Movies
Moviebuff and 2D entertainment announce first clap season 2
MUMBAI: Moviebuff and 2D Entertainment have announced the launch of First Clap Season 2, the country’s only theatrically showcased talent hunt for aspiring filmmakers, back again with the challenge of creating a compelling story in three minutes on any subject. Knack Studios is supporting the initiative by extending free of charge its postproduction facilities, for processing the Digital Intermediate and 5.1 audio mix, to the top five winners prior to the theatrical screening. Moviebuff’s partner Little Shows will handle the online public voting process as they did last year.
The contest has a simple challenge – ‘Oru Kathai Sollunga’ – tell a story, in 3 minutes. First Clap is the only platform that brings aspiring filmmakers, production houses, cinema halls and avid audiences under one roof giving the creators an opportunity to realize the ultimate dream of seeing their work on the silver screen and showcasing their story to masses to experience their response.
For all contestants, this is a chance to associate with industry bigwigs as well as have their creation shown on the big screen, ensuring a much wider reach and direct audience feedback. The maiden edition of the contest was screened in 170 theatres across 40 cities in Tamilnadu alone, with a minimum viewership of 34,35,432.
The top three contestants will win cash prizes from 2D Entertainment and Moviebuff.com. The winner earns Rs. 3 lakhs in prize money while the first runner-up receives Rs. 2 lakhs and the second runner-up Rs. 1 lakh. The winner will be given an opportunity to narrate their script to renowned actor Suriya’s 2D Entertainment film production and distribution company, including an opportunity to intern with them.
“A platform like First Clap helps us identify raw new talent and exposes us to various innovative stories. If scripts are finalized, we will be interested in working with this new class of creators as bringing such artists under one common platform gives us more options on the projects we want to support,” says Suriya. His company, 2D Entertainment, focuses on quality content ensuring entertainment with a difference by nurturing innovative talent and utilizing the best of technology.
“The first season helped garner exposure for these aspiring filmmakers – they saw their work on the silver screen along with audiences in various cities and towns, and it gave them the opportunity to connect with a production house. Contestants can expect improved exposure and feedback in this second edition of the competition,” says Arvind Ranganathan, Chief Executive Officer of Qube Cinema Technologies (QUBE). Moviebuff.com, promoted by QUBE, is an end-to-end service providing information and solutions for anything related to the business of movies — consumption, exhibition and content creation – to a variety of users, including, but not limited to, consumers, content creators, exhibitors and affiliates, and serves as a one-stop-shop for these users.
The contest officially opens for submissions on Jan 20th 2018. Participants can register on Moviebuff.com to submit their entries by Feb 24th 2018. A panel of eminent jurists comprising of filmmakers and film enthusiasts will assist in shortlisting the films, which will be published online for public voting.
On the basis of votes received from the online voting, the top five films will be screened for a period of five weeks in 170+ screens across several theatrical distribution districts of the Qube Cinema Network. During this time, the general public will be invited to vote for their ranking of these top five films on Moviebuff.com.
The film that receives the highest number of votes will be declared the winner of the contest. Announcement of the winning entry is slated mid 2018.
For more information/additional material, visit Moviebuff.com | Moviebuff.LittleShows.com
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
