All revolutions emerge at the feet of voice. How far can yours echo?

#SpokenWord

#Poetry

#MonoAct

Challenge begins in

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

10704 PERFORMING ARTISTS from 18 COUNTRIES in 6 YEARS ✦

last date to register is September 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ✦

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TIMELINE

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50 HOUR
CHALLENGE
BEGINS

September 11th ,
2026 | 8 PM

50 HOUR
CHALLENGE
ENDS

September 13th,
2026 | 10 PM

TOP
NOMINEES
ANNOUNCEMENT

October 10th,
2026

AWARDS
CEREMONY
AT IFP FEST

October 24th-25th,
2026

CATEGORIES

What’s Your Way of Expressing?

SPOKEN WORD

Tell a story without any restrictions, free of poetic devices and rules.

₹ 699
~$9 / ~Є8

POETRY

Write and perform a piece of poetry adhering to rhyme and rhythm.

₹ 699
~$9 / ~Є8

MONO ACT

Enact an original character made by you, or deliver a monologue.

₹ 699
~$9 / ~Є8

CATEGORIES

What’s Your Way of Expressing?

SPOKEN WORD

Tell a story without any restrictions, free of poetic devices and rules.

₹ 699

~$9 / ~Є8

POETRY

Write and perform a piece of poetry adhering to rhyme and rhythm.

₹ 699

~$9 / ~Є8

MONO ACT

Enact an original character made by you, or deliver a monologue.

₹ 699

~$9 / ~Є8

JURY

Tess
Joseph

Akarsh
Khurana

Neeraj
Kabi

Aleena
Sabu

Kena
Shree

Previous Jury Members

PRIZES

We don’t Just Lend an Ear, We Amplify your Echo!

IFP Trophy

Awarded for Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze (top 4) performances in each of the three categories.

Live Performance

The top 10 nominees will have the opportunity to perform for live audiences at the IFP Festival Season 16 and compete for the prize.

Publishing Opportunity

Winners from Poetry Category will receive a publishing opportunity in IFP’s Anthology.

Lifetime Free Entry

Legacy lifetime free entry to IFP 50 Hour Performing Arts Challenge.

PRIZES

We don’t Just Lend an Ear, We Amplify your Echo!

IFP Trophy

Awarded for Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze (top 4) performances in each of the three categories.

Live Performance

The top 10 nominees will have the opportunity to perform for live audiences at the IFP Festival Season 16 and compete for the prize.

Publishing Opportunity

Winners from Poetry Category will receive a publishing opportunity in IFP’s Anthology.

Lifetime Free Entry

Legacy lifetime free entry to IFP 50 Hour Performing Arts Challenge.

50 HOURS IS ALL IT TAKES ✦ DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? ✦

THOUSANDS HAVE DONE IT ✦ MILLIONS HAVEN'T ✦ WHICH ONE ARE YOU? ✦

PARTICIPATE AND GET

Making Your Participation Worth It!

An Exclusive Online Workshop

Exclusive online workshop for participants with an industry expert before the challenge.

Discounted Season Pass

Get a discount on the season pass for Season 16 of the IFP Festival.

E-Certificate

Obtain an e-certificate for participating in IFP Season 16.

PARTICIPATE AND GET

Making Your Participation Worth It!

An Exclusive Online Workshop

Exclusive online workshop for participants with an industry expert before the challenge.

Discounted Season Pass

Get a discount on the season pass for Season 16 of the IFP Festival.

E-Certificate

Obtain an e-certificate for participating in IFP Season 16.

Words From Participants

Jimmy Xavier

Bangalore, India

“I’ll just say spend time on cracking the idea. 50 Hours are not going to be easy, but they’re totally worth it!”

MegMeanders

Bangalore, India

“This challenge reminded me that it is important to spare time from our busy lives to live and chase our creative pursuits.”

Rowan Groom

London, United Kingdom

“Very fun and enlightening!”

Rachelle Mazzilli

Toronto, Canada

“It was fun! The first draft of my monologue flowed easily, it was the editing for the time limit that tugged at my wits.”

Hoe Wei Qi

Singapore

“Juggling this and work has been quite mad since I was working over the weekend. Completing the piece makes the rush worth it though.”

Juber Shafik Fakir

Pune, India

“I realised nothing but fear stops me. This made me step out of my comfort zone.”

Shatabdi Mazumdar

Mumbai, India

“I think I just took the first step towards my dream through you!”

Varesh Cardozo

Mumbai, India

“It has tested my creativity like never before.”

Swastika Dasgupta

Bangalore, India

“Just trust your instinct and stick to it throughout the process. Being a great listener to yourself is the key.”

Behroz Dumasia

Mumbai, India

“I am glad I had this platform to chase one of my dreams without worrying about the outcome.”

Chethana Ramesh Srivatsa

Bangalore, India

“I realised that I can do anything if I set my mind to it.”

