Introduction to the film festival
Welcome to IMAGINATION FILMS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2026
"Imagination Films" one of the renowned film production company is going to organize it's 3rd international film festival. Imagination Films has produced feature film "Main vaada Nibhahu" and a short film "My Mother My World" which has received 22 awards, 19 official selection and 2 honorable mention in various film festivals.
The 1st Imagination Films International Festival 2024 was successfully conducted at Hotel Central Park, BHILAI on 25th August 2024 in which the festival has received 53 films from 25 countries.
The 2nd Imagination Films International Festival was conducted on 8th June 2025 at the same venue ie Hotel Central Park,Bhilai. This time the festival has received nearly 3 times the entries ie 147 entries from 40 countries.
The 3rd edition will also be conducted in Bhilai on 16th August 2026.
IFIF believes:
Let your imagination soar high
&
If you think you can, you can
The objective of IFIF is to empower short films across the globe and to nurture the development of newborn filmmakers.
Along with Short Films, Short Documentaries, Music Videos, short Animation film will also be eligible to submit their creations. We have added Best AI Short Film in our 3rd edition.
IFIF is committed to nurture regional art and culture and we are providing equal opportunity to local artist to show their talent hence local film makers can submit their short film and music video in Chhattisgarhi language also without English subtitles.We have added one more category for Chhattisgarh ie best animation short film (Chhattisgarh).
There are overall 21 categories !
Awards
There are 3 Awards for each category as mentioned below:
1. Best Student Short Film (Chhattisgarh - School/College/University)
2. Best Short Film (International)
3. Best Short Film (India)
4. Best Short Film (Chhattisgarh)
5. Best Animation Short Film (International)
6. Best Animation Short Film (India)
7. Best Animation Short Film (Chhattisgarh)
8. Best Student Animation Short
9. Best Documentary
10. Best Director
11. Best Music Video (Chhattisgarhi)
12. Best Music Video (International)
13. Best Music Video (India)
14. Best Experimental Film
15. Best One Minute Short Film
16. Best Student Short Film (International)
17. Best Student Short Film (India)
18. Best Social Short Film
19. Best Children Short Film
20. Screening short film (Non-Competition)
21. Best AI Short Film
All participants will receive certificate of participation in digital format.
Rules
RULES AND TERMS:
1) Short Film/ Documentary Film Duration: 1 min to 40 min
2) Music Video Album Duration: 1 min to 10 min
3) Films can be in any language, but have to be subtitled in English. English subtitle is optional for the films in Hindi/Chhattisgarhi language.
4) No production completion deadline (Any production year is eligible)
5) One filmmaker can submit any number of entries but a separate submission form should be submitted for every entry with separate entry fees. While submitting as student project student ID must be submitted.
6) Films once submitted cannot be withdrawn and there is no refund.
7) After a film has been official selection, the filmmaker will be notified, and eventually the film will be listed on the festival website (www.imaginationfilms.in) and social media platform under Official Selections. The Official Selection status doesn't mean that your film will be screened at the festival. It means that your film has been appreciated by our judges of the panel and you can use the festival logo on your poster.
8) For promotional/publicity purposes, excerpts from any film (Max. 1min) may be used on a non-commercial basis.
9) IFIF 2026 reserves the right to store a copy of selected films in the festival digital archive. The films may be used for future non-commercial screenings
10) The Festival committee has the right to accept or refuse any film without assigning any reason whatsoever.
11) Only the Directors/Producers of the Selected Films will be notified. List of Selected Films and Winners will be published on our social media platform official portal & web site.
12) Decision of the Jury regarding film selection will be final. No correspondence will be entertained in this regard.
13) Deadlines, programs, venues and dates may change.
14) Festival authority doesn't take the responsibility of copyrighted items.
IFIF 2026 will not be held responsible for any unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted and/or trademarked content or materials within or relating to the submitted project, including any content or materials that are or may become the basis for any Third Party Claim/s for copyright infringement and/or trademark infringement, trademark dilution or unfair competition.
