Chief Guest: Vishnuvardhan (Indian film director and screenwriter)

Profile of the Guest: Known for Billa, Arrambam, Shershaah

Summary of the Event:

The School of Media Studies, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram, organized a national-level filmmaking event titled “35MM”, a 35-hour short filmmaking challenge, sponsored by Deepa Groups with Equitas Small Finance Bank as the associate sponsor. The event commenced on 12th September 2025 at 6:00 PM with an online briefing session where participants were introduced to the rules, regulations, and structure of the competition.

Following the briefing, six themes were released online, all centered around the overarching concept “Celebration – celebrate life, frame by frame.” Participants from schools, colleges, and SRM competed by selecting one of the sub-themes: celebration of spending, saving, investing, planning, sharing, or giving, and were required to conceptualize, shoot, and produce a short film within 35 hours.

The competition witnessed enthusiastic participation from students across India, making it a vibrant platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase creativity under time constraints. The films were evaluated by jury member Mr. K.G. Balasubramani, a director known for his work in Tamil cinema. The event concluded with an award ceremony held on the evening of 17th September 2025, where the winners across School, College, and SRM categories were honored by the Chief Guest, Vishnuvardhan.

Key Highlights:

• A unique 35-hour national-level filmmaking challenge that tested creativity, time management, and technical skills of participants.

• Participation from school and college students across India, fostering a competitive and collaborative filmmaking environment.

• Central theme “Celebration – celebrate life, frame by frame” with diverse sub-themes encouraging meaningful storytelling.

• Structured online briefing and theme release ensuring clarity and uniformity for all participants.

• Evaluation by an industry professional, providing credibility and real-world assessment standards.

• Grand award ceremony presided over by Chief Guest Vishnuvardhan, recognizing outstanding talent across multiple categories.

• Strong industry collaboration through sponsors, enhancing the scale and professional relevance of the event.