Submissions deadline
10 Nov 25
0€
Submit Short Films, Documentaries, Animation & Music Videos, Duration: 60 min max.
Pay the fee if selected: Professional- 40 euros | Student- 37 Euros.
15 Sep 2025
Call for entries
04 Oct 2025
Early deadline
06 Oct 2025
Standard deadline
08 Oct 2025
Late deadline
10 Nov 2025
Extended deadline
1
mth
11 Nov 2025
Notification date
07 Dec 2025
07 Dec 2025
Festival start: 07 December 2025 Festival end: 07 December 2025
The Search Light International Film Festival is an event focusing on diverse and innovative films produced by amazing young & experienced filmmakers to present their work and engage with audiences through screenings, workshops, and panels. It features new and avant-garde films. This festival allows for the presentation of emerging talent as well as diverse perspectives through a mix of narrative and documentary films, encouraging mixed genres. It aims to create a setting where filmmakers meet with the general public and professionals in their industry to work, discuss, and collaborate. The festival celebrates its service to cinema through inspiring, informative, and entertaining power during screenings, workshops, and panel discussions.
Production Awards
Best Feature Film
Best Feature Documentary Award
Best Feature Animation Award
Best Short Film
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Music Video
Best Director
Best Debut Director (Feature Only)
Special Festival Mention Certificate
Honorable Jury Mention Certificate
Best Ad Film
Best Web Series
Creative Awards
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Screenplay
Best VFX
Performance Awards
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Music Awards
Best Original Music
Best Background Music
Rules and Regulations:
3rd Search Light International Film Festival-2025
1. Fee, Awards & Submission: Submit movie free for preview & Pay the fee only if selected, No submission will be considered until the non-refundable entry fee has been paid.
Production Awards
❏ Best Feature Film
❏ Best Short Film
❏ Best Animation
❏ Best Feature Animation
❏ Best Feature Documentary
❏ Short Documentary
❏ Best Music Video
❏ Best Film-Jury
❏ Best Director
❏ Special Festival Mention
❏ Honorable Jury Mention
❏ Best Ad Film
❏ Best Debut Director (Feature Only)
❏ Best Web Series
Entry Fee: For all production awards
Feature Film/Feature Animation/Feature Documentary:
Regular: € 70
Web Series: € 100
Short Film, Short Documentary, Short Animation, Music Video & Ads:
Regular Students: €37
Regular Professional: € 40
Creative Awards
❏ Best Cinematography
❏ Best Editing
❏ Best Screenplay
❏ Best VFX
Entry Fee: For all creative awards
Feature Film/Feature Animation/Feature Documentary:
Regular: € 70
Web Series: € 100
Short Film, Short Documentary, Short Animation, Music Video & Ads:
Regular Students: €37
Regular Professional: € 40
Performance Awards
❏ Best Actor
❏ Best Actress
Entry Fee: For all performance awards
Feature Film/Feature Animation/Feature Documentary:
Regular: € 70
Web Series: € 100
Short Film, Short Documentary, Short Animation, Music Video & Ads:
Regular Students: €37
Regular Professional: € 40
Music Awards
❏ Best Original Music
❏ Best Background Music
Entry Fee: For all Music Awards
Feature Film/Feature Animation/Feature Documentary:
Regular: € 70
Web Series: € 100
Short Film, Short Documentary, Short Animation, Music Video & Ads:
Regular Students: €37
Regular Professional: € 40
Late Entry Fee: € 10 in addition to regular entry fee.
Entry Fee can be paid electronically in the following account:
Account Name: Miniboxoffice
A/C No: 19620210002643
IFSC Code: UCBA0001962
Swift Code: UCBAINBB242
Bank: UCO Bank
Branch: B-7/2, Site-IV, Greater Noida-201306, UP, India
OR
Participants can pay the fee via PayPal at Id: info@miniboxoffice.com .
2. Every official selected film in SLIFF-25 will enjoy following benefits-
Promotion & Marketing:
-Listing on fest website in official selection section.
-Lifetime dedicated film page on fest website in catalogue.
-Film team video interviews will be published in Filmmaker’s Cut and promoted on social media.
-Film Pitch video will be published in Film Market and promoted among industry professionals.
-Film article in News & blog on festival website.
Film Market & Distribution:
-Miniboxoffice Film Market subscription for 03 months.
-Film Distribution, Sales, Pitching & networking opportunities.
-Personal page, project listing & future opportunities.
Recognition & Awards:
-Every submitted film will get certificate of participation.
-Every officially selected film will get Certificate of Excellence- Official Selection certificate.
-Every Award Winner will get Certificate of Excellence- Award Certificate & Trophy.
-Every festival attendee will get festival mementos.
Feedback & Criticism:
-Festival provide a unique opportunity for every filmmaker to get Jury score sheet in order to understand ‘how the movie performed in festival’ and for scope of improvement.
-Audience interaction after film screening.
Learning & Exchange
-Master Classes on various current topics & trends.
-Culture & business exchange with fellow filmmakers.
3. Eligibility, Year of production & accepted movie duration:
-Films must be subtitled in English if language is other than English and Hindi.
- Year of production: Jan-2023 onwards
- Feature Films/Feature Animation/Feature Documentary: 61 min to 180 min (more than 60 min)
- Short Film/Short Documentary/Short Animation: up-to 60 min
- Music Video: up-to 9 min & Ad Films- any duration
- Web Series: Any duration
4. Films participated in earlier editons of SLIFF are not eligible for participation in 2025.
5. SLIFF-25 stages/process:
• Entry submission as per rules & regulations.
• Notification of shortlisted regular entries by the festival office on 10 Nov 2025 & shortlisted late entries notification on 16 Nov 2025.
• Delegate registration to attend SLIFF-25. All filmmakers must have registered as delegate to attend the festival. Hospitality charges are applicable for filmmakers & attendees, which include lunch, tea/coffee with cookies & master classes.
• Festival movies screening & workshops followed by award ceremony in Mumbai on 07 Dec 2025.
6. The decision of the Jury will be final and can’t be challenged.
7. Search Light Int. Film Festival-25 does not take any type financial commitment for the expense incurred on the correspondence by the participant. All Travel, Lodging & Boarding and other miscellaneous expenses will have to be borne by the participant himself for attending the festival. No request for the same will be entertained.
8. The actual postal charges are applicable for award delivery via courier in case you are unable to attend the festival.
9. Once the film submitted can’t be withdrawn in any circumstances, however festival director reserve the rights to disqualify any film on certain grounds.
10. By submitting movie to 3rd Search Light International Film Festival-25, filmmaker/producer takes the whole responsibility of copyright issues of music, script and other creative and technical aspects of film.
Submissions deadline
10 Nov 25
Submit Short Films, Documentaries, Animation & Music Videos, Duration: 60 min max.
Pay the fee if selected: Professional- 40 euros | Student- 37 Euros.
Submissions deadline
10 Nov 25
SUBMIT FREE FOR PRE-SELECTION & PAY IF SELECTED.
The fee is 70 euros.
Submissions deadline
10 Nov 25
SUBMIT FREE FOR PRE-SELECTION & PAY IF SELECTED.
The fee is 90 euros.
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.