New award to be introduced in the 48th National Film Awards

For the first time, an award will be given to the best director of a non-feature film, in the 48th National Film Awards for the productions of the year 2000.

With this, the total number of awards have gone up to 54 - 29 for the feature film criticism category, 23 for non-features and two for best writing on cinema.

Apart from the Swarna Kamal and the Rajat Kamal, the cash component of the awards ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 for feature films and Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 in non-feature films.

The new award will comprise a Swarna Kamal and a cash component of Rs 20,000.

According to the regulations for the Awards, the entries have to be sent in by February 10.

Entry Forms and Regulations are available with the film industry organizations, offices of the CBFC, National Film Development Corporation, Department of Information/Public Relations and Film Development Corporations of State Governments.

They can also be obtained from the Directorate of Film Festivals (NFF Cell), New Delhi and from its Website mib.nic.in/dff.

Films in 16 mm, 35 mm or in a wider gauge made by Indian filmmakers in any Indian language and certified as feature films, or as documentary, newsreel, non-feature and short fiction films like students' diploma work will be considered.

A film produced by a recognised Film Institute will be eligible even without a censor certificate. Remakes and dubbed films will not be considered.

Films Critics who contributed critical studies, reviews or articles on cinema in Indian newspapers and film magazines and books published during the year, will be eligible for the National Awards for Best Writing on Cinema.

Apart from the awards for films certified in 2000, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Contribution to a leading film personality will also be presented.

The selection of this award is done by the government directly, and it is given to a film personality for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

It consists of a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus), a shawl, and a cash component of Rs 1,00,000.

UNI