ATOM DOCFEST (1)

Festival start: 30 July 2025      Festival end: 31 July 2025

ATOM Documentary Festival

About ATOM Documentary Festival:

ATOM Documentary Festival, a sister festival of the Ooty Short Film Festival (a pioneering platform that has engaged global audiences for over 9 years), is a dynamic new movement dedicated to uncovering the fundamental truths of our world through documentary filmmaking. Named for the atom—the building block of matter—ATOM empowers filmmakers to dissect urgent global issues, from climate crises and AI ethics to social inequality and cultural preservation, transforming viewers into advocates for change.

Why Submit Your Film?

Legacy & Credibility: Born from the legacy of the Ooty Short Film Festival, ATOM combines proven expertise with a bold, futuristic vision for documentary storytelling.

Global Impact: Showcase your work to audiences and industry leaders passionate about truth, justice, and innovation. Films that illuminate hidden narratives, amplify marginalized voices, or challenge misinformation will thrive here.

Community & Action: Join a vibrant community of filmmakers, activists, and thought leaders through panels, workshops, and networking events designed to spark dialogue and mobilize collective action.

Themes We Champion: Climate change, AI ethics, social justice, and cultural heritage


Your Film, Our Mission:

ATOM is more than a festival—it’s a catalyst for global awareness. We seek documentaries that break down complex issues to their core, inspire empathy, and drive tangible change. Whether your work exposes systemic injustices, explores ethical frontiers in technology, or preserves fading cultures, ATOM provides the platform to amplify your voice.

Join the Movement:

Submit your documentary via Festhome and become part of a festival that bridges the visionary spirit of Ooty’s legacy with a relentless focus on truth. Together, we’ll turn stories into action.

Green Elephant Award for Best Documentary

ATOM DOCFEST Rules and Regulations

Eligibility Criteria

Documentary Focus: Submissions must be documentaries only. Non-documentary films (e.g., fiction, animation, or hybrid forms outside pure documentary storytelling) will be disqualified immediately.

Thematic Relevance: Films must address one or more of the festival’s core topics: Climate Crisis, AI Ethics, or Social Inequalities. Submissions outside these themes will not be considered.

Production Date: Films of any production date are welcome, from historical works to recent creations, recognizing the timeless relevance of these themes and encouraging a broad exploration of truth through documentary storytelling.

Length Flexibility: Films of any duration are accepted, from short-form to feature-length, reflecting the festival’s commitment to diverse narrative styles.

Multiple Submissions: Directors may submit multiple films, provided each meets the eligibility criteria, fostering a rich variety of perspectives and voices.

General Rules

Subtitles for Non-English Films: Non-English films must include English subtitles embedded in the screening copy. Unsubtitled films will not be accepted, ensuring accessibility for a global audience.

Submission Formats: If selected, filmmakers must provide a high-quality digital file in one of these formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, MPG, H.264, ProRes, or a Blu-ray DVD/DCP. Low-quality or incompatible formats may lead to exclusion.

Promotional Use: ATOM DOCFEST reserves the right to use excerpts (up to 3 minutes), trailers, and stills from selected films for promotional purposes, including online platforms, print materials, and festival screenings, to amplify visibility and impact.

Legal Authority: By submitting, you confirm you possess all rights necessary for public screening and authorize ATOM DOCFEST to exhibit your film as part of its program. Evidence of rights may be requested.

Acceptance of Rules: Submission constitutes full agreement to these rules and regulations. Disputes will be resolved at the festival’s discretion, with decisions being final and binding.

Liability

Copyright Responsibility: Filmmakers bear sole responsibility for securing and maintaining all copyrights, including music, visuals, archival footage, and other content.
ATOM DOCFEST assumes no liability for infringements.

Rights Assurance: Ensure all necessary permissions and clearances are obtained prior to submission. The festival will not be held accountable for legal disputes arising from unpermitted content.

File Submission Deadline: For selected films, a high-quality digital file must be delivered by June 30th, 2025, to allow sufficient preparation for the July 30th & 31st, 2025 festival dates. Late submissions may be excluded.

Ownership: Filmmakers retain full copyright ownership of their work. ATOM DOCFEST claims no ownership or distribution rights beyond festival screenings and promotion.

Liability Disclaimer: While ATOM DOCFEST handles submissions with care, it is not responsible for loss, damage, or technical issues during submission, shipping, or screening processes. Filmmakers are encouraged to retain backups.

Cultural Mission: As a non-profit initiative, ATOM DOCFEST uses submitted works solely to advance its mission of raising awareness, fostering dialogue, and celebrating documentary storytelling that explores the fundamental truths of our world, past and present.

Submission Process

Deadline: Submissions must be received by May 31st, 2025, via the festival’s online portal (Festhome). Late entries will not be considered.

Selection Notification: Filmmakers will be notified of selection status by June 25th, 2025, via email. Non-selected films will also receive notification, though feedback will not be provided.

Festival Dates: ATOM DOCFEST will take place July 30th & 31st, 2025, with selected films screened in-person and potentially online for accredited guests, unless filmmakers opt out in writing.

Additional Notes

Premiere Status: Premieres (world, international, or regional) are not required, broadening eligibility and welcoming both new and classic works that resonate with the festival’s themes.

Screening Commitment: Selected filmmakers are expected to provide a final screening copy matching the submitted version. Changes post-selection may lead to disqualification unless approved by the festival.

Tagline in Action: “Breaking Reality Down to Its Core” guides our curation—expect a rigorous selection process prioritizing bold, truth-seeking documentaries, whether recent or from decades past.