Grand Finale Lights Up Mumbai
The curtains have fallen on the inaugural Zee Short Film Contest, and what a show it was! The grand finale, held in Mumbai, brought together some of the biggest names in Indian cinema alongside fresh-faced storytellers from every corner of the country. This wasn’t just another competition—it was a celebration of raw talent, new perspectives, and the sheer love of cinema.
Dr. Subhash Chandra, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., graced the evening with his presence. His words of wisdom lit a fire under the young filmmakers in the room, urging them to push creative boundaries and redefine what storytelling can be. CEO Punit Goenka also took the stage, reflecting on 33 years of Zee’s storytelling journey and welcoming the nominees as the next generation of creators who will shape the future of the ‘Z’ Universe.
Jury of Legends and Emerging Talent
The red carpet was buzzing with star power as the distinguished jury arrived. Anurag Kashyap (Hindi), Ravi Jadhav (Marathi), Srijit Mukherjee (Bengali), P. Samuthirakani (Tamil), Hemanth Rao (Kannada), and Lijo Jose Pellissery (Malayalam) brought their signature style to the event. These acclaimed directors didn’t just judge—they celebrated the nominees and announced winners across eight language categories.
Adding to the excitement was a special jury roundtable moderated by cinephile Rajeev Masand. The panel dove deep into storytelling, regional cinema, technology, and the future of filmmaking in India. It was a masterclass for everyone lucky enough to be in the room.
Big Prizes and a Path to Feature Films
But the real game-changer came when Dr. Subhash Chandra announced a first-of-its-kind opportunity for aspiring filmmakers. Winners of the Best Short Film award in each language category took home a cash prize of INR 5,00,000, while Runner-Up Short Film winners received INR 2,50,000 each. Special category winners—for acting, writing, cinematography, editing, music, comedy, and jury honours—each got INR 1,00,000.
And that’s not all. The top two finalists from each language category now have the chance to pitch an original feature film script to Zee Studios. One selected project will be developed and produced by the studio, giving emerging creators a direct path from short-form storytelling to the big screen. Now that’s what we call a career launchpad!