Mumbai (S.N): The Grand Jury round of the Sri Sathya Sai Short Film Festival (SSSSFF) 2026 concluded in Mumbai on Sunday, bringing together ten young filmmakers whose stories explored the festival’s central theme of “Service to Mankind.” Organised by the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, India, as part of the Centenary Celebrations of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the festival seeks to channel the creative energy of young people towards stories rooted in service, values and social responsibility.
The Grand Jury screening was held at the Cinetheque Preview Theatre at Sahara Star, where ten shortlisted films were evaluated by an eminent jury comprising National Award-winning director Rajkumar Periasamy, Filmfare Award-winning director Amit Rai, veteran filmmaker Shashilal Nair, and acclaimed actor Nasir Abdullah.
The festival witnessed an encouraging response from young filmmakers across the country, receiving 184 registrations, with 33 completed films submitted in eight languages. Following an initial evaluation by a six-member jury of industry professionals, 27 films were shortlisted for further evaluation before the final ten films were selected for the Grand Jury round. The ten finalists represented five languages and spanned the festival’s three age categories: 13–15 years, 16–22 years and 23–35 years.
The Grand Jury round featured two screening sessions, presenting films that interpreted service through a range of narratives, including stories of compassion, sacrifice, helping others and everyday acts of selflessness. The youngest filmmaker in the final round was just 14 years old, underscoring the festival’s focus on giving young creators a platform to express ideas of social value through cinema.
Speaking about the festival, Shri Nimish Pandya, All India President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, highlighted the deeper purpose behind the initiative, noting that filmmaking around a value such as service can become a transformative experience for young creators. He emphasised the festival’s potential to inspire Gen Z to see creativity and service not as separate pursuits, but as complementary expressions of purpose.
The jury members also reflected on the distinctive experience of watching films created by young people around a common value system.
Shri Rajkumar Periasamy, National Award-winning director of Amaran, described the experience as unique, highlighting the values and morals reflected across the films and the manner in which young filmmakers had approached the theme of Seva.
Shri Amit Rai, director of Oh My Dog, Road to Sangam and Oh My God 2, particularly recalled a film centred on Narayan Seva, saying its message around sacrifice and giving had left a lasting impression on him.
For Shri Nasir Abdullah, the experience offered an inspiring reminder of the ability of young filmmakers to bring the principle of Seva alive on screen. Having spent nearly four decades across advertising, films and acting, he said the films demonstrated the young participants’ ability to communicate the idea of service with conviction.
The evening also saw the presence of veteran actor Jitendra Kapoor and renowned playback singer Sapna Mukherjee, who spoke about the significance of initiatives that use creative expression to take the message of service to wider audiences.
The Grand Jury round now sets the stage for the next phase of the festival. The ten finalist films will soon be opened for a People’s Choice vote on social media, giving audiences across the country an opportunity to engage with the films and their messages. The winners across categories will be announced at the Grand Finale on September 20, 2026, at Prasanthi Nilayam.
Speaking about the festival’s future, Shri Lakshmikant Sharma, National Youth Coordinator, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, India, said the endeavour is intended to evolve into a recurring platform where young people from across the country can come together around a shared theme of service to mankind.
The festival, conceived during the Centenary Celebrations of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, seeks to create a distinctive intersection of cinema, youth creativity and Seva, providing emerging filmmakers with a platform to tell stories that inspire reflection and action.