Karnataka, February 23, 2026: Strengthening its push towards nurturing emerging creative talent, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises has announced the launch of the Zee Short Film Contest, a nationwide, multi-platform initiative aimed at identifying and supporting the next generation of Indian filmmakers.
Positioned as one of the most ambitious multilingual talent discovery programmes in the country, the contest will be conducted across seven major languages — Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada — offering aspiring storytellers from diverse cultural backgrounds an opportunity to present their work on a national platform.
A key highlight of the initiative is its distinguished jury panel comprising prominent filmmakers representing different regional industries. The panel includes Anurag Kashyap, known for redefining contemporary Hindi cinema through films such as Gangs of Wasseypur; Ravi Jadhav, celebrated for culturally rooted works like Natarang; and Srijit Mukherji, acclaimed for narrative-driven films including Autograph and Jaatishwar.
The jury further features Nag Ashwin, director of the large-scale sci-fi spectacle Kalki 2898 AD; actor-director Samuthirakani, recognised for socially relevant storytelling; Lijo Jose Pellissery, whose visually striking film Jallikattu gained global attention; and Kannada filmmaker Hemanth Rao, known for emotionally nuanced cinema such as Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu.
By bringing together influential filmmakers across linguistic industries, the contest seeks to create a structured platform that combines mentorship, visibility and opportunity. Organisers say the programme will not only recognise fresh voices but also serve as a creative incubator aligned with India’s rapidly evolving content ecosystem spanning digital, television and theatrical formats.
Commenting on the initiative, Kartik Mahadev, Chief Marketing Officer, ZEE & ZEE5, said the contest aims to bridge long-standing access gaps faced by emerging filmmakers. He noted that the platform is designed to integrate regional creativity with national reach while strengthening India’s storytelling pipeline.
Members of the jury also encouraged participation, highlighting the role short films often play as entry points into mainstream cinema. They collectively emphasised passion, originality and storytelling conviction as the key factors that can help aspiring creators stand out.
Through the Zee Short Film Contest, ZEE hopes to offer participants industry recognition, cash rewards and potential collaboration opportunities within its content network. The initiative, the company said, reflects its broader strategy of championing culturally resonant storytelling while building a sustainable ecosystem for future filmmakers.
Overall, the contest marks a significant step in India’s talent discovery landscape, aiming to transform promising short-format creators into the cinematic voices of tomorrow.
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