15) IFIF 2026 does not take any type financial commitment for the expense incurred on the correspondence by the participant. All travel, lodging and 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.
16) Delegate registration to attend IFIF-2026. All nominated filmmakers must have registered as a delegate to attend the festival. Hospitality charges are applicable for filmmakers and attendees.
| Jury Name | Judge photos | Jury Profile |
|---|
Authorization type
Authorization Letter
Duration (several sessions)
Film Festival Features
Dates & Deadlines
2025-06-15
Submission start time
2025-08-15
Earlybird Deadline
2025-11-15
Regular Deadline
2026-01-15
Late Deadline
2026-04-15
Extended Deadline
2026-04-15
Submission end time
2026-06-21
Finalist notification start time
2026-06-21
Finalist notification end time
2026-08-16
Award ceremony start time
2026-08-16
Award ceremony end time
Categories and fees
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 5.62 Dollar
Student： 4.38 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 5.62 Dollar
Student： 4.38 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 5.62 Dollar
Student： 4.38 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 5.62 Dollar
Student： 4.38 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 22.5 Dollar
Student： 20 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 25 Dollar
Student： 22.5 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 27.5 Dollar
Student： 25 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 30 Dollar
Student： 27.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 15 Dollar
Student： 13.75 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 17.5 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 20 Dollar
Student： 17.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 8.75 Dollar
Student： 7.5 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 10 Dollar
Student： 8.75 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 11.25 Dollar
Student： 10 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 15 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 17.5 Dollar
Student： 16.25 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 20 Dollar
Student： 17.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 15 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 17.5 Dollar
Student： 16.25 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 20 Dollar
Student： 17.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 15 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 17.5 Dollar
Student： 16.25 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 20 Dollar
Student： 17.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 5.62 Dollar
Student： 5 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 6.25 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 6.88 Dollar
Student： 16.25 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 8.75 Dollar
Student： 7.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 15 Dollar
Student： 12.5 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 17.25 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 20 Dollar
Student： 17.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 11.25 Dollar
Student： 10 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 11.88 Dollar
Student： 10.62 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 12.5 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 17.5 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 15 Dollar
Student： 13.75 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 17.5 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 20 Dollar
Student： 17.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 6.88 Dollar
Student： 6.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 8.12 Dollar
Student： 6.88 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 8.75 Dollar
Student： 7.5 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 10 Dollar
Student： 8.75 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 10 Dollar
Student： 6.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 10.62 Dollar
Student： 6.88 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 11.25 Dollar
Student： 7.5 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 8.75 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 11.25 Dollar
Student： 10 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 13.75 Dollar
Student： 12.5 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 16.25 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 10 Dollar
Student： 8.75 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 10.62 Dollar
Student： 9.38 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 11.25 Dollar
Student： 10.62 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 16.25 Dollar
Student： 12 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 15 Dollar
Student： 12.5 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 17.5 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 21.25 Dollar
Student： 18.5 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 11.25 Dollar
Student： 10.62 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 12.25 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 13.75 Dollar
Student： 11.88 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 16.25 Dollar
Student： 12.25 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 11.25 Dollar
Student： 10.62 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 12.25 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 13.75 Dollar
Student： 11.88 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 16.25 Dollar
Student： 12.25 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 10 Dollar
Student： 8.75 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 11.25 Dollar
Student： 10.62 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 12.25 Dollar
Student： 11.88 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 13.75 Dollar
Student： 12.25 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 10 Dollar
Student： 8.75 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 12.5 Dollar
Student： 11.25 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 15 Dollar
Student： 13.75 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 17.5 Dollar
Student： 15 Dollar
2025/08/15
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 50 Dollar
Student： 48 Dollar
2025/11/15
Regular Deadline
Standard: 62.5 Dollar
Student： 56.25 Dollar
2026/01/15
Late Deadline
Standard: 75 Dollar
Student： 68 Dollar
2026/04/15
Extended Deadline
Standard: 100 Dollar
Student： 93 Dollar
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