KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2025

KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2025 – Call for Submissions

PLEASE NOTE: Registration will close on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 11.59 PM (IST)

For any grant related queries, please write to us ONLY at info.kpff@gmail.com

OVERVIEW

KASHISH Arts Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing emerging Indian filmmakers making LGBTQ+ themed films as well as showcasing international LGBTQ+ cinema. It is the organizer of South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival - KASHISH Pride Film Festival.

Started in 2016, the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant, managed by KASHISH Arts Foundation, and sponsored by Lotus Visual Productions, a production company based in UK/India, has been offering a production grant to support Indian filmmakers to realize their LGBTQ+ short film. Since 2022, the amount of the grant has been increased to Rs.2,50,000 and is being given to an Indian LGBTQ+ filmmaker who will be adjudged winner by the esteemed jury.

Till date 10 films have been produced as part of this initiative: https://kashishartsfoundation.org/our-productions/

KASHISH Arts Foundation (India) invites emerging LGBTQ+ Directors of Indian origin based in India to submit their narrative screenplay focused on LGBTQ+ lives for the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2025 that offers one winner Rs.2,50,000 to the filmmaker to make a LGBTQ+ narrative short film between 10-15 minutes, with the help of assigned mentor. Two runners-up will be offered Rs.25,000 each alongwith mentorship. The runners-up grant is supported by acclaimed actress Renuka Shahane.

From the submissions, 5 screenplays will be shortlisted, and the TOP 5 shortlisted participants will be called for an ONLINE pitching session in front of an eminent Jury panel. The winner and the runners-up will be announced at the Closing Night Ceremony of the 16th KASHISH Pride Film Festival on June 8, 2025

Please note this is a Mentorship-driven Film Production Grant available to Indian LGBTQ+ Directors. This is NOT a script grant. Submit only if you have a ready to shoot screenplay.

TO SUBMIT

All registrations are to be made strictly online by paying a non-refundable fees of Rs.1000 per submission at the link at https://kaf.mojo.page/kqd2025

As soon as you register you will receive an email sent to the email id you registered with, with the link to the Entry Form to submit your materials and fill our details.

These materials should be shared: Synopsis (500 words), the Story (one A4 page), the Screenplay (between 10 to 15 A4 pages) and director’s bio along with links to past works. You should UPLOAD your story and screenplay in the form itself.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER HERE – MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025 at 11:59pm (IST)

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE ENTRY FORM WITH ALL THE MATERIALS – MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025 at 11:59pm (IST)

Rules & Regulations

WHO SHOULD SUBMIT

1. Please note this is a Film Production Grant to an Indian film director. This is NOT a script grant.
2. ONLY DIRECTORS of Indian origin who IDENTIFIES AS A LGBTQ+ PERSON, above 18 years of age, based in India can apply with a screenplay, either to produce the film on their own, or in collaboration with a production company, and who are able to shoot the film in India.
3. ONLY DIRECTORS with a complete screenplay for narrative short about LGBTQ+ lives can apply. All other proposals submitted will be rejected.
4. ONLY narrative (fiction) screenplays will be considered, no documentary scripts for now.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

A complete screenplay for a 10-15 min short narrative film focused on LGBTQ+ lives, with the following to be submitted:

1. A Synopsis of about 500 words
2. A Story of about one A4 page
3. A Screenplay between 10 to 15 A4 pages
4. Director’s bio along with links to past works

Please note that the synopsis, story and complete screenplay – all should be of the same proposed film.

HOW TO SUBMIT (Screenplay Format)

1. Screenplays must be PDFs.
2. Screenplays should be written in standard spec screenplay format, set in 12-point Courier font.
3. Screenplays must be of a LGBTQ+ theme short film from 12 to 15 pages in length (including cover page).
4. Body pages must be numbered.
5. No additional materials, artwork, illustrations etc. should be attached to the form.
6. Screenplays can be in English, Hindi or any other Indian languages. Hindi and other Indian regional language screenplays MUST have English dialogues below the original language dialogues. The body text and other information should be in English only.

WHERE TO SUBMIT

Please register at https://kaf.mojo.page/KQD2025

by paying Rs.1000 per submission.

As soon as you register you will receive an email sent to the email id you registered with, with the link to the Entry Form to submit your materials and fill our details.

Please keep the following materials ready to upload: Synopsis (one para), the Story (one A4 page), the complete Screenplay (10 to 15 A4 pages) and Director’s bio along with links to past works, as per the prescribed format mentioned above in ‘How To Submit’.

No email attachments will be entertained.

For further clarification you must check the FAQs and Disclaimer sections.

KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant 2025 FAQs

1. When is the deadline?

There are two deadlines that you need to follow.

a. Registration Deadline is MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025 at 11:59pm (IST)

b. Entry Form Submission Deadline is MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025 at 11:59pm (IST)

2. Who can apply for the grant?

FILM DIRECTORS WHO ARE INDIAN NATIONALS above 18 years of age, based in India; WHO IDENTIFIES AS A LGBTQ+ PERSON, who has a LGBTQ+ theme screenplay for a narrative (fiction) short film to shoot in India can apply for this grant by filling the entry form and paying the requisite fees.

3. What does LGBTQ+ mean?

LGBTQ+ refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and + stands for non-binary, gender non-conforming or other sexualities and gender identities. All screenplays submitted should have a strong focus on LGBTQ+ lives. Please note that Queer here stands for an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities and doesn't mean anything odd, strange or peculiar.

