The National Film Awards, established in 1954, stand as the most esteemed honors in Indian cinema. These awards, presented annually by the Government of India, celebrate excellence across feature films, non-feature films, and cinematic writing, aiming to promote the growth of Indian art and culture through film. The Directorate of Film Festivals, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, organizes the event each year. The 71st National Film Awards, which recognized films certified between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, were announced on August 1, 2025. President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards at a ceremony in New Delhi on September 23, 2025.
Eligibility and Categories
To be eligible for a National Film Award, a film must be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year. Films can be of any genre and must be produced in India. If a film is a co-production with a foreign entity, specific conditions must be met. Dubbed, revised, or copied versions, translations, abridgments, and edited or annotated works are not eligible.
The National Film Awards are presented in two main categories: Feature Films and Non-Feature Films. Feature films can be shot on 16 mm, 35 mm, or wider film gauges, or in a digital format, and released in cinemas, on video, or digital formats for home viewing. Non-feature films include documentaries, short films, and animation films certified by the CBFC.
The Jury's Role
The selection process involves a jury appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals. For feature films, the jury consists of 13 members, while the non-feature film jury has 5 members. The jury is responsible for adhering to strict criteria when selecting winning entries. The jury members for the 71st National Film Awards included Ashutosh Gowariker, who served as the Chairperson for the Feature Film Jury, and P. Sheshadri, who was the Chairperson for the Non-Feature Film Jury.
Selection Criteria
The National Film Award Regulations outline the rules for selecting winning entries. These regulations ensure that the selection process is unbiased and merit-based. The jury considers various factors, including the film's artistic merit, technical excellence, and its contribution to Indian art and culture. The awards also recognize and promote films that highlight national, social, and environmental values. The awards actively promote regional diversity by including categories for films in each language listed in Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution, as well as pan-Indian honors.
Key Winners of the 71st National Film Awards (2025)
The 71st National Film Awards recognized outstanding cinematic achievements across various categories.
- Best Feature Film: 12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra
- Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan and Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail
- Best Actress: Rani Mukerji for Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway
- Best Supporting Actor: Vijayaraghavan for Pookkalam and Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar for Parking
- Best Supporting Actress: Urvashi for Ullozhukku and Janaki Bodiwala for Vash
- Best Non-Feature Film: Flowering Man, directed by Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar
- Best Direction: Piyush Thakur for
- Best Documentary: God Vulture and Human
- Best Popular Film for Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
- Best Film promoting National, Social and Environmental Values: Sam Bahadur
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Mohanlal
Recent Changes
In recent years, there have been some revisions to the National Film Awards regulations. The Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film is now the Best Debut Film for the Director, and the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration is now the Best Feature Film on Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.
