Lights. Camera. Your Big Break!
Big Shorts Challenge – Malayalam 2025
Where Filmmakers Rise
ABC Talkies proudly presents the Big Shorts Challenge – Malayalam 2025. Whether you weave narratives with Dileesh Pothen’s depth, push boundaries like Lijo Jose Pelissery, or cut with the precision of Mahesh Narayanan – this is your platform. Shoot your vision, submit your film, and step into the spotlight.
Register NowPrizes & Victory Criteria
Achieving success in ‘The Big Shorts Challenge’ means drawing the largest unique audience and impressing our esteemed Jury. Stand out and win cash prizes from a pool of up to ₹3,00,000.
Open Category
Highest Viewed Film Award
₹50,000
Condition:
Minimum 5,000 unique views; the film must be watched in its entirety.
Jury Awards
Honouring the finest:
- Most Promising Filmmaker: Award + ₹1,00,000 sponsorship
- Best Short Film: ₹30,000
- Best Director: ₹25,000
- Best DOP: ₹20,000
- Best Screenplay: ₹15,000
- Best Editor: ₹15,000
Additional Prizes
Top Performing College
₹20,000
Condition:
Minimum 5,000 unique views
General Conditions for Jury Awards
Films must be submitted via the Jury Awards section and must achieve a minimum of 1,000 unique views for eligibility.
Prizes will be credited post-tax within 7 days, with tied prizes shared equally. All decisions by the jury are final.
Meet the Jury
Eligibility & Terms
- Open to: Malayalam short films produced between 1st January 2022 and 15th April 2025. (Previous TBSC participants are not eligible.)
- Film Duration: 5 – 40 minutes.
- Unlimited Entries: Enter as many films as you wish.
- Content Guidelines: No adult content, hate speech, or communal incitement. Violations will be disqualified.
- Jury Recognition: For Jury Awards, films must be submitted via the designated tab and garner a minimum of 1,000 complete views.
Additional provisions regarding the Top Director Award include a sponsorship of ₹1,00,000 – released in stages as per mutually agreed terms. Filmmakers retain the IP for their submission while ABC Talkies facilitates monetization post-challenge on a 70/30 revenue split. All contest decisions are final.
How to Participate
- Register: Visit abctalkies.com and Register. Registration for the Big Shorts Challenge – Malayalam 2025 is simple and free.
- Login: Visit abctalkies.com/sign-in to login. You will be directed to the filmmaker Dashboard. If you don't see it, click on the profile link at the top right and select switch to filmmaker profile.
-
Create & Upload: Craft a Malayalam short film that captivates, moves, or disrupts. Prepare a striking banner and thumbnail along with an engaging synopsis, cast/crew details, and a trailer (30–60 sec).
• Banner: 1920 x 725px (Max 5MB) – Download PSD
• Thumbnail: 288 x 424px (Max 1MB) – Download PSD - Get Noticed: For consideration under the exclusive Jury Awards, a ₹499 submission fee ensures you get that extra spotlight.
- Amplify Your Reach: Spread the word on social media, drive unique views, and watch the rewards roll in.
- Claim Your Spotlight: With every detail in place, upload your film by 15th April 2025 and step into the big league of Malayalam cinema.
Save the Dates
Registration
20th Feb 2025 onwards
Submission Deadline
1st Mar 2025 – 15th Apr 2025
Viewing/Judging
20th Apr 2025 – 31st May 2025
Results Announcement
June 2025 (TBC)
Orientation Webinar
10th Mar 2025
Film Marketing Webinar
2nd Apr 2025
About the Big Shorts Challenge
Welcome to a world where storytelling meets opportunity. The Big Shorts Challenge, presented by ABC Talkies, is not just a competition; it's a beacon for young and independent filmmakers to shine. We've created a vibrant arena where creativity is not only showcased but rewarded, offering filmmakers the chance to engage a vast audience and monetize their talent.
At the heart of our initiative lies a simple belief: great storytelling deserves recognition—and revenue. This challenge is designed to ensure that if your film can captivate, it can also earn. In a landscape where every view counts, your film's success is directly linked to its impact, making "Win Big" not just a slogan, but a reality.
We've dismantled barriers, making The Big Shorts Challenge the most accessible platform for filmmakers. Here, every story that meets our criteria has a stage, free from the constraints of Selection or Rejection. Your vision deserves a spotlight, and we provide just that, shifting the power to the audience to decide the next big hit.
We ensure unparallel exposure for young and budding filmmakers by running the contest directly on our OTT platform; the only OTT in India to run a direct contest. This is the only initiative that not only celebrates the art of filmmaking but also ensures that creators can earn while competing, bridging the gap between passion and sustainability.
Previous Editions
- First Edition (Jan 2022): A groundbreaking start with a young filmmaker from Karnataka clinching the ₹50,000 prize.
- Second Edition (2023): Highlighting films from Northeast India and marking a diverse cinematic journey.
- Third Edition (Mar 2024): Held in Kerala with over 250 registrations and 75+ vibrant entries.
- Fourth Edition (Dec 2024): The TBSC Tamil edition witnessed record participation with over 300 filmmaker registrations.