Words aren’t wizards. Conviction is. We know you’ve got both.

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#ShortStory

#Writers

#Journalists

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#ShortFiction

Challenge begins in

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

15,045 Writers from 40 Countries in the last 9 years ✦

Last date to register is August 20, 2026, at 11:59PM ✦

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TIMELINE

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50 HOUR
CHALLENGE
BEGINS

August 21st,
2026 | 8 PM

50 HOUR
CHALLENGE
ENDS

August 23rd,
2026 | 10 PM

TOP
NOMINEES
ANNOUNCED

October 10th ,
2026

AWARDS
CEREMONY
AT IFP FEST

October 24th-25th, 2026

CATEGORIES

How is your World Different?

SHORT SCRIPT

Write a script for a short film
(please refer to rules for more information)

₹ 999
~$12 / ~Є11

MINI SERIES

Write a pilot episode of a miniseries of 5 episodes; and a synopsis + character descriptions of the further 4 episodes. (please refer to rules for more information)

₹ 999
~$12 / ~Є11

SHORT STORY

No rules or formats to bind you, just write a story in 1000 words or less.
(please refer to rules for more information)

₹ 999
~$12 / ~Є11

THINK PIECE (Non-Fiction)

In around 1000-3000 words, pour your thoughts, ideas, and opinions on a given theme.
(please refer to rules for more information)

₹ 999
~$12 / ~Є11

CATEGORIES

How is your World Different?

SHORT SCRIPT

Write a script for a short film

(please refer to rules for more information)

₹ 999

~$12 / ~Є11

SHORT STORY

No rules or formats to bind you, just write a story in 1000 words or less.

(please refer to rules for more information)

₹ 999

~$12 / ~Є11

MINI SERIES

Write a pilot episode of a miniseries of 5 episodes; and a synopsis + character descriptions of the further 4 episodes. (please refer to rules for more information)

₹ 999

~$12 / ~Є11

THINK PIECE
(Non-Fiction)

In around 1000-3000 words, pour your thoughts, ideas, and opinions on a given theme.

(please refer to rules for more information)

₹ 999

~$12 / ~Є11

JURY

Chiki Sarkar

Rashmi Bansal

Abhay Koranne

Bilal
Siddiqi
Previous Jury Members

PRIZES

Making Reality Grander Than Fiction!

IFP Trophy

Awards will be given for Platinum, Gold, and Silver (top 3) pieces in each of the four categories.

Pitch to Producers

Get a chance to meet and pitch your story to industry experts.

Lifetime Free Entry

Legacy lifetime free entry to IFP 50 Hour Writing Challenge.

Publishing Opportunity

Winners will have the chance to have their works published in IFP’s Anthology, which includes Short Stories and Think Pieces.

PRIZES

Making Reality Grander Than Fiction!

IFP Trophy

Awards will be given for Platinum, Gold, and Silver (top 3) pieces in each of the four categories.

Pitch to Producers

Get a chance to meet and pitch your story to industry experts

Lifetime Free Entry

Legacy lifetime free entry to IFP 50 Hour Writing Challenge.

Publishing Opportunity

Winners will have the chance to have their works published in IFP’s Anthology, which includes Short Stories and Think Pieces.

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

Subscription to Softwares

All participants receives subscriptions to our partner softwares post the festival

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

Subscription to Softwares

All participants receives subscriptions to our partner softwares post the festival

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

Sakshi Pareek

Gurgaon, India

“50 hours into the world of imagination gives you a whiff of your unbelievable potential.”

Gaurav CJK

Dubai, UAE

“Writing on an unexplored theme really widened the gamut of my imagination.”

Safiyah Aayan Fazly

Dubai, UAE

“It’s so surprising when you manage your time like never before and complete the story pushing past your limits!”

Azahle Dizon V

Batangas, Philippines

“These 50 hours made me fall in love with what I do. The rest unfolded itself.”

J Nithya Ganesh

Springfield, USA

“Your interesting themes are what spark intriguing ideas. Every artist loves to work when prompted well.”

Farzana Tannee

Dhaka, Bangladesh

“Last 50 hours helped me to recover from my extreme writer’s block.”

Alden Fernandes

Chicalim, India

“I loved the writing overnight experience.”

Lee Nolan

Mumbai, India

“After this I’m going to embrace deadlines rather than fearing them. It was thrilling.”

Sowmini S K

Bangalore, India

“The 50 hours writing spree etched it in my mind that creativity and deadlines are not mutually exclusive.”

Anindya Ray Ahmed

Mumbai, India

“My best stories are created out of constraints. It squeezes our brains hard and what remains is a great story.”

Joel Jacob

Kochi, India

“The deadline didn’t hamper, it helped. Last minute panic is the best fuel for creativity.”

