Ootpataang Festival (1)

Festival start: 12 February 2026      Festival end: 15 March 2026

Ootpatang (Hindi, Colloquial) - The weird, absurd, or nonsensical.

The Ootpatang Festival is a one-day celebration of ajeeb and weird or nonsensical.

Of those who don’t fit in - short film screenings, live performances, and interactive workshops - for the weird, by the weird, held over one day in New Delhi, 2026.

This is a gathering of the super-normal, where you can show off your weird side and experience new and interesting experiences - from films that expand your understanding of narrative and ‘good taste’, live experiences that break through the noise of bland ‘content’, and most importantly, community of creative, artistic, and like-minded weirdos like yourself.

OPT will feature a dedicated film screening area throughout the day, a space for live performances and interactive experiences, and a large common area where all can gather to celebrate whatever is outside the mainstream, away from the norm, and off the kilter.

for the weird, by the weird.

The festival committee will select the best short film entry to be awarded the Golden Camel Award.

The best film by popular vote will be awarded the Patang Medal.

The best live performance or workshop will be awarded the Laat Prize.

We’re looking for short films in the following genres - Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Underground, Experimental. Spoof, sketch, mockumentary, and absurd comedies are also welcome.

1. Any style of film - live-action, animation, mixed media - are accepted.

2. Submissions must be under 30 minutes of run time.

3. There is no submission fee (you paying us) nor a screening fee (us paying you).

4. Filmmakers are entitled to free passes but we can not provide travel and stay.

5. An entrant can enter multiple submissions at the same time.

6. Entrants must submit their entries using Festhome online screening system. No physical copies of the submission will be accepted.

7. Submissions that use Gen AI will not be accepted.

8. By submitting an entry, the entrant gives permission to the festival to allow the film to be shown to attending press or press-related events.

General Terms and Conditions
1. The festival organizing committee reserves the final right to select any and all submissions and pitches.
2. Having your film or performance accepted to the festival does not entitle the entrant to any remuneration of share of the proceeds.
3. The individual or corporation (entrant) submitting their film to the Ootpatang Festival hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening. Please ensure if you are submitting a film that contains copyrighted material by anyone other than yourself, that you have obtained festival clearance for that material used. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Ootpatang Festival, its organizers, judges, sponsors, and partners, individually and collectively, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to submitted material. The burden of determining that any material is not protected by copyright, trademark, rights of privacy, publicity or any other proprietary rights rests with the entrant. The entrant shall bear the sole liability for any damage resulting from any infringement of copyrights, proprietary rights, or any other harm resulting from such a submission.
4. If your work is accepted into the Ootpatang Festival you agree to allow us to use all or a portion of your film (including images, sound and clips) within our promotions and screenings; and you allow us to provide your film to the press and media in promotion of your film and the festival.
5. We may, at our discretion, transfer all or a portion of your submitted work to a compilation for festival screening which may be used for festival promotional purposes. You have read and agree to our general rules and terms and conditions. You agree that failure to adhere to any of the general rules or terms and conditions may result in disqualification for which no refund for entry fee(s) is due.