Meet the organizers

Punit Balan

Chairman and Managing Director
Punit Balan is a distinguished entrepreneur, philanthropist and sports enthusiast with contributions across business, education, culture and community development. Through the Punit Balan Group and Indrani Balan Foundation, he supports social initiatives, mandirs and the preservation of India’s heritage. His film industry background also brings a creative and cinematic perspective to the festival, supporting emerging filmmakers and storytelling talent.

Sangeeta Tiwari

President
Sangeeta Tiwari is a Pune-based political and social leader with extensive involvement in civic life, education, women’s welfare and community development. A former Chairperson of the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Education Board, she is also the founder of the Bitiya Foundation and Priyadarshini Women’s Forum, working towards women’s empowerment and public welfare. Her involvement in cultural and temple development initiatives further reflects her commitment to serving communities across Pune.

Punmeet Tiwari

Vice President
Punmeet Tiwari is an entrepreneur with experience across business, hospitality, brand development and partnerships. He has also been involved in public and community service, including serving as General Secretary of the Youth Congress.
His interests extend to social initiatives, community development, and supporting causes connected to cultural and civic life.

Payal Tiwari Short Film Festival 2025

Welcome to the Bitiya Foundation Shortfilm festival 2025, a platform where creativity meets purpose. We are more than just a short film festival. We are a movement dedicated to raising social awareness through the power of storytelling.

Our festival provides a stage for filmmakers to showcase their perspectives on crucial social issues, inspiring change and sparking conversations that matter.

Your Story.
Your Format.

Pick a topic that moves you. Choose the style that suits your voice.
Whether it’s a hard-hitting short film or a quick, powerful reel—this is your space to say something that matters. Tell stories that provoke thought, spark empathy, or push for change. You don’t need big budgets or fancy equipment. Just a strong idea, a clear message, and the courage to put it out there.

Choose from below featured Topics

Women Safety

Say No to Drugs

Climate Change

Youth in Politics

Stop Corruption

Good Touch, Bad Touch

Dowry & Domestic Violence

Crime Prevention

HIV Awareness

Traffic Awareness

Save Trees

How to Participate

Festival Highlights

Festival Timeline

Results will be declared both offline and online. Winning entries will be featured on our YouTube channel.

Win Exciting Awards! Massive Prize Pool in cash and filming equipment.

Main Film Category

Reels Category

Special Mentions

3 filmmakers will receive honorary mentions and filmmaking equipment.

Meet the Jury

Our esteemed jury includes professionals from across the film and creative industries. Their insights and experience will shape the recognition of the best stories.

FAQs

Everything you need to know before submitting your film

1. When is the event?

The Award Ceremony will be held on 14th August 2025. Screenings take place on 10th August 2025.

The site is scheduled to go live this week to start accepting submissions.

The evaluation will be conducted internally by our jury. No public rating or star system will be used.

We are not accepting file uploads. Participants must submit a link (YouTube, Google Drive, etc.), so quality depends on their platform settings.

No. The jury will review entries offline. The website is strictly for information and entry collection.

Yes. Winners will be announced both offline at the ceremony and online on our website after the event.

Yes, but only after the award ceremony. Selected entries will be uploaded to our official YouTube channel.