GET MORE DETAILS


PARTICIPATION

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RULES

IFP 50 Hour Writing Challenge – Rules

General

  1. Entries are open for participants from across 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 20th August, 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. All registered participants will receive a Creator’s Agreement along with the theme and uploading link in their registered email at the time of the theme announcement.
  4. You can choose only one category (Short Script, Mini-Series, Short Story, or Think Piece) during registration and change it anytime before the registration period ends. You cannot change your category once registrations are closed.
  5. The writing piece must adhere to the theme, chosen category, and compulsory element.
  6. Submission Format:
    • Short Script:
    • Mini-Series:
      • Page 1: Title, writer’s name, city, and Creator ID
      • Page 2: Synopsis of the mini-series (up to 100 words)
      • Pages 3-9: Pilot Episode Script (maximum 7 pages)
      • Following Pages: Synopsis of four further episodes (up to 100 words per episode) + Description of lead and supporting characters (up to 100 words each)
      • Click here to download the sample file
    • Short Story:
    • Think Piece:
  7. All submissions must be typed in Courier font, size 12, and converted to PDF (maximum file size: 5MB). 
  8. Language:
    • Short Script/Mini-Series: Scripts must be written in English. Dialogue can be in any language but must include English translations in brackets below the dialogue. In these cases, the script can be up to two pages longer.
    • Short Story: Stories must be written in English. Non-English text must include English translations in brackets. The story can be up to one page longer in these cases.
    • Think Piece: Think pieces must be written in English. Non-English text must include English translations in brackets. Citations should be in brackets. The piece can be up to 500 words longer in these cases.

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 the 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. Participants must submit their writing piece via the provided upload link, that will be sent during the 50 hours of the challenge

Evaluation

  1. Evaluation Criteria:
    • Short Script/Mini-Series/Short Story: Plot/storyline, structure, character development, and adherence to the theme.
    • Think Piece: Research & analysis, structure & flow, grammar, and personal statement.

Disclaimer

  1. For Think Pieces, up to 13% plagiarism is allowed. Submissions exceeding this limit will be disqualified. Plagiarism can be checked using tools like QuillBot, Plagiarism Checker, EasyBib, Scribbr, etc. Participants would be required to submit a verified plagiarism report along with the submission piece.
  2. For all the categories, ZERO use of AI is allowed for the submission of the Written piece – participants are required to submit the AI checker report along with their written piece.
  3. Submitted writing pieces are strictly confidential and will only be viewed by the challenge jury.
  4. Scripts cannot be shared or uploaded publicly until the results are announced at the festival.
  5. IFP and IFP Parties may, in their sole discretion, disqualify any writing piece deemed inappropriate or non-compliant.
  6. Writing pieces containing prohibited or inappropriate content, as determined by IFP, will be disqualified.

IFP 50 Hour Writing Challenge – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General

  • Q: I am not from India. Can I participate?
    • A: Absolutely! IFP welcomes entries from writers around the globe.
  • Q: Is there a registration fee?
    • A: Yes, there is a registration fee of INR 999 (USD 12). 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 your writing piece from anywhere.
  • Q: What happens after I’ve submitted my work?
    • A: If your writing 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 write my submission?
    • A: You will receive the theme on Friday, 21st August, 2026 | 8:00 PM IST (GMT+5:30) and must upload your submission by Sunday, 23rd August, 2026 | 10:00 PM IST (GMT+5:30). You will have 50 hours in total to write.
  • Q: What is the evaluation criteria?
    • A:
      • Short Script/Mini-Series/Short Story: Plot/storyline, structure, character development, and adherence to the theme.
      • Think Piece: Research & analysis, structure & flow, grammar, and personal statement.
  • Q: Should my writing piece revolve around the compulsory element?
    • A: No. The compulsory element should be incorporated into your writing piece, but does not need to be the central focus.
  • Q: Can I write the think piece in another language?
    • A: The think piece must be written primarily in English. You can include quotes or words in other languages, but you must provide English translations in brackets immediately following the non-English text.
  • Q: Who will judge my submission?
    • A: Your submission will be judged by an eminent jury with extensive industry experience.
  • Q: How long should my pilot episode be for the mini-series?
    • A: The pilot episode should be a minimum of 5 pages and a maximum of 7 pages long.
  • Q: What format should the file be in?
    • A: The file must be uploaded in PDF format ONLY, no larger than 5MB.
  • Q: If the dialogues/text are in a different language, which language do we type it in?
    • A: The dialogues/text can be in any language you choose. However, you must include their English translations in brackets on the line below.
  • Q: Can there be more than one writer?
    • A: No, only one writer is permitted per submission.
  • Q: How do I submit my writing piece?
    • A: At the beginning of the challenge, you will receive an email with the theme and a link to upload your submission.
  • Q: If my writing piece is not selected, can I use it?
    • A: Yes, if your submitted writing piece is not selected as the winning entry, you retain the copyright and can use it as you wish. However, if you use it post the festival, the writing piece should bear the credit “This piece was made for IFP 50 Hour Writing Challenge.”
  • 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.




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.