SAN TV South Asian Short Film Festival 2026

Eligibility:

• Submissions are open to independent filmmakers, production companies, film students and emerging or established directors worldwide.
• Films should be made by South Asian filmmakers, feature South Asian stories or communities, or demonstrate a meaningful creative, cultural or thematic connection to South Asia or its diaspora.
• For this festival, South Asia principally includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Films connected to other South Asian communities may also be considered at SAN TV’s discretion.
• Mixed-heritage and diaspora filmmakers are welcome.
• Films of any genre may be submitted, including fiction, documentary, animation, experimental and artist films.
• Films must be between 1 and 20 minutes, including opening and closing credits.
• Films must have been completed on or after 1 January 2025.
• Previously screened films and films available online may be submitted.
• No premiere status is required. However, Scottish, UK, European or international premieres may receive programming priority.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Filmmakers under 18 must submit through a parent, legal guardian or responsible organisation.

Submission Requirements:

• Each filmmaker may submit up to three films.
• Each film requires a separate submission form and submission fee.
• Submissions must include:
  • A secure online viewing link or uploaded screener
  • Film title, duration, genre and country of production
  • A synopsis and filmmaker biography
  • Director and production credits
  • At least one high-resolution promotional image
  • A film poster, where available
  • Details of any previous screenings, awards or online release
  • Disclosure of any material use of generative artificial intelligence
• Films containing dialogue in a language other than English must include accurate and readable English subtitles.
• Subtitles must be professionally prepared and synchronised. Automatically generated subtitles should be reviewed and corrected before submission.
• Incomplete, inaccessible or password-protected submissions without a valid password may be disqualified.
• Submitted films should not be altered substantially after the submission deadline without written approval from SAN TV.

Technical Requirements:

The initial submission may be provided through a secure online screener. If selected, the filmmaker must provide a high-quality exhibition copy by the deadline specified by SAN TV.

Preferred screening formats include:

• DCP, where requested by the screening venue
• Apple ProRes 422 or equivalent
• High-quality MP4 or MOV
• Minimum resolution of 1920 × 1080
• H.264 or H.265 encoding where applicable
• Stereo or professionally mixed multichannel audio
• A theatrical aspect ratio suitable for cinema projection

SAN TV may request a replacement file if the supplied version does not meet the required technical standard. Failure to provide a suitable screening copy by the stated deadline may result in withdrawal from the programme.

Selection Process:

• All eligible submissions will be considered by the festival’s selection panel.
• Submission does not guarantee shortlisting, official selection, nomination, screening or an award.
• Approximately 25 short films are expected to be selected, although SAN TV reserves the right to adjust this number.
• Selection decisions are final, and the festival is not required to provide individual feedback or scoring.
• Applicants will be informed of the outcome using the email address supplied during submission.
• Filmmakers are responsible for ensuring their contact details remain accurate.
• SAN TV reserves the right to reject or disqualify films that do not comply with these rules or that contain unlawful material.

Official Selection and Screening:

• Selected films are intended to be screened during the SAN TV South Asian Short Film Festival in Glasgow.
• Filmmakers whose work is selected must confirm their participation and provide all requested screening and promotional materials by the specified deadlines.
• SAN TV will determine the screening date, time, venue, programme and running order.
• Selection does not guarantee that the filmmaker, cast or production team will receive travel, accommodation, visas or other expenses.
• Where complimentary filmmaker accreditation or tickets are offered, these will be subject to availability and confirmed separately.
• SAN TV may withdraw a selected film if the filmmaker fails to supply the required materials, rights confirmations or technical files.

Submission Fees:

• The Early Bird fee is £30 per film and will be available for one month from the official opening date.
• Following the Early Bird period, the Standard submission fee is £45 per film.
• If an extended deadline is introduced, an Extended Deadline fee of £55 per film may apply.
• Any platform charges, taxes or currency-conversion fees may be added during checkout.
• Submission fees contribute to administration, eligibility checking, viewing and assessment, programming and festival delivery.
• Payment does not guarantee selection or screening.

Refund Policy:

Submission fees are non-refundable once a film has entered the assessment process, including where:

• A film is not shortlisted or selected
• The applicant withdraws the film
• The film is entered into an unsuitable category
• The film is found to be ineligible
• Required materials are incomplete or supplied late
• The submitted viewing link or password does not work
• The filmmaker cannot attend the festival

Refunds may be considered for duplicate payments or verified payment errors.

If SAN TV cancels the festival completely and does not reschedule it or provide a reasonable alternative screening arrangement, submission fees paid directly to SAN TV will be refunded. Third-party platform charges, currency-conversion fees and payment-processing charges may not be recoverable.

