Short Film contests · Talentino Live
Short Film Competition Online in India
Talentino Live runs online short film competitions for independent filmmakers, film students and mobile storytellers in India. Upload your short, and it is watched by viewers and scored by assigned judges.
Whether you shot on a phone or a cinema camera, what matters is the story and the craft. Every contest page lists its scope, age band, deadline and prize so you can choose where to submit.
Upcoming & open short film contests
No short film contests are open right now. New contests are added regularly — see all live contests or check the contest calendar.
What is the Talentino short film competition?
A short film competition on Talentino is an online contest where filmmakers submit one finished short. Drama, comedy, documentary, horror, animation you made yourself and experimental films are all welcome unless a contest specifies a genre.
Viewers rate and vote during the contest. After it closes, judges score a shortlist blind on the rubric. Audience and judge scores each make up half of the final score out of 10.
You must hold the rights to everything in your film — footage, music and performances — and everyone who appears must have consented.
Who can enter
Any filmmaker who meets the contest's age band, city and gender criteria can submit. The account holder submits on behalf of the crew.
Adults verify their mobile number to submit. Under-18 filmmakers can enter junior contests only with verified parental consent.
Contests are run for these age groups: Under 12, 13–17, 18–24, 25–34, 35–49, 50+, and some are open to any age. The age band is shown on every contest card. Each person can submit one entry per contest.
How to enter, step by step
- Create a free account with Google or email and add your age band, gender and city so we can show the contests you qualify for.
- Verify your mobile number with a one-time code. One account per phone keeps voting fair. Under-18s also need a parent or guardian to verify and consent.
- Pick an open short film contest from the list above and read its rules, deadline and prize.
- Record your entry. Check audio levels — viewers forgive soft images faster than bad sound. Add subtitles if dialogue is in a regional language, so every judge and viewer can follow. Open with a strong first shot; watch-through counts toward the audience score.
- Upload and accept the terms — you confirm the work is your own real performance, not AI-generated, and that everyone who appears has consented.
- Share your entry link so friends and fans can watch, rate and vote while the contest is open.
- Get your result and feedback after the judges score the shortlist.
How filmmakers are judged: crowd + judges
Every Talentino entry gets one final score out of 10. Half comes from the judges and half from the audience, so neither popularity alone nor a single judge's taste decides the winner.
Judge score (50%)
- Technique — 30%: for a filmmaker, this means cinematography, sound, editing, lighting and performances.
- Creativity — 25%: for a filmmaker, this means originality of story, structure and visual ideas.
- Expression / stage presence — 25%: for a filmmaker, this means emotional effect and clarity of the director's voice.
- Overall impact — 20%: for a filmmaker, this means how the film stays with the audience after it ends.
Each criterion is marked from 1 to 10. When 4 or more judges score an entry, the highest and lowest marks are dropped to keep results fair. Judges score blind — they do not see vote counts — and judges cannot score anyone they have coached in the past 12 months.
Audience score (50%)
The audience half blends three signals: verified votes (40%), viewers' 1–10 star ratings (40%) and watch-through — the share of viewers who watched most of your entry (20%). Each verified account can vote once per entry per day (India time) and up to 10 times per contest per day. Unusual voting bursts are checked and can be voided.
After a contest closes, the top 25 entries form the shortlist for judges, and the top 5 finalists can perform in a live online finale.
Prizes
Prizes are set for each contest and shown on its contest page before you enter. No short film contest is open at the moment, so check back for the next one.
Tips to win
Tell one clear story
Short films work best with a single idea and a tight arc.
Cut ruthlessly
If a shot does not move the story, trim it. Shorter films get higher watch-through.
Use licensed or original music
Rights issues can get an entry removed.
Subtitle everything
Subtitles help judges and viewers across languages.
Design a strong thumbnail
A clear poster frame helps your entry stand out in the feed.
Credit your crew
List collaborators in the description and get their consent before submitting.
From your city to the national stage
Talentino contests run for individual cities, districts and "Rest of state" regions, as well as all-India. Top performers from city contests can be promoted to zonal rounds across six zones, and zonal winners can move on to the national finals. It means a filmmaker from a smaller town has the same route to the national stage as one from a metro.
Train before you compete
The Talentino Academy offers contest-prep coaching, skill tracks and one-to-one mentorship with verified coaches. After a contest, the "Improve my score" button on your scorecard suggests training based on where you lost marks.
Top short film entries this month
No entries this month yet — yours could be the first.
Short Film contests by city
Frequently asked questions
How long can my short film be?
Check the contest page for any length rule. Shorter, tightly edited films usually perform better with viewers.
Can I submit a film shot on a phone?
Yes. Story and craft matter more than equipment.
Can I submit a film already on YouTube?
Yes, if it is your own work and you hold all rights to the footage, music and performances.
How are short films judged?
50% judges, 50% audience. Judges score Technique 30%, Creativity 25%, Expression 25% and Overall impact 20%.
Can a team submit together?
One account submits the film. Everyone who appears or contributed must have consented.
Is there an entry fee?
Any fee is shown on the contest page before you submit.
Are AI-generated films allowed?
No. Entries must be real, original work and not AI-generated or deepfaked.
How do audience votes work?
Each verified account can vote once per entry per day (India time), up to 10 votes per contest per day.
Can students under 18 submit films?
Only in junior contests with verified parental consent. Junior entries are moderated and kept out of search listings.