GET MORE DETAILS


PARTICIPATION

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RULES

IFP 50 Hour Performing Arts Challenge – Rules

General

  1. Entries are open for participants from around the globe.
  2. This challenge is strictly for individual participants; no team entries are allowed. Each participant will receive an e-certificate from IFP at the registered email address.
  3. Once participation is confirmed, refunds will not be issued.

Tech

  1. Registrations close on 10th September, 2026 | 11:59 PM IST (GMT+5:30).
  2. Participants will receive the theme and compulsory element online on IFP’s Instagram, as well as on the registered email ID and WhatsApp.
  3. You can choose only one category (Spoken Word, Poetry, or Mono Act) during registration and change it anytime before the registration period ends. You cannot change your category once registrations are closed.
  4. Your performance must be in Hindi or English only, you also need to submit the script of your performance in English transcription and translation.
  5. Your performance must adhere to the theme.
  6. The submitted piece must be original and unpublished, meaning it has not been previously shared publicly in any form (including online, in print, or at live events). This ensures the challenge showcases fresh and exclusive work.

Submission

  1. All registered participants will receive a Creator’s Agreement along with the theme and upload link in their registered email at the time of theme announcement.
    Sample Creator Agreement can be viewed here, please note that we will be sending a link to sign the agreement at the registered email address.
  2. Your submission must include the following:
    • Spoken Word:
      1. Title (required)
      2. Performance Video (landscape mode, 1080p, MP4, maximum 500MB) – Narration: minimum 3 minutes, maximum 5 minutes
      3. Written Transcript (Courier font, size 12, PDF, maximum 20MB; Devanagari script or Roman English allowed for Hindi content)
      4. File names: Your Creator ID (e.g., ST836.mp4, ST836.pdf)
        Click here to download the sample file
    • Poetry:
      1. Title (required)
      2. Performance Video (landscape mode, 1080p, MP4, maximum 500MB) – Narration: maximum 4 minutes; Text: minimum 12 lines, maximum 40 lines
      3. Written Transcript (Courier font, size 12, PDF, maximum 20MB; Devanagari script or Roman English allowed for Hindi content)File names: Your Creator ID (e.g., PT912.mp4, PT912.pdf)
        Click here to download the sample file
    • Mono Act:
      1. Title (required)
      2. Performance Video (landscape mode, 1080p, MP4, maximum 500MB) – Performance: minimum 3 minutes, maximum 5 minutes
      3. Written Transcript (Courier font, size 12, PDF, maximum 20MB; Roman English allowed for Hindi content)
      4. File names: Your Creator ID (e.g., MA248.mp4, MA248.pdf)
      5. Click here to download the sample file

Evaluation

  1. Evaluation criteria includes elements like performance quality, originality, creativity, adherence to theme/category, clarity of delivery, emotional impact, etc.

Disclaimer

  1. Any piece that displays disrespect toward any person, community, or religion or contains violence, hatred, obscenity, or nudity will be disqualified.
  2. Submitted pieces are strictly confidential and will only be viewed by the challenge jury.
  3. The written and video components of the submitted piece cannot be publicly released until the official results are announced at the festival.
  4. IFP and its associated parties reserve the right to disqualify any piece deemed inappropriate or non-compliant.

Team Information

  1. Spoken Word and Poetry categories are strictly for individual participants. Each participant will receive an e-certificate from IFP.



IFP 50 Hour Performing Arts Challenge – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General

  • Q: I am not from India. Can I participate?
    • A: Absolutely! IFP welcomes entries from performers around the world.
  • Q: Is there a registration fee?
    • A: Yes, there is a registration fee of INR 699 (USD 9). Payment is made online to confirm your registration. You will receive a unique Creator ID via email upon confirmation.
  • Q: Can I participate in multiple IFP challenges?
    • A: Yes, you can participate in other IFP challenges using the same email ID. However, each challenge requires a separate registration fee and will have a separate Creator ID.
  • Q: Can I sponsor this challenge?
    • A: Please contact us at ritam@ifp.world for sponsorship inquiries.
  • Q: What is the Creator’s Agreement?
    • A: Each participant must sign a legally binding agreement. This agreement protects both your rights as a creator and IFP’s rights as a platform. The agreement will be provided to you via email at the beginning of the challenge, along with the theme. Any participant not submitting the agreement will be disqualified.
  • Q: Is it an online challenge, or do I need to be in Mumbai?
    • A: The challenge is entirely online. You can participate and submit from anywhere.
  • Q: What happens after I’ve submitted my work?
    • A: If your piece is nominated, you will receive an email notification along with the further steps that you would need to follow.

