second prize is ₹12,500, and the third prize is ₹7,500.
Is plagiarism allowed?
No. All submissions must be original, and plagiarism will result in disqualification.
Conclusion
The Short Film Contest for Safer Roads offers a unique opportunity for Indian creators to use visual storytelling to influence safer road behaviour.
By combining creativity with social responsibility, the contest aims to amplify road safety awareness and encourage meaningful conversations around everyday traffic challenges and solutions.
For more information, visit MyGov.