4. How much is the entry fees and why is it required?

Rs.1000 per submission and can be paid online. It is required to offset the admin charges.

5. Can I submit more than one screenplay?

Yes, by filling out a new entry form and paying separate entry fee for each submission.

6. What should be the length of the submitted screenplay?

Screenplays must be of a LGBTQ+ theme short film between 10 - 15 minutes, which means the screenplay should be between 10 to 15 A4 pages.

7. Can I submit an adapted screenplay?

Adaptations of books, plays, or other source material written by another author are accepted ONLY if you have obtained the rights and can provide proof for the same. Clearly mention on the cover page of the screenplay that is it an adapted work and you have obtained the rights. A screenplay that has been adapted from your own book, play, or other source material is eligible provided that you have retained all film and television rights to the property. There must be no dispute about the ownership of submitted screenplays or the writer’s right to submit a screenplay.

8. Can I submit a revised version, after making my submission?

No. Once submitted, no substituted pages or other revisions to the screenplay will be accepted. Please ensure to make all the desired revisions before submitting the screenplay.

9. Can I submit a screenplay by me and a co-writer?

Yes, you may. If your screenplay gets shortlisted and called to pitch, only one person can do the pitching and that has to be the Director of the proposed film. Only ONE grant will be awarded to the film and credited to the Director’s account only.

10. Can I have a co-director?

Yes you may. But you have to ensure both the director’s name, bio and work samples are included in your submission. You have to also nominate one director as the primary contact who will be called to make the pitch if your screenplay is shortlisted.

11. Can the previous year’s winner submit a screenplay?

Yes. If the previous year’s winner identifies as a LGBTQ+ person, and if he/she/they have a new screenplay to submit.

12. Can I resubmit a screenplay which I submitted last year, which did not win the grant?

No. You can only submit a new screenplay. Any screenplay submitted previous year, or revised version of the same won’t be considered, and you will forfeit your submission fees.

13. What if the budget of the film is more than the grant amount?

If your film wins the grant, we would like you to submit a budget and then we can mutually decide to co-opt another producer, or do crowdfunding to accommodate the shortfall.

14. When will I be informed if my submission gets shortlisted to the TOP 5?

An official email will be sent to you by MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025. Please make sure to share your valid email id with us.

15. Will I also get an email notification even if my submission doesn’t get selected?

Yes, you will receive an email from us even if your submission is not selected. However no feedback will be shared.

16. If the submitted screenplay does not get selected as the winning screenplay, can I use it elsewhere?

Yes, if a submitted screenplay does not get selected, the director is free to take it anywhere else.

17. How does the judging take place?

Five submissions will be shortlisted, and the TOP 5 directors will be called for an ONLINE pitching session in front of a 5-member jury panel around June 1st (date to be confirmed later). The jury panel will consist of eminent director, actor, media personality. One winner and two runners-up will be picked by the Jury Panel based on the strength of the screenplay submitted, the power of storytelling, production feasibility, and experience of the filmmaker.

18. What happens at the pitching session?

The pitch will be of 15min and can include slides, videos, etc. Details about preparing for the pitch will be sent to you along with notification about your shortlisting. One winner will be selected by the jury panel based on the strength of the screenplay submitted, the power of storytelling, production feasibility and experience of the filmmaker.

19. What happens if I am selected as the winner?

The winner will be announced at the KASHISH 2025 Closing Ceremony on June 8th.

The KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant of Rs.2,50,000 will be disbursed to the winner in 4 instalments after a MOU is signed with the full understanding that the winner will complete the film in the stipulated time and budget. It is a mentorship-driven grant, so you will be assigned a mentor with whom you would have to work to finalize the script, discuss production details, and also seek advise at every stage of the filmmaking process. We want your film to be the best and win awards and travel the film festival circuit. We hope to work with you in shaping the film, though full creative license will be given to the director. The final film should be ready for its World Premiere at the next edition of KASHISH Pride Film Festival to be held in 2026.

The runners-up will also receive a MOU detailing the next steps.

DISCLAIMER

1. KASHISH Arts Foundation has a no discrimination policy, except for the parameters defined by the rules and regulations of this call for submissions. Every submission will be judged purely on its merit and the director’s previous experience..
2. There may be hundreds of submissions from all over India. It may be possible that few submissions may display similarities. KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant cannot be held responsible for receiving screenplays which maybe similar to each other. The selection team judges each screenplay in its entirety and only on its merit, alongwith the director’s previous experience.
3. Selection team’s decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. The selection team judges each screenplay in its entirety and only on its merit, along with the director’s previous experience.
4. No individual feedbacks will be provided for the non-shortlisted submissions.
5. KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant recommends registering screenplays with reputed screenwriters’ associations like Screenwriters Association before submitting.
6. Applying for this grant constitutes permission to use the Finalists and/or Grant winners’ names and likenesses for publicity and promotions with no additional compensation.
7. KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant does not issue refunds of submission fees under any circumstance including, withdrawal or disqualification of a screenplay for any reason, withdrawal from or failure to attend the pitching session, acts of God, travel-related problems, acts of terrorism, and/or loss of employment.
8. All entries must be uploaded by the appropriate deadline.
9. KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant reserves the right to extend the final deadline however an extended deadline is not guaranteed.
10. Finalists are required to submit a signed declaration as part of the final judging process.

All Rules & Guidelines are subject to change without notice.