Cuttack: The National Road Safety Short Film Festival 2023 has garnered an impressive response, witnessing a submission of 247 entries from talented filmmakers, amateur enthusiasts, and students hailing from various corners of the country. The entries span a spectrum of genres, including documentary, experimental, narrative, fiction, non-fiction, and animation.
This edition of the festival, themed around road safety, has attracted entries in seven languages from seven states. Among the qualified submissions, 145 films are in Odia, and 75 films are in non-Odia languages. Notably, there are eight animation films and seven silent films, demonstrating a diverse array of storytelling methods.
The festival has received entries not only in Odia but also in Santhali, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, and English, each contributing unique perspectives on various aspects of road safety. Apart from Odisha, submissions hail from Punjab, Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam, Delhi, and West Bengal. This year, students from neighboring countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, and Kenya, currently studying in Bhubaneswar, have also actively participated in the festival.
The judging panel for the festival comprises professionals from the film industry and non-industry luminaries from diverse backgrounds. The selected films will be showcased in Berhampur on December 1, Sambalpur on December 4, and Angul on December 7. The grand finale is set to take place in Bhubaneswar on December 12.
Organized by the Transport Department, Government of Odisha, the festival aims to elevate awareness about road safety issues and foster greater collaboration in road safety initiatives. It seeks to reduce road accidents and related fatalities in the state of Odisha and nationwide.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2022, hailed by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety as a best practice for road safety awareness, the festival continues to grow in influence. Cash awards await the winners, with the best film in both Odia and non-Odia categories receiving Rs 1 lakh. The first runner-up will be awarded Rs 80,000, and the second runner-up will receive Rs 60,000. Recognizing individual excellence, the best director, best music, cinematography, and best actor/actress will each be awarded Rs 25,000 in both categories.