To be held from May 7 to 10
PANAJI
The third edition of the WAVES International Short Film Festival (WAVES 3.0), scheduled from May 7 to 10, has received 632 entries from around the world. This shows its growing importance in the international short film circuit.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Panaji on Sunday. Organisers and jury members said they were encouraged by the rising number of entries and the changing landscape of short filmmaking. Festival Director Amol Ajgaonkar said this year’s response is a major milestone. He noted that the scale and variety of submissions show WAVES’ growing global reach and its recognition among filmmakers.
A key attraction of the festival is the 60 Hours Challenge, now in its fifth edition. In this competition, teams must plan and complete a short film within 60 hours, including scripting, casting, shooting, editing, and final submission. This year, 50 teams took part, and 42 submitted completed films, showing strong creativity under tight deadlines.
The previous edition of the festival was held in Dehradun.
Film critic Ashok Rane said film festivals have steadily grown across India over the past decade. He described WAVES as an important platform for interaction, collaboration, and experimentation in storytelling.
Sharmad Raiturkar highlighted the improving quality of short films and the increasing use of new technologies, including AI-based tools. He encouraged young creators to take initiative.
Gurpal Singh said short films often act as a stepping stone for filmmakers entering the wider world of cinema.
International filmmaker Grant Davis praised the diversity and originality of the entries.
He said that strong storytelling today depends more on vision than budget, and that the festival highlights the wide possibilities of short filmmaking.