Rights and Permissions:

By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that:

• They are legally authorised to submit the film.
• They own or have obtained all necessary copyrights, music licences, performer permissions, location permissions, archive clearances and other relevant rights.
• The film may be screened publicly by SAN TV as part of the festival.
• The submission does not infringe the intellectual-property, privacy, publicity or contractual rights of another person or organisation.
• Any artificial intelligence-generated content has been created and used lawfully, transparently and with the appropriate rights and permissions.

The filmmaker retains ownership and copyright of the film. Submission does not transfer ownership to SAN TV.

The applicant agrees to indemnify SAN TV, its directors, staff, venues and festival partners against claims arising from a breach of these confirmations.

Screening Licence:

If selected, the applicant grants SAN TV a limited, non-exclusive and royalty-free licence to screen the film during the festival and any directly related repeat or rescheduled festival screening agreed under these terms.

The film will not be broadcast in full on SAN TV, YouTube, the SAN TV app or another online platform without separate permission from the authorised rights holder.

Any online or hybrid screening arrangements that materially extend beyond the announced festival format will be communicated to selected filmmakers.

Promotion and Media Use:

By submitting a film, the applicant permits SAN TV to use the following materials for festival-related publicity:

• Film title and synopsis
• Filmmaker, cast and crew names
• Film posters and production stills
• Trailers supplied by the applicant
• Short excerpts from the submitted film
• Award, nomination and official-selection information

These materials may be used on the SAN TV website, app, television and digital channels, press releases, printed programmes, social media, trailers and festival advertising.

Promotional use does not transfer ownership of the materials to SAN TV. Full films will not be commercially distributed or permanently published online without a separate written agreement.

Awards:

• Selected films may be considered for jury and audience awards announced by SAN TV.
• Award categories, judging criteria and prizes will be published separately.
• SAN TV may appoint independent judges with relevant film, media, cultural or creative experience.
• Jury decisions and verified audience-voting results are final.
• SAN TV reserves the right not to present an award if there are insufficient eligible entries or if the required standard is not met.
• Any cash or sponsored prizes will be subject to the conditions published for the relevant award.

Content and Conduct:

SAN TV supports creative freedom but reserves the right to refuse or withdraw material that:

• Is unlawful or infringes another party’s rights
• Promotes hatred, harassment or discrimination
• Exploits children or vulnerable people
• Contains undisclosed fabricated documentary material
• Misrepresents the use of artificial intelligence
• Creates an unacceptable legal, safeguarding or reputational risk

Content will not be rejected solely because it addresses challenging, political or sensitive subjects. Context, artistic purpose and lawful expression will be considered.

Festival participants and guests must follow SAN TV’s code of conduct and the rules of the screening venue.

Artificial Intelligence:

Applicants must disclose any material use of generative artificial intelligence in the writing, imagery, voice, performance, music or post-production of the film.

AI-assisted work is not automatically ineligible. However, applicants remain responsible for demonstrating that all submitted material has been created and used lawfully and does not infringe copyright, performer rights, privacy rights or contractual obligations.

SAN TV may disqualify a film where AI use is deliberately concealed or where sufficient evidence of permission and ownership cannot be provided.

Liability:

• Reasonable care will be taken when handling submitted files and materials.
• SAN TV is not responsible for corrupted files, failed uploads, inaccessible links, lost communications or technical problems outside its reasonable control.
• Applicants should retain secure backup copies of all submitted materials.
• SAN TV is not responsible for costs incurred by applicants in connection with submission, travel, accommodation, visas or festival attendance.
• Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Data Protection:

Personal information will be used to:

• Administer and assess submissions
• Communicate selection decisions and festival information
• Manage screenings, accreditation and awards
• Meet legal, financial and safeguarding obligations

Information may be shared with authorised festival staff, judges, screening venues, payment processors and submission-platform providers where necessary to deliver the festival. It will not be sold to third parties.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable UK data-protection legislation and SAN TV’s published Privacy Policy.

Changes, Postponement and Cancellation:

SAN TV reserves the right to make reasonable changes to festival dates, venues, screening times, programme arrangements, award categories or delivery format.

If the festival is postponed, submissions and selections will normally transfer to the revised dates. If an in-person screening becomes impracticable, SAN TV may propose a rescheduled, alternative-venue, hybrid or online arrangement, subject to applicable screening rights.

If the festival is cancelled completely and no reasonable alternative is provided, the refund provisions in Section 7 will apply.

SAN TV will communicate material changes to affected applicants as soon as reasonably possible.

Acceptance of Terms:

By submitting a film and paying the applicable fee, the applicant confirms that:

• They have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions.
• The information provided is complete and accurate.
• They have authority to grant the permissions described above.
• They understand that submission does not guarantee selection, screening or an award.
• They agree to be bound by the festival’s final selection and programming decisions.

These rules provide a strong working draft, but because they create contractual obligations—particularly around payments, cancellation rights, data protection and screening licences—they should receive a brief UK legal review before publication.