Jagran Film Festival 2026 [₹5.5 Lakh + $3,000 Cash Prizes; Free Submission for Students]: Submit Films by Sep 12

Jagran Film Festival (JFF), organised by Jagran Prakashan Limited, is accepting films for the Mumbai edition of JFF 2026. Filmmakers can submit Indian and international feature films, short films, documentaries, OTT projects and student projects.

The festival has announced ₹5.5 lakh and $3,000 in cash prizes across selected categories. Initial entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway.

Submission deadline: September 12, 2026

Click here to submit your film on FilmFreeway.

Jagran Film Festival 2026: Highlights

Organiser: Jagran Prakashan Limited
Festival: Jagran Film Festival 2026
Opportunity: Film submissions for the Mumbai edition
Categories: Indian and international feature films, short films, documentaries, OTT projects and student projects
Total announced cash prizes: ₹5.5 lakh + $3,000
Submission platform: FilmFreeway
Student-project fee: Free; valid student ID mandatory
Other submission fees: Vary according to category
Submission deadline: September 12, 2026
Mumbai festival dates: October 28–November 1, 2026

About Jagran Film Festival

Jagran Film Festival is a travelling film festival organised by Jagran Prakashan Limited. Its 2026 edition is travelling through 14 Indian cities and concludes in Mumbai.

The festival includes film screenings, filmmaker interactions, panel discussions and Q&A sessions. Submitted films are first assessed by a preview panel, while award winners are selected by the festival jury.

Categories and Submission Fees

Indian Showcase: Competitive section for Indian feature films; standard fee $29.33 and FilmFreeway Gold fee $24.93.
World Panorama: Competitive section for international feature films; standard fee $50 and Gold fee $42.50.
JFF Docs: Non-competitive section for Indian and international documentaries; standard fee $25 and Gold fee $21.25.
Indian Shorts: Competitive section for Indian short films; standard fee $11.68 and Gold fee $9.93.
International Shorts: Competitive section for international short films; standard fee $25 and Gold fee $21.25.
JFF OTT Section: For eligible OTT projects; standard fee $25 and Gold fee $21.25.
Student Projects: Free submission; a valid student ID is mandatory.

Applicants should check the amount displayed by FilmFreeway before payment because taxes, exchange rates or platform pricing may affect the final payable amount. Submission fees are generally non-refundable under platform rules.

Cash Prizes

Best International Feature Film: $2,000
Best International Short Film: $1,000
Best Indian Feature Film: ₹2 lakh
Best Indian Short Film: ₹1 lakh
Best Director: ₹1.5 lakh
Best Debut Director: ₹1 lakh

Total announced cash prizes: ₹5.5 lakh + $3,000

For the Best Indian/International Film and Best Indian/International Short Film awards, the cash prize will be shared equally between the director and producer. Both will also receive certificates.

The Best Director and Best Debut Director prizes will be awarded to the directors. Prize amounts are gross amounts and applicable taxes may be deducted. International winners may be paid in US dollars or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees. Read the official JFF 2026 listing.

Eligibility

Feature Films

Feature films must have a minimum duration of 72 minutes.
For the Mumbai edition, films made between July 1 and September 10, 2026 are eligible.
Indian films must be produced and certified in India or completed within the applicable eligibility period.
International productions must have certification from the relevant national film board or suitable attestation.
Indian feature films in all Indian languages and dialects may enter the Indian Showcase.
Films submitted to previous editions of JFF are not eligible for the 2026 edition.

OTT Projects

The web series must have been originally created and released on an OTT platform.
For the Mumbai edition, it must have been released between July 1 and September 10, 2026.
Only one season of a series may be submitted.
All episodes of the submitted season must be publicly available.
The season must have at least three episodes and a total runtime of at least 180 minutes.
Each episode must run for at least 25 minutes.
Theatrically or television-released content later moved to OTT is not eligible.
Trailers, promotional videos, reality shows, dubbed versions, remakes, re-edited works and non-narrative compilations are not eligible.

Student Projects

Student projects may be submitted without a fee, but the applicant must provide a valid student ID.

Film Submission Requirements

Submit the preview film in MP4 or MOV format through FilmFreeway or a downloadable link.
Films must have English subtitles, including films in Indian and other non-English languages.
Applicants must hold the necessary production, distribution, music and screening rights.
Classroom, demonstration and preview-marked films are not eligible.
Films with inadequate technical quality may be rejected.
Films already submitted to a previous JFF edition cannot be submitted again.

Requirements for Shortlisted Films

Selected filmmakers will be required to provide an online Digital Cinema Package (DCP) for festival screening.

Screening copies must not contain a preview watermark.
Non-English films must include English subtitles.
DCPs should comply with the festival’s specified technical standards.
Freight, courier and other delivery expenses, where applicable, must be paid by the entrant.
Publicity material, press kit and backup files may also be required from shortlisted entrants.

These screening materials are not necessarily required at the initial FilmFreeway submission stage.

Selection Process

Films are submitted through FilmFreeway.
A festival preview panel reviews the eligible entries.
Selected films may be included in the screening or competition programme.
The jury evaluates films in the competitive sections.
Winners are announced during the festival’s closing edition in Mumbai.

Selection for screening does not automatically mean that a film has won an award.

How to Submit?

Visit the official JFF 2026 FilmFreeway page.
Create or log in to your FilmFreeway account.
Add your film or project with the required credits and supporting information.
Upload the film or provide an accepted downloadable preview link.
Select the correct submission category.
Upload a valid student ID if applying under Student Projects.
Pay the applicable category fee, unless using the free student category.
Submit the entry by September 12, 2026.

Important Rules

Entries submitted to previous JFF editions are ineligible.
English subtitles are mandatory for films in languages other than English.
Entrants must possess all necessary rights and permissions.
Attempting to influence the jury or concealing relevant information may result in disqualification.
The festival may screen an accepted film in one or more participating cities.
The festival directorate’s decision on selection and other matters is final.
Rules and schedules may be changed by the festival directorate.