Chennai, September 26, 2026: The SRM Public School Short Film Festival 2026 culminated in a grand finale on September 26, celebrating the creativity and cinematic talent of young filmmakers aged 12 to 16.
The festival received 70 entries, with 50 three-minute films shortlisted for evaluation. Exploring diverse genres and contemporary themes, the films reflected the thoughts, emotions, aspirations and concerns of young minds, offering audiences perspectives that often remain unspoken.
The films were judged by Mr Suresh Krissna, acclaimed director from the Tamil film industry. After viewing all 50 films, he selected 12 finalists based on storytelling, creativity, direction, performances and overall cinematic presentation. Appreciating the students’ eye for detail and professional approach, Mr Krissna, who was also the chief guest for the Grand Finale, said that their talent assured him that the future of the film industry was in safe hands.
Dr. K. R. Maalathi, Advisor of SRM Public School and the guiding force behind the initiative, applauded the students for their astounding work, noting that the festival provided an opportunity for the older generation to understand and connect with the thought processes of the younger generation.
The 12 finalist films were screened at the Short Film Mela, giving students a platform to showcase their work and appreciate their peers’ creative approaches.
‘The Frame We Forgot’ won Best Film, Varuniha was named Best Director, and Master Bhargav won Best Actor for ‘Outside the Door’. Other individual awards were also presented in categories including Editing, Cinematography, Sound Design and Screenplay Writing.
The festival also recognised the enthusiastic participation of students from Grades 8 and 9, concluding with a celebration of young voices, fresh perspectives and the power of cinema as a medium of thought, emotion and expression.