Bangalore, May 31, 2023: The Teen Indie Film Awards (TIFA), a platform dedicated to recognizing and celebrating excellence, creativity, and ideation in film production, has announced the winners in various categories spanning Politics, Censorship, and World Cinema Retrospective. TIFA serves as an annual platform for students worldwide to showcase their filmmaking skills and creativity. The second edition of TIFA took place at the RV University campus, featuring more than 70 entries from around the globe.

Prof. (Dr.) Piyush Roy, Professor and Founding Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences emphasized, "What had started as an experiment with 25 films featuring majority submissions from RVU schools in Year 1, has become a global film festival in Year 2 with 70 entries from five continents, including ov 50 debut films. This has been possible courtesy our enthusiastic faculty mentors and student leads and volunteers from the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Design and Innovation. Thanks to the TIFA team, the festival is able to go beyond being another stimulating platform for student films to an all-around destination for thinking about cinema and its influence and opportunities today." 

The esteemed jury panel consisted of notable film personalities, including Nandita Puri, Chairwoman of the Om Puri Foundation; Christopher Dalton, a film critic, essayist, and festival advisor; Priyanka Sinha Jha, an author, journalist, and co-founder of Talkietive Content Creators; and Kabeer Khurana, an internationally acclaimed filmmaker who received a Filmfare nomination. Priyanka Sinha Jha, a jury member, expressed her enthusiasm for engaging with young filmmakers, considering it a remarkable opportunity to connect. She emphasized the multi-faceted nature of filmmaking and its relevance to liberal arts education.

The chosen themes for TIFA aimed to foster thought-provoking discussions and showcase diverse perspectives within the realm of cinema. The event included panel discussions, screenings of student short films, and masterclasses conducted by renowned industry professionals.

Dr. Y.S.R. Murthy, the Vice Chancellor of RV University in Bengaluru stated stated, "TIFA 2023 strives to facilitate networking between up-and-coming artists and industry experts, reviewers, and film enthusiasts. This interaction offers prospects for teamwork, evaluation, and guidance, empowering these artists to enhance their abilities and make a mark in the highly competitive realm of filmmaking. I extend my appreciation to the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the jury members, and the student organizing committee for their valuable contributions. I am also happy that TIFA23 has promoted Interdisciplinarity within RVU with enthusiastic participation of students and faculty members from different Schools. I compliment the Founder-Mentor and Curator, TIFA 2023 and Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dr. Piyush Roy."

TIFA 2023 provided a platform for young filmmakers to showcase their creative talent through screenings of their short films, enabling them to reach a wider audience. Additionally, the masterclasses conducted by experienced professionals offered invaluable knowledge and guidance to aspiring filmmakers, helping them refine their craft and navigate the industry more effectively.

The winners of the Teen Indie Film Awards 2023 are as follows:

• Best Film: "Huzi" directed by Meiyu Song from China
• Best Director: Konstantin Reber for "Take Five" from Switzerland
• Best Actor: Yashas Banakar for the film "Teenage Short Film" from India
• Best Story: Adya Reddy Yedulla for "Kanasu"
• Best Technical Achievement: Sumedh K. for "Anatma"
• Special Mention: Andrew Tan for "Banana Reg

During the event, an exciting unveiling took place as the book titled "Folk Tales from Bollywood," authored by Priyanka Sinha Jha, was introduced. The book was jointly unveiled by Dr. Piyush Roy, Professor and Founding Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and (Dr.) Dwarika Prasad Uniyal, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Development & External Relations) and Founding Dean of the School of Business and School of Economics at RV University.

Additionally, a significant moment occurred at the event with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Om Puri Foundation and RV University. Nandita Puri, speaking about the partnership between the two entities, explained that the Om Puri Foundation was established in honor of the renowned actor. Om Puri's iconic films, such as "Bharathi Ghoj," which delves into the history of Pandit Nehru, have been an inspiration for many filmmakers. The partnership with RV University aims to bring history to the forefront for students in liberal arts, mass media, and film, creating an atmosphere conducive to appreciating exceptional cinema. Together, they aspire to ignite a passion for cinematic excellence and enable students to embrace the transformative power of storytelling.

About RV University:

RV University, which commenced operations in 2021, is a new-age, technologically-driven, global institution with a rich 83-year legacy inherited from RV Educational Institutions. The university is dedicated to providing high-quality liberal education with an interdisciplinary curriculum. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs in six academic disciplines: Liberal Arts and Science, Design and Innovation, Business, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, and Law. With partnerships and collaborations with over 100 prestigious foreign universities, institutions, and companies, RV University provides a comprehensive educational experience.