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RULES

We extend a very warm welcome to you!

Please read the RULES before making a submission​

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  1. Submissions may be made directly through this website at LOWEST SUBMISSION FEES by clicking here and following the given steps. Alternatively, you may submit through Filmfreeway

  2. Discount(s) may be announced. So please check this website regularly and follow us closely on social media to stay updated on any upcoming discount(s)

  3. Released films/ publicly available films of any year of production/ release can be submitted. You are allowed to make multiple submissions for different films

  4. Short Films, Animated/ AI Short Films and Mini-Documentaries of any language and genre may be submitted as long as the runtime does not exceed a Maximum of 20 Minutes, including Opening and End Credits

  5. Participation at the festival will solely be at the cost of the participants. CLIFF will not provide travel, accommodation, stipend or reimbursement of any kind

  6. Only Adults (18+) are allowed to submit film(s) in the festival. For Minor (<18) Filmmakers, submissions should be made through Adults

  7. Only Adults (18+) are allowed to attend the festival. Minors (<18) may be allowed (with at least one accompanying adult) to attend screenings of only those films they have worked on

  8. Our first edition is for Short Films, Animated/ AI Short Films and Mini-Documentaries only

  9. Short Films, Animated/ AI Short Films and Mini-Documentaries in languages other than English should have subtitles in English

  10. If you submit a film in a wrong category, you may resubmit the film in the correct category, in which case, the earlier submission will be ignored. However, fees paid for the earlier submission shall not be refunded

  11. You're advised to kindly check all details thoroughly before making a submission

  12. Fees once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances

  13. By submitting your film, you permit CLIFF to use your film's poster(s), trailer(s) and other materials submitted, for publicity purposes. Additionally, CLIFF may use your film's poster to create a combined poster with CLIFF branding

  14. A film cannot be withdrawn from the film festival once it’s officially selected. A maximum of 5 Films will be chosen as Official Selections in every category for screening at the film festival, thereby making the total number of Official Selections as 30. From the films that do not qualify as Official Selections, CLIFF may, with the consent of concerned filmmakers, exhibit some films outside the competition section. So, even if your film doesn't qualify as an Official Selection, it still stands a chance to be screened outside the competition section

  15. If your film is officially selected, you shall submit the poster, trailer and screener copy of the film to CLIFF within 3 days of Notification Date (12th December 2026) i.e. latest by 15th December 2026. The formats and sizes for the same shall be communicated to you over email on the Notification Date. The screening auditorium has stereo sound output

  16. Physical Awards like Trophies, Certificates, etc. shall be handed over at the Event Venue only. If any Filmmaker wishes to receive Physical Awards like Trophies, Certificates, etc. by courier, whether within India or abroad, all consequent charges and expenses, including courier, shall be borne by the Filmmaker. CLIFF shall not bear any such charges or expenses

  17. You hereby confirm that you have all the necessary rights or permissions for all Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and other works used in the film being submitted

  18. You hereby confirm that you have all the necessary rights or permissions to submit the film to CLIFF 2026 or to film festivals in general

  19. CLIFF will not be responsible for any breach of trust/ contract/ IPR/ law by the person making the submission and such person shall indemnify CLIFF for any costs that CLIFF may have to bear as a consequence of such breach

  20. Onetakemedia.com Private Limited, popularly known and hereafter referred to as ‘Pocket Films’, is a Distribution Partner of CLIFF 2026. Filmmakers have a choice whether or not to apply to Pocket Films for distribution of their films. Once a filmmaker submits an application to Pocket Films for distribution of a film, all further interaction regarding that application shall happen solely between the filmmaker and Pocket Films and the Terms and Conditions of Pocket Films shall apply to such application for distribution. All Officially Selected Films of CLIFF 2026 will have a ‘Pre-approved Creative Content’ status by Pocket Films. So, if the legal owner of any Officially Selected Film of CLIFF 2026, either directly or through an authorized representative, submits an application to Pocket Films for distribution of that film, Pocket Films shall review the film and application only on legal and technical grounds, not creatively. This offer shall continue to remain valid for a period of 3 months post the conclusion of CLIFF 2026. CLIFF will share the list of Officially Selected films with Pocket Films once the list is published

  21. Courts in Mumbai shall have sole jurisdiction over cases involving any disputes with regard to the submission/ submitted film/ film festival (CLIFF)​​​

  22. Rules are subject to change

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