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NFR Global Academy Awards
Celebrate excellence in filmmaking with the NFR Global Academy Awards. This stream honours outstanding talents in filmmaking, fostering emerging talents and setting high-quality benchmarks in the industry. Let us discern the best in short films, documentaries and animation films of World Cinema.
NEO
FILM
REPUBLIC
Kochi Festival 2025
A three-month-long festival featuring seven streams of activities, culminating in a three-day summit with cultural and art events
Bringing filmmakers, producers and society together to be part of the vibrant creative economy
Shri Vetri Maaran (National Award-winning director, writer, and producer) has joined the NFR Festival GAA as the Jury Chairman.
OUR PARTNERS
Awards and Prizes
Short Films
- Best Short Film: ₹100,000 (divided equally between Producer and Director)
- Second Best Short Film: ₹50,000
- Best Director: ₹25,000
- Best Cinematography: ₹25,000
- Best Editing: ₹15,000
- Best Sound: ₹15,000
- Best Male Actor: ₹20,000
- Best Female Actor: ₹20,000
Documentary Films
- Best Documentary Film: ₹100,000
- Second Best Documentary: ₹50,000
Animation Films
- Best Animation Film: ₹50,000
- Second Best Animation film: Memento and certificate
- Best Director: Memento and certificate
- Best Cinematography: Memento and certificate
- Best Editing: Memento and certificate
- Best Sound: Memento and certificate
What is Global Academy Awards?
Celebrate excellence in filmmaking with the NFR Global Academy Awards. This stream honours outstanding talents in filmmaking, fostering emerging talents and setting high-quality benchmarks in the industry. Let us discern the best in short films, documentaries and animation films of global cinema.
Jury Process
The selection process of the NFR Global Academy Awards is split into the following three juries:
- Internal Jury: A team of experienced film professionals conducts an initial review of all the confirmed films. They then select a group of films to move forward to the next stage.
- Professional Jury: Comprising artists from various sectors of the Malayalam film industry, the Professional Jury reviews the films chosen by the Internal Jury. They evaluate these films and determine the final list, including the winners of the Professional Awards.
- Final Jury: The Final Jury watches all the films that have been shortlisted by the Professional Jury and is responsible for selecting the ultimate winners.
Vetri Maaran
Jury ChairmanA visionary filmmaker and storyteller, Vetrimaaran is a celebrated director, screenwriter, and producer whose work has redefined Tamil cinema. Known for his hard-hitting narratives and socio-political themes, his films like Aadukalam, Visaranai, and Asuran have garnered national and international acclaim, including multiple National Film Awards.
Dominic Sangma
Jury MemberDominic Megam Sangma is a National Award Filmmaker from Meghalaya, who graduated from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, India, specializing in Direction and Screenplay Writing. He worked in National Film and Development Corporation Ltd, for two years before he opened his own Production Company called ANNA FILMS. He also teaches Direction and Script Writing at the Film and Television Institute, Itanagar, India as a guest faculty. He co-founded Kelvin Cinema Festival of Films and he is an Artistic Director of the festival. He was invited to the Cannes Film Festival with his feature film project Rapture in 2019. His first feature film MA.AMA became the first Garo film to win a National Award. The film won the Best Cinematography Award at the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival 2019. It also won Best Film at the 14th International Film Festival of Thrissur.
XU JIANSHANG
Jury MemberXu Jianshang is a Beijing Film Academy graduate with further studies in international co-production at the Busan Asian Film School (AFiS). Her first international independent film Ma•ama (India/China) won the Best Cinematography prize in the Shanghai International Film Festival. Rapture (India/China/Switzerland/Qatar/Netherlands) received support from international art funds such as the Hubert Bals Fund, Vision Sud Est and the Doha Film Institute. The film was world premiered in the Locarno International Film Festival 2023 and also screened at the Busan International Film Festival, Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes, the Mumbai International Film Festival and so on. She was also a fellow in AFA 2014 and Tokyo Talents 2019.
Jeo Baby
Jury MemberA trailblazing filmmaker and writer, Jeo Baby has captivated audiences with his poignant storytelling and thought-provoking cinema. Known for the critically acclaimed film The Great Indian Kitchen, he explores societal themes with depth and sensitivity.
Stefan Borson
Jury MemberFilm programmer, scholar, historian, researcher & writer; cultural and science manager
Monthly Selections
The festival also conducts monthly selections for the best short films, documentaries, and animation films. Monthly winners of each category will receive ₹10,000 each.
Special Jury Awards and Participation Certificates
Special jury awards will be presented to deserving candidates. Participation certificates will also be presented to acknowledge participation in the festival.
Monthly Winners
July: Waseem Ameer
August: Jiljo Jeejo (Documentary)
August: Dilu Maliackal (Short Fiction)
Finalists films
"Discover the finest creations of this year’s NFR Film Festival! These selected films represent the pinnacle of storytelling, creativity, and cinematic excellence. Each film stands out for its compelling narrative, artistic brilliance, and the dedication of its creators.
Celebrate excellence in filmmaking with the NFR Global Academy Awards.
Dates at a glance
Submission Closed
- September 05, 2024
Final Selected List Announced
28-12-2024
NFR Kochi Festival 2025
- JANUARY 24,25,26 – 2025
Global Academy Award Night
- JANUARY / 25/ 2025 Taj Vivanta Kochi
Top 10 Screening
24-01-2025 Sridar Cinemas marine drive kochi
09.00 Am to 02.00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the FAQ section of the NFR Film Festival. Here, you’ll find all the essential details about the festival, from how to participate in the event to information about events, submissions, and our panel of Guest speakers. Whether you’re a filmmaker, performer, or cinema enthusiast, this is your go-to guide for everything related to the festival.
The NFR Film Festival will take place on January 24, 25, and 26 at Marine Drive Walkway, Kochi.
You can participate as a filmmaker, performer, or attendee. Filmmakers can submit their films, and performers can register for programs like the Film Walkway through our website by registration Link provided.
Some events may require tickets or registration. Details about ticketing and free events will be available on the festival’s website and social media channels.
Filmmakers can submit their films through the official submission portal on our website. Guidelines, deadlines, and eligibility criteria are provided in the submission section.
This year’s festival will feature a lineup of esteemed filmmakers, actors, and industry leaders. Stay tuned to our website and social media pages for updates on the speaker and guest list.
Follow us on social media platforms and regularly visit our official website for announcements, schedules, and updates.
For general inquiries, you can reach out to our support team through the contact form available on our website.
