| National Film Awards | ||
| Award Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Films | |
| Instituted | 1954 | |
| Last Awarded | 2011 | |
| Awarded by | Directorate of Film Festivals, India | |
| Description | Highest award for films in India | |
| First Awardee(s) | 1st National Film Awards | |
| Last Awardee(s) | 58th National Film Awards | |
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.[1][2]
Every year, a national panel appointed by the government selects the winning entry, and the award ceremony is held in New Delhi, where the President of India presents the awards. This is followed by the inauguration of the National Film Festival, where the award-winning films are screened for the public. Declared for films produced in the previous year across the country, they hold the distinction of awarding merit to the best of Indian cinema overall, as well as presenting awards for the best films in each region and language of the country. Due to the national scale of the National Film Awards, it is considered to be the equivalent of the American Academy Awards.[3][4]
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The Awards were first presented in 1954. The Government of India conceived the ceremony to honor films made across India, on a national scale, to encourage the furthering of Indian art and culture. Since 1973, the Indian Directorate of Film festivals administers the ceremony along with other major film events in India annually. It is the highest award given for films in India.
The National Film Awards are presented in two main categories: Feature Films and Non-Feature Films. The feature film jury for 2009 consists of 13 members, including Rahul Dholakia and is headed by Buddhadeb Dasgupta. The non feature film jury consists of five members and is headed by Bikram Singh.[5] The juries are appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals in India. Neither the Government nor the Directorate have influence over which films are selected for consideration and which films ultimately win awards. There are strict criteria as to whether a film is eligible for consideration by the jury panels. Over 100 films made across the country are entered in each category (Feature and Non-Feature) for the awards and deemed eligible each year.
A list of rules is presented every year in a document of regulations known as the National Film Award Regulations. The criteria for eligibility contains many clauses. Among them, there is a direct requirement for the makers of a film, and particularly the director, to be Indian nationals.[6] Films entering the competition should be produced in India, and in case of co-production involving a foreign entity, there are as many as six conditions which should be fulfilled in order for the film to qualify.[6] According to the criteria, in order to be eligible for consideration of the jury, a film should be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification between January 1 and December 31. Whether a film is considered a feature film or a non-feature film shall be decided by the Feature Film jury. The eligibility list includes a section of rules determining which films shall not by eligible for entry in the competition.[6]
The Awards are presented to feature films produced in the previous year,[7] given in the following categories:
Official Name: Swarna Kamal
Official Name: Rajat Kamal
Best Feature Film in each of the languages specified in schedule VIII of the constitution:
Best Feature Film in each of the languages other than those specified in schedule VIII of the constitution:
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This award is for lifetime achievement and contribution to Indian Cinema. It is named after Dadasaheb Phalke, one of India's pioneering film makers.
The Awards presented to Non-Feature Films are given in different categories including the following:
This award is given to the Best Book on Cinema:
This award is given to the Best Film Critic on Cinema: Best Film Critic
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