The Entertainment Society of Goa has announced the 8th edition of the Goa Anti-Tobacco Film Festival 2026, set to take place on May 31, 2026. Organised in association with the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Goa Dental College and Hospital, the festival aims to use the power of cinema to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and reduce the incidence of oral cancer and heart diseases in Goa.
With the theme โUnmasking the appeal: Countering Nicotine & Tobacco Addiction,โ this yearโs festival invites filmmakers, students, and institutions to create impactful ad films that challenge the perception of tobacco and highlight its risks. The initiative not only focuses on public health awareness but also promotes film art through non-profit screenings.
The festival will be conducted in two sections โ the Goa Section and the National Section โ ensuring participation from both local and national talent. The Goa Section is open to films produced by Goan individuals, production houses, students studying in Goa, and local institutions. Entries can be in Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, or English, and must not exceed two minutes in duration, with mandatory English subtitles.
The National Section, on the other hand, is open to participants from across India, with films required to be in Hindi or English. Similar to the Goa category, entries must be ad films of up to two minutes and include English subtitles.
Interested participants must complete their registration by April 17, 2026, by submitting the official form available on the ESG website. The final deadline for submission of films along with supporting documents is May 13, 2026.
The festival also offers attractive prizes to encourage participation and reward impactful storytelling. In the Goa Section, the first prize carries โน50,000, followed by โน30,000 for second place and โน20,000 for third. In the National Section, the top prize stands at โน1,00,000, with โน50,000 and โน30,000 awarded to second and third place winners respectively.
By combining creativity with a strong social message, the Goa Anti-Tobacco Film Festival continues to serve as an important platform for filmmakers to contribute to public health awareness while showcasing their talent. As entries open, the festival once again calls on storytellers to use their voice and vision to inspire change and promote a tobacco-free future.
