IFP 50 Hour Filmmaking Challenge - Rules

General

1. The 50 Hour Filmmaking Challenge is open to participants from across the globe.
2. Filmmaking hours are scheduled to begin from Friday, 4th September, 2026, | 8:00 PM IST (GMT+5:30) to Sunday, 6th September, 2026 | 10:00 PM IST (GMT+5:30).
3. Team members will receive the theme online on IFP’s Instagram, as well as on the registered Team Leader’s Email ID and WhatsApp.
4. Along with the theme, 5 to 7 different genres will be provided. Teams are allowed to choose any one genre.
5. A compulsory element shall be given to the team at the beginning of the challenge i.e on 4th September, 2026, | 8:00 PM IST (India Standard Time). It should be subtly included in the film.
6. All team members must be volunteers, meaning they are participating without receiving payment for their services. This ensures the spirit of the challenge remains focused on creativity and collaboration.
7. The team can have a minimum of 1 person and a maximum of 20 people, excluding actors. E-certificates will be awarded only to registered team members during the submission form.
8. Once participation is confirmed, refunds will not be issued.

Category Specific Rules:

1. Professional Category
   • Open to seasoned, experienced filmmakers who have directed or been a core part of at least 3 films previously.
   • Must use a DSLR or professional film camera with a minimum video capture resolution of 1080p.
   • Film must be shot and delivered in 16:9 aspect ratio.
   • Final film duration (excluding end credits): 4–6 minutes.

1. Amateur Category
   • Open to aspiring filmmakers, first-time filmmakers, or anyone who wishes to use professional gear (DSLR/film camera) for the first time.
   • Must use a DSLR or professional film camera with a minimum video capture resolution of 1080p.
   • Film must be shot and delivered in 16:9 aspect ratio.
   • Final film duration (excluding end credits): 4–6 minutes.

1. Mobile Category
   • Open to all filmmakers — whether seasoned professionals, aspiring filmmakers, or first-timers — who wish to shoot using a mobile phone in a horizontal format.
   • Must use a mobile camera with a minimum capture resolution of 1080p.
   • Film must be shot and delivered in 16:9 (horizontal) aspect ratio.
   • Final film duration (excluding end credits): 4–6 minutes.
   • Even experienced professionals are welcome in the Mobile category as long as they are filming on a mobile device in horizontal format.

1. Vertical Category
   • Open to any filmmaker using any device — DSLR, professional camera, or mobile phone — who wants to create a film in a vertical format.
   • The device used must capture a minimum resolution of 1080p.
   • Film must be shot and delivered in 9:16 (vertical) aspect ratio.
   • Final film duration (excluding end credits): 1–2 minutes.
   • The Vertical category is defined by the format, not the device. Any filmmaker may participate regardless of experience level.

1. AI Category
   • The AI Category operates under a separate and distinct set of rules.
   • This is an invite only category. Interested teams may express their interest via the registration form: https://forms.gle/qGxCjGre9RUdLi887
   • Full AI Category rules are published at a dedicated page: https://ifp.world/50hour-film/rules-ai/
   • The shortlisted teams for the challenge will be notified via email by August 15th, 2026 
   • AI Category rules cover permitted AI tools, disclosure requirements, authorship guidelines, and evaluation criteria specific to AI-assisted filmmaking.
   • All other sections of this document (General, Submission, Evaluation, Disclaimer) also apply to the AI Category unless explicitly superseded by the AI-specific rules page.

Tech

1. The film for any category must be edited on a laptop or desktop computer. Films containing watermarks from editing software will not be considered.
2. All films, regardless of language, must have English subtitles. The subtitles must be provided separately in a properly formatted SRT file. A sample SRT file and a tutorial on how to create and submit SRT files are available [link to tutorial/resources].
   You can use tools like aegisub.org, Dubverse.ai, veed.io, maestra.ai, descript.com or any other suitable software to create your subtitles.
3. Teams are encouraged to collaborate with local composers and musicians to create original music for their films. Teams may use pre-recorded music if they have the necessary rights. Royalty-free music is also permitted. If using copyrighted music, usage is limited to a maximum of 15 seconds, and the composer and music link must be credited in the end credits.
4. Sound must be stereo ONLY.
5. Teams cannot use stock footage or footage created earlier. Photographs can be used in a film only if the team has the rights to use them.
6. End credits are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. These 60 seconds are in addition to the maximum film length for your category.
7. The teams should use the ‘Opening Slide’ (i.e., IFP Title Slate) provided to the team leaders along with the theme. Opening titles are considered part of the film and count towards the total duration. The Opening Slide will be shared as a part of the theme announcement email.
8. Order: IFP Title Slate (provided at the beginning of the challenge) – 1 second of blank – 3 seconds of black slate with Film Name – Your movie.
9. The final video must be uploaded in MP4/MOV/MPEG-4 format. The uploaded video should be in 1080p and strictly below 2 GB. All file names should be your Creator ID. For instance, if your Creator ID is TA2140, your files should be TA2140.mp4 (Film), TA2140.srt (Subtitle).

Submission

1. Participants must submit their film via the upload link provided to the Team Leader. The upload link will be sent as soon as the challenge begins.
2. Along with uploading the film, teams must sign and submit the Creator’s Agreement online, which will be sent with the theme email.
   Visit the sample agreement here – Link to Sample Agreement
3. Teams are ideally expected to keep 48 hours for filmmaking and 2 hours for upload. For teams genuinely unable to upload their films within the 50-hour period due to technical reasons, a 4-hour extension will be provided.
   However, to maintain fairness, films uploaded past the 50-hour deadline will face score deductions: 0 to 1 hour late: 5%; 1 to 2 hours late: 7.5%; 2 to 4 hours late: 10%.

Evaluation

Evaluation criteria for all the submitted films will include Story/Narrative flow, Performances, Visual Composition/Cinematography, Editing and Adherence to category and inclusion of compulsory elements.

Disclaimer

1. The film must not contain any material that violates personal rights, religious beliefs, incites violence, makes derogatory remarks about someone’s sexuality or belief, invades privacy, or infringes on the rights of any person, firm, or entity.
2. Teams are requested to keep the original footage and project files for three years after submission. IFP may choose to broadcast these films on television and in theaters, requiring the highest quality.
3. IFP may add to or amend these rules at any time before the filmmaking period begins without prior notice.
4. IFP and project partners, at their sole discretion, can disqualify any film deemed inappropriate or non-compliant.