India’s First Vertical Film Festival – Awards Ceremony Held in Chennai!
Over 200 Films, ₹2 Lakh in Prize Money – India’s First Vertical Film Festival!
India’s first-ever Vertical Film Festival and awards ceremony was successfully held at the SRM Institute in Ramapuram, Chennai. The event was organized under the initiative of Simon Bose and Bob Suresh.
Aimed at promoting the emerging “vertical” (portrait-oriented) film format, the festival featured over 200 entries. The best films were selected from these submissions, and a total prize pool of ₹2 lakh was awarded to the creators.
Prize Money for Winners!
The first prize of ₹1,00,000, the second prize of ₹50,000, and the third prize of ₹25,000 were awarded. Additionally, films selected across five special categories received ₹5,000 each.
The film Nilave Vaa, produced by Dream House and directed by Hussain, won the first prize. The awards were presented to recognize the creativity, technical proficiency, and storytelling approaches demonstrated in the participating films.
Presence of Film Industry Personalities!
The event was graced by several notable figures from the film industry, including directors Subramaniam Siva and Haroon, actor Adhavan, actress Subapriya, and costume designer Srinisha.
Furthermore, the trailer for the upcoming film Pareed—directed by Haroon—was screened exclusively for the audience. Additionally, the trailer for the film ‘Death Railway,’ directed by Dharani Rajendran, was screened at the event.
Launch of the ‘Dealzta’ App!
Another highlight of the event was the launch of the ‘Dealzta’ app. The inclusion of new digital initiatives alongside the film festival added further significance to the occasion.
ISM’s Initiative for a New Generation of Filmmakers!
‘Vertical films’—designed to create an impact within a short duration—are opening up new storytelling possibilities on digital platforms. Focusing on this trend, the film festival served as a platform to showcase the talents of emerging directors, actors, writers, and technical crew members.
ISM organized this festival with the objective of encouraging innovation in the film industry, identifying talented creators, and providing them with well-deserved recognition.
Supporting Organizations
Title Sponsor: Meat & Eat
Venue Partner: SRM Educational Institutions
Associate Sponsors:
- Dealzta
- Mega Builders
- Lights On Media
- V Square (V Sathukkam)
- RNB Productions
- Thambi Annan Biryani
- Korkai
ISM extends its gratitude to all the organizations, film industry personalities, jury members, filmmakers, and participants who supported the successful execution of this event.
The film festival served as a platform for the talents of a new generation of filmmakers, fostering fresh opportunities within the world of vertical cinema.
