The Womentaries contest is open to all individuals interested in making a 2-5 minute documentary on women empowerment. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a budding filmmaker, you are welcome to participate. Professional experience is not necessary, making the contest accessible to a wide range of aspiring documentary filmmakers.

No, the protagonists featured in the documentary should be women who have made extraordinary contributions in the field of women empowerment. The aim of LICHFL Womentaries - Her Story, Your Lens is to highlight and celebrate the triumphs of women, their experiences, and their impact on society.

TBI and LIC HFL will have the rights to post and use the films on their platforms, and the creators will retain the rights to the films they have made. All participants in the film are bound by this clause, and therefore no one can claim any rights or put any restrictions whatsoever on TBI and LIC HFL in using the content submitted as entry. Therefore, while the creators will retain their ownership rights to the films they make, they will grant TBI and LIC HFL permission to use their films for the purpose of the Womentaries- Her Story, Your Lens filmmaking contest and any promotional activities.

The deadline for registering is 15^th July 2023.

The deadline for film submission is 7th August 2023.

No, you can register and submit your entry for free.

Participants can register for the contest by filling up this form: http://bit.ly/3JCNZwZ

During registration, the requirements include filling out the online registration form, which will ask you to provide a brief description of the story and message of your documentary. Additionally, you have the option to submit a portfolio link, which, although not mandatory, will carry extra weightage during the first shortlisting process.

The online Masterclass will be held after the conclusion of the first round of shortlisting following the registration. Only the 50 shortlisted participants will have the opportunity to attend the online Masterclass which will be held before the shoot of the films begin.

The online Masterclass will be conducted by an experienced professional filmmaker who has worked on over 100 documentary films. The focus of the Masterclass will be on equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively cover the story and subject matter of their documentaries. The emphasis will be on techniques that bring out the impactful elements created by the protagonist.The Masterclass aims to provide valuable guidance and expertise to enhance participants' abilities in the art of documentary filmmaking.

While there are no specific restrictions on the subject or protagonist of the documentary, it is necessary to maintain a focus on women empowerment. The female protagonist should have made a positive impact on herself or other individuals through extraordinary initiatives. For a rich source of potential stories on women empowerment, you can explore The Better India platform.

The cash prizes for the documentary filmmaking contest are distributed as follows: (T&C Apply)

1. First Prize: Rs. 3 lakh
2. Second Prize: Rs. 2 lakh
3. Third Prize: Rs. 1 lakh

To ensure fair recognition and appreciation, the prize money will be split equally between the documentary filmmaker and the protagonist of their film. TDS will be deducted on the cash prize.

Participants will have 20 days to shoot and post-produce their documentaries, once the online Masterclass is conducted. Submissions will not be accepted after the deadline.

Participants have the flexibility to shoot the video using either a DSLR or a phone. However, it is important to ensure that the final product is of high resolution and meets the required quality standards. Participants are responsible for all aspects of the documentary production, including subject selection, shooting, and post-production work, regardless of the device used for filming. So whether you choose a DSLR or a phone, the emphasis is on delivering a compelling and well-executed documentary.

Participants must submit a high-resolution file of the 2-5 minute documentary (16:9 aspect ratio), a 30-60 second trailer, and a signed permission document from the subject accepting shooting and promotional use of the video. A written and signed consent form from the protagonist, in a language they can read and write, is mandatory before scripting. Failure to provide this along with the video could result in disqualification. The documentary, if needed, should be converted to a 9:16 aspect ratio for Instagram upload.

In the first round of shortlisting, the written story brief, impact, and portfolios submitted by the participants during registration will be considered and given weightage. In the following evaluation stages, the documentaries will be assessed based on their impact, the depth of the women empowerment subject covered, coverage of the initiative, storytelling and technical aspects like film quality, editing style, sound design etc.

No, participants must use music that is copyright-free for their documentary. It is the responsibility of participants to source copyright-free music from various websites or create their own original music. Participants are required to submit their license number and the name of the music used in the video to avoid copyright infringement. Additionally, participants are advised to test the copyright status of the music by using the unlisted option on YouTube before sharing the final copy of the documentary for submission.