Creative videography is all about telling powerful stories with visuals, but what if you only had one minute to do it? Sony Alpha Community presents a one-minute video storytelling contest where the challenge is to create an impressive short video that tells a story in under a minute using any equipment. This is your chance to shine and showcase your creativity!
Meet The Judge
Kartiki Gonsalves is an Oscar-winning Indian filmmaker, best known for her documentary The Elephant Whisperers, which made history as India’s first Academy Award-winning film in its category. Honored globally, she has received the prestigious Tara Award from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the Paul Harris Award from Rotary International, and was named one of GQ India’s Most Influential Young Indians of 2023. A Sony Alpha Artisan and conservation photographer, Kartiki blends storytelling with advocacy, highlighting human-wildlife coexistence, cultural diversity, and environmental conservation. Based in the Nilgiri mountains, she continues to inspire through her lens and narratives.
FAQs
Your film should be up to 1 minute in duration and less than 500 MB in size. The accepted file formats are MOV or MP4.
Yes, a group can submit a single entry. However, the entry must be made in the name of a representative. If the entry wins, the representative must provide the names of the collaborators, and only the mentioned awards will be given.
The competition is open to all professional and amateur filmmakers residing in India, regardless of gender. Entrants must be 18 years or older. The competition is free to enter, and participants can use any type of filming equipment.
Videos must follow these guidelines:
- No AI-generated content.
- No copyrighted material without permission (music, film clips, trademarks, celebrity likenesses, film credits, etc.).
- No illegal, offensive, or harmful content, including defamation, violence, racism, or sexually explicit material.
- No commercial promotions or advertisements.
- No content harming the environment or animals.
- Non-English dialogue must have English subtitles unless in English.
Your video will be evaluated based on creativity, storytelling, and technical execution. Entries must adhere to the contest’s rules and format. Refer T&C for details.
If your entry gets shortlisted, you may need to submit a higher-resolution version of your video for PR, exhibitions, or other promotional purposes. To claim the prize, you must provide your PAN number or that of a family member.
Yes, by entering the competition, you grant the organizers the right to use your video for promotional and exhibition purposes.
Terms & Conditions
Please read the terms and conditions carefully. By entering in-to this contest, you accept and agree to the following terms and conditions:
- 1min of Magic, hereinafter referred to as “Contest” shall begin on March 3rd, 2025 and shall conclude at 12 midnight on April 30th, 2025. This contest will be run by Sony India Private Limited (“Sony India”).
- The contest will be running on https://alphacommunity.in/video-contests/5/one-minutes-of-magic-contest/ between the above-mentioned dates (both dates inclusive).
- The contest is open to all professional and amateur filmmakers’ of citizens of India residing in India only, Employees of Sony India and its affiliates, subsidiaries, assignees, representatives and their immediate families are not eligible to participate. Residents of other countries residing in India or non-resident Indians are also not eligible to participate (“Participant”).
- Participants must attain the age of eighteen (18) years to participate in the Contest as on the date of the Contest.
- Only 1 (one) entry per Participant (including group members) shall be allowed.
- By participating in the Contest, each Participant specifically agrees as follows (a) to be bound by these terms which are final and binding in all respect and to comply with all decisions of Sony India with regard to the contest (b) that he/she meets the eligibility requirements under these terms and conditions (c) to comply with all central, state, local laws and regulations.
- The participation in this Contest is free of cost. Sony India does not demand any participation fees or any money from the participants or the winners.
- Entries can be submitted individually or in a group, but in case of a group, entry must be made in the name of a representative and if the entry wins, Participant will be asked for the names of the collaborators, and awards will be given as a single entry only.
- Participants are to upload high-resolution audio-visual work composed of video and still images as per the below specifications (“Content”):
- File format: MOV or MP4 only
- Size: maximum 500mb
- Equipment: no restriction
- Time duration: Video should be minimum of 20 seconds and maximum of 60 seconds.
- Language: English, if other language used, subtitle in English is must.
- Other instructions:
- 360° videos must be edited without relying on devices or applications for 360° video playback
- Story behind the work must be written up to 200 characters only
- To be eligible Participants must follow Sony India on the Instagram Profilmmaking_India
- Participants are personally responsible for ensuring that submitted entries are successfully uploaded. Any technical errors that fail to submit the entries within the Contest Period will render a disqualification.
- No restriction on usage of equipment to shoot/compose the Content.
- Unfair or unethical methods of participation may result in disqualification.
- Submissions must not contain obscenity, explicit sexual material, nudity, profanity, graphic violence, calls or incitement to violence, commercial solicitation or commercial promotion. Submissions also must not contain content or images that could be considered abusive, inflammatory, denigrating, or disrespectful to the to groups, individuals or institutions.
- Submissions be not be subject to any restrictions as to use, publication, reproduction, duplication, copying or in any way; or infringe or interfere with any rights of any third party, or infringe any applicable laws; must not contain, indicate, suggest or refer to any material, content or information, including but not limited to logos, caricatures, slogans, sketches, designs or other graphics or any other material which, directly or indirectly solicits on behalf of, advertises, promotes, supports or otherwise refers to any good, service or entity, towards achieving any benefit or consideration for such good, service or entity; not contain, indicate, suggest or refer to any material, content or information, including but not limited to logos, caricatures, slogans, sketches, designs or other graphics or any other material which are or are likely to infringe upon any rights under applicable laws (including, but not limited to copyright, trademark, design or contract) of any third party.
- Sony India reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, disqualify any entry that it considers offensive, inappropriate, objectionable or likely to infringe any rights of any third party under applicable laws. Incomplete, indecipherable, or illegible entries will be deemed invalid.
- It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any content they submit is original and have been taken with the permission of the subject and do not infringe the copyright of any third party or any laws. Participants must warrant that the content they are submitting is their own work.
- The entrant must own the rights to any likeness or copyrighted material, including music that is used in the submitted work, or must have obtained prior consent to use them from the right holder.
- As a condition of entry, the entrant is responsible for obtaining the prior consent of any persons depicted in the work and any other steps necessary to ensure that infringement of rights related to such depiction does not occur.
- Contents that have been part of any other Contest and have been shortlisted for winning shall not be eligible for submission.
- Content that does not meet the standards set for the contest can still be judged but may not be honored as a finalist in the Contest (at the judges’ sole discretion) if the participant is unable or unavailable to provide the proper resolution when asked.
- Entries must not be sent through agencies or third parties. The Sony India reserves the right to delete any entry that does not meet the above guidelines.
- AI Generated content is not qualified for this Contest.
- On selection of the content, Participant will be asked to submit the high-resolution videos.
- Sony India shall not bear any expense in connection to creation, editing, uploading etc. of the Content and will not be held liable for any legal claims.
- All content uploaded in this contest can be used for any business promotion, marketing and publicity purpose and the Participants fully agrees without any charges or compensation or payment in whatsoever manner. Where due, credit shall always be given to the participant.
- While participating the Contest, furnishing of personal details and contact(s), if any, to organizer and/or Sony India shall be treated as consent to receive communication at the contact details provided.
- The Contest is void where prohibited by law. All relevant national and local laws apply.
- The Contest shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the applicable laws in India. All matters with respect to the Contest are subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts at New Delhi only.
- For any queries on the Contest and/or the Terms and Conditions, please send an email at 1800-103-7799.