Tech

  • Q: How much time do I have to create and record my piece?
    • A: You will receive the theme on Friday, 11th September, 2026 | 8:00 PM IST (GMT+5:30) and must upload your video by Sunday, 13th September, 2026 |, at 10:00 PM IST (GMT+5:30). You will have 50 hours in total to write and record.
  • Q: What is the evaluation criteria?
    • A: Submissions will be evaluated based on:
      • Poetry and Spoken Word: Creativity and originality, structure, language, adherence to the theme, and performance quality in the video.
      • Mono Act: Creativity and originality, performance quality in the video, use of sensory details, and adherence to the theme.
  • Q: Should my submission be based on the compulsory element?
    • A: No. The compulsory element should be incorporated into your piece but does not need to be the central focus.
  • Q: In what languages can I submit my piece?
    • A: Your piece must be in Hindi or English.
  • Q: Will the production quality of my performance video matter?
    • A: While high production quality isn’t essential, ensure clear audio and visuals. Record in a quiet environment, keep the camera at eye level, and look directly into the camera. Focus on delivering a compelling performance.
  • Q: How do I submit my piece?
    • A: At the beginning of the challenge, you will receive an email with the theme and a link to upload your video.
  • Q: Can I send an audio file instead of a video?
    • A: No. Only video files will be accepted for this challenge.
  • Q: Who will judge my piece?
    • A: Your performance will be judged by an eminent jury with extensive industry experience.
  • Q: Do I need to sign a Creator’s Agreement?
    • A: Yes. All participants must sign a Creator’s Agreement. This agreement protects both your rights as a creator and IFP’s rights as a platform.
  • Q: I am a participant from outside India. What standard time should I follow for the challenge?
    • A: The standard time for the challenge is Indian Standard Time (IST), GMT+5:30.
  • Q: What is a mono act?
    • A: A mono act is a dramatic performance featuring a single actor portraying one or more characters. The actor conveys a story or message through dialogue, gestures, and movement.
  • Q: Can a solo dance performance be submitted under the Mono Act category?
    • A: No. The Mono Act category focuses on voice and verse performances. Dance can be incorporated as part of your mono act performance, but a pure dance piece is not eligible.
  • Q: Is slam poetry allowed?
    • A: Yes, slam poetry is accepted in the poetry/mono act category.
  • Q: Can you give examples of categories that we can include in the Poetry Category?
    • A: Your poetry can be lyric, dramatic, or narrative. In Hindi, it could be Ghazal (narration), Doha, Chopayee, or Muktbaddh. All submitted poems must be original works.
  • Q: Can I add background music to my performance?
    • A: Yes, background music is allowed (but not required) for your performance. However, ensure that your vocals remain clearly audible.

 

GET DETAILS QUICKLY ON YOUR EMAIL


What is the festival all about?
IFP is a multi-staged creativity & culture festival that happens across two days with more than 180+ prominent creators from Films & OTT, Digital, Literature & Writing, Music, Design & Art, Storytelling, Audio & Podcasting, Photography, Tech & Gaming, Comedy, Culture, Advertising and Performing arts who will participate in various Conversations, Panels, Workshops, Masterclasses, Live Performances, and AMAs.

 

Are there any hidden charges?
No, only GST will be levied on the tickets as per the government’s rules and regulations.

 

When and where is the festival happening?
The festival is scheduled to take place on-ground in  Mumbai on December 6th & 7th, 2025.

 

Is the festival accessible for People of Determination?
Yes, IFP is an all-inclusive and accessible festival. We will be tying up with an accessibility management agency to ensure the same.

 

Can I attend all the sessions?
Yes, you will have access to all the sessions taking place across all 2 days. However Stage entry and seating will be on a first come first serve basis.

 

Where can I buy tickets?
The tickets are available on all the major Ticketing Platforms and on IFP’s Website. Click here to buy the tickets.

 

Will there be an award ceremony for the challenges?
Yes, the winners of all the challenges of IFP will be awarded during the festival. Kindly check the schedule regarding the same.

 

What will be the timings of the festival?
The first session on October 12 & 13, 2024 (i.e. Saturday and Sunday) will start at 10am and the last session will end at 9pm.

 

I’m a member of the media? How do I make arrangements for a media pass?
You can  fill-up the form with relevant details and request for media invite.

 

Wow, there are lots of artists taking sessions! Will I get to personally interact with them?
There is no guarantee, however, you could plan for the questions you would want to ask in the event and if you are lucky, you will get an opportunity to ask them.

 

Will there be food at the venue?
Yes, there will be a food zone at the festival. 

 

Will there be parking at the venue?
No, there will be no parking available at the venue.

 

Is there any age limit/rule?
No. The festival is open to all ages.

 

How do I become a Sponsor?
Please mail us at ritam@ifp.world

 

What is your ticket policy?
Tickets are purchased online through our (platform) and on-ground on festival days. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

 

What are some of the general measures that ensure safety in all forms at the festival?
Harassment, abuse , stalking, threatening or defaming/ violating any rights (right to privacy and publicity) is not allowed and will be taken seriously. Attendees are not allowed to carry any harmful substances, weapons or arms of any kind.