Born from a love of stories. Built for the people who tell them.
Since 2018, TSFA has been India's dedicated stage for short filmmakers, independent creators and digital storytellers.
TSFA was launched in 2018 by Kalaraj Media & Entertainment as the Telugu Short Film Awards, a platform to identify, honour and celebrate the work of short filmmakers in Telugu and beyond. At a time when thousands of talented young creators were making films on modest budgets and sharing them online, there were few stages that took their work seriously. TSFA set out to be that stage.
The first edition received 186 short film entries in just three weeks of registrations, a clear sign of how much the community needed a dedicated platform. Every film was screened, shortlisted and evaluated by a jury, and the winners were felicitated at Sundarayya Kala Nilayam in Hyderabad on 20 May 2018.
Since then TSFA has returned every cycle, moving through Ravindra Bharathi, Hotel Tree Inn and T-Hub, and expanding its categories to include web series, independent films, music albums, and documentaries. In 2024, recognising that storytelling now lives as much on Instagram and YouTube as on festival screens, TSFA was rebranded as The Social Media & Film Awards, welcoming social media influencers and content creators into the format.
What we do
Invite entries, screen every submission, convene an expert jury and honour the best work with awards, citations and felicitation.
Who we celebrate
Short filmmakers, independent and feature filmmakers, actors, technicians, musicians, and social media creators.
Where we come from
Hyderabad, Telangana: the heart of Telugu cinema and one of India's fastest-growing creative and technology hubs.
Who organises
Kalaraj Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., a Jubilee Hills-based media, PR, events and production company.
Kalaraj Media & Entertainment
Kalaraj Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. is a full-service media and entertainment company headquartered in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. Its services span public relations, event management, ad films, audio and product launches, photography and videography, website design, SEO, social media management, content writing and pre- and post-production. Beyond TSFA, Kalaraj has organised the Social Media Star Festival (2024) and the KR Bharat Multi-Sector Leadership & Business Conclave (T-Hub, July 2026), and served as media partner to numerous summits, festivals and seminars.
Founder & Curator
Marri Srinivas
Founder & Managing Director, Kalaraj Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
Marri Srinivas founded TSFA in 2018 with a simple conviction: talent in the short film space deserved the same respect, recognition and visibility as mainstream cinema. As Founder and Managing Director of Kalaraj Media & Entertainment, he has led every edition of the awards, from the first evening at Sundarayya Kala Nilayam to the Dubai Curtain Raiser and the 7th Edition at T-Hub 2.0.
A producer himself, Srinivas backed the short film Bhishma, a film made exclusively on the theme of disability and directed by Ranjith Aryapalli, which received the Best Jury Award at the Indian Inclusion Short Film Festival 2019. Under his leadership Kalaraj Media has grown into a single-stop media agency for creators and brands, and TSFA has grown into a platform that aligns creative talent with the larger Telangana Rising 2047 vision.
Praveen Kumar Machavaram
Curator, TSFA - Mentor & Advisor, Kalaraj Media & Entertainment
Praveen Kumar Machavaram has been part of the TSFA story since its first edition in 2018 and today curates the awards, shaping their categories, jury process and on-stage experience. As Mentor and Advisor to Kalaraj Media & Entertainment, he presided over the 3rd Edition ceremony in 2020 as its master of ceremonies and led the outreach for the 4th Edition in 2021, meeting the Movie Artistes Association (MAA) executive team and joining the Department of Language & Culture, Government of Telangana, for the official poster launch.
A speaker on the creator economy, Praveen delivered a talk titled Content to Commerce: A Creative Consolidation at the 3C Festival at T-Hub 2.0 in February 2023, addressing content creators on turning creativity into sustainable revenue. His curatorial approach keeps TSFA rooted in its mission: rigorous, fair recognition for creators at every stage of their journey.
Eight editions. One unbroken belief in talent.
Every edition of TSFA has added something new: a bigger venue, new categories, new partners, a new audience.
TSFA launches as the Telugu Short Film Awards. Registrations open 5-25 April; 186 short films are entered; jury screening at the Kalaraj office in Jubilee Hills.
Poster launched at Cinivaram, Ravindra Bharathi; entries invited from 1 July to 15 August; BookMyShow joins as a promotional partner.
TSFA carries on through the pandemic with an invite-only ceremony under Covid protocols. New awareness-film categories honour social impact.
Presented by Suchirindia in association with the Department of Language & Culture, Govt. of Telangana. Categories widen to web series, independent films and music albums. Posters launched with MAA.
Five years complete. TSFA moves to India's largest innovation campus, live-streams the ceremony and announces its next phase as a national-level festival under the name The Symphony Film Awards.
Nominations from 16 November to 17 December 2023. A ceremony attended by a Rajya Sabha MP, an MLC, T-Hub leadership and stars of film and music.
TSFA becomes The Social Media & Film Awards and adds social media influencers to the format. The Social Media Star Festival and a new nomination cycle set the stage for TSFA's international debut.
Presented by AIG Development. Curtain Raisers at T-Hub (25 April) and in Dubai (20 June), the latter graced by a member of the Dubai royal family. The ceremony, billed as India's Biggest Influencers & Filmmakers Summit, hosts 150+ distinguished guests including a Cabinet Minister and senior IAS officers.
TSFA joins IndiaJoy, the AVGC showcase held alongside the Invest Telangana Global Summit (7-9 December 2026).
How Our Name Has Evolved
Through every change, one thing has stayed the same: the four letters TSFA, and the promise behind them.
Vision
To be India's most trusted and celebrated stage for emerging storytellers, where every filmmaker and creator, from any town and any screen, has a fair chance to be seen, recognised and rewarded.
Mission
- 1Discover fresh talent by inviting entries openly from the Telugu states, across India and beyond.
- 2Evaluate fairly through a transparent screening process and an independent jury from cinema, advertising, media and industry.
- 3Celebrate excellence with awards, citations and felicitation in the presence of leaders from cinema, government and industry.
- 4Connect creators with producers, brands, investors and platforms that can take their work further.
- 5Champion responsible content that informs, entertains and creates social impact.
Our Values
Merit first
Work is judged on craft and impact, not on budgets, followers or connections.
Inclusion
Every language, genre and format is welcome; non-Telugu entries are accepted with English subtitles.
Integrity
Clear rules, conflict-free judging and honest communication with every entrant.
Innovation
From short films to influencer categories, TSFA evolves with how stories are told.
Community
TSFA is built by and for creators, volunteers, partners and audiences.
Our Promise to Creators
Every entry is watched. Every shortlisted creator is informed. Every awardee is honoured on stage. And every participant leaves with a certificate and a network that lasts longer than one evening.
Ready to be part of the story?
Nominations for TSFA 2026 are open. Submit your film, series or digital content and let the jury decide.
Nominate Now →