The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has introduced an award for the best web series at the 53rd edition of the festival, which will be held in Goa from November 20 to 28, Union minister for information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur tweeted on Wednesday.
“Delighted to announce the BEST WEB SERIES AWARD @IFFIGoa to be presented to an exceptional web series for its artistic merit, storytelling excellence, technical prowess and overall impact,” the minister wrote on the microblogging site.
The minister elaborated that the award would be given to an original web series in an Indian language on an OTT platform. “The Award will be given to an original web series on an OTT platform, originally shot and available in an Indian language,” he also wrote.
Affirming that the new award aims to incentivise and create investment opportunities in India’s OTT sector, Thakur also expressed hope that it would encourage content in Indian languages, recognise exceptional talent and foster growth and innovation of the OTT industry. “Beginning this year at the 54th International Film Festival of India, the award will be presented annually!” he concluded his note.
The minister’s tweet is accompanied by a two-minute-34-second-long video, which confirms that the award comes with a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. Last year, 3,000 hours of fresh OTT content was produced in India and the Indian government aims to further promote OTT content in Indian languages.
A jury of film experts, headed by director Shekhar Kapur, will select the winner of the award. Other members of the jury include actress Vidya Balan, filmmaker R. Balki, and actor-producer Siddharth Roy Kapur.
