MAKE SOMETHING WORTH WATCHING.
Indie Birds is a place for independent creators to put their ideas into the world.
Films. Ideas. Moments. Experiments.
Made by independent creators, from anywhere.
Has a film already been made?
Submit it for distribution.
Have an idea waiting to become something?
Create it for our monthly challenge.
Free to enter · Open worldwide · Any language · Any medium
THE LAST TIME
What if you knew it was the last time?
The last conversation. The last journey. The last day in a place you loved. The last time you saw someone without knowing it.
Create an original work inspired by the idea of “The Last Time.” Interpret it however you want. Make us laugh, think, feel, remember — or see an ordinary moment differently.
60 seconds–5 minutes · Any language · Any style · Any medium
Submission deadline (IST) :
Opening Date
September 7, 2026
Final Deadline
October 30, 2026
Notification Date
October 15, 2026
Event Date
November 10, 2026.
A new creative challenge arrives every month.
DISTRIBUTION
YOU MADE IT. NOW LET PEOPLE FIND IT.
Submit your original short film, documentary, animation, experimental film or original video work for consideration by the Indie Birds editorial team.
We look for work with a distinctive voice, strong storytelling, fresh ideas or something worth discovering.
Selected works may be published and promoted through Indie Birds and its social channels.
YOUR WORK STAYS YOURS.
You retain ownership of your work.
For accepted distribution titles:
80% CREATOR · 20% INDIE BIRDS
For accepted Distribution titles, 80% of eligible net YouTube revenue received from the applicable distribution is allocated to the creator and 20% to Indie Birds, subject to the applicable Distribution Agreement, YouTube policies, applicable deductions and payment terms.
- Submission does not guarantee selection or publication.
Stories.
Experiments.
Observations.
Unexpected ideas.
Real lives.
Imagined worlds.
Things that make us laugh, think, feel — or look twice.
A cinema camera is welcome.
A phone is welcome.
A first film is welcome.
A strange idea is very welcome.
THE EQUIPMENT DOESN’T MAKE THE FILM.
YOU DO.
ANYONE.
First-time filmmaker or experienced director.
Student or professional.
Writer, filmmaker, animator, artist or storyteller.
India or anywhere in the world.
Any language.
Any creative medium.
You don’t need an industry connection.
You don’t need a production company.
You don’t need expensive equipment.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING WORTH SHOWING, SHOW US.
01 — CREATE
Make something original.
02 — SUBMIT
Choose the path that fits your work:
Distribution — for work you’ve already made.
Monthly Challenge — for work created around the current theme.
03 — WE WATCH
Every submission is reviewed by the Indie Birds editorial team.
04 — WE SELECT
We look for originality, storytelling, creative voice, craft and audience connection.
05 — WE PUBLISH
Selected work may be premiered, published and promoted through Indie Birds.
06 — YOU GET DISCOVERED
Your work, name and creator links become part of the Indie Birds creator ecosystem.
Indie Birds does not take ownership of your copyright simply because you submit your work.
You must own or control the rights necessary to submit everything contained in your work, including music, footage, artwork, performances and other third-party material where applicable.
If your work is selected for distribution, the applicable distribution agreement will clearly define the rights and licence granted to Indie Birds.
MAKE IT YOURS.
KEEP IT YOURS.
Monthly Challenge winners receive an Indie Birds Creator Winner badge on their featured video and creator recognition across the programme, subject to the applicable challenge rules.
Selected creators may also be featured through Indie Birds social channels, creator spotlights or other editorial opportunities.
Because the goal isn’t simply to publish your work.
IT’S TO DISCOVER YOU.
Please make sure that:
- You created the work or have the necessary rights to submit it.
- You have the necessary permissions for performers, locations and third-party material where required.
- You have the necessary rights to music, artwork, footage, photographs and other copyrighted material.
- Your submission does not knowingly infringe another person’s copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or other legal rights.
- Your submission complies with the applicable programme rules.
DON’T HAVE THE RIGHTS?
DON’T SUBMIT IT.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. Entry to the Indie Birds Creator Programme and Monthly Challenge is currently free. There is no submission fee.
Anyone, anywhere in the world, can participate, subject to the eligibility and submission requirements of the relevant programme.
You do not need to be a professional filmmaker, have a production company or have industry experience.
No. A phone, camera, tablet or other creative equipment is welcome. We care about the idea, storytelling and execution — not the price of the equipment.
Any language.
For work that is not in English, English subtitles are strongly recommended so that your work can be understood and discovered by a wider audience.
We consider original short films, documentaries, animation, experimental films and other original video works with a distinctive creative voice.
All submissions are subject to editorial selection and the applicable Distribution Terms.
Yes, for Distribution, provided you own or control the necessary rights to the work and the submission meets the applicable requirements.
The Monthly Challenge may have different rules regarding previously published work, which will be stated with each month’s challenge.
Yes. Submitting your work does not transfer ownership of your copyright to Indie Birds or Camran Films.
If your work is selected for Distribution, you will grant the specific rights and licence required under the applicable Distribution Agreement. You will retain ownership of your underlying copyright.
No.
Indie Birds is a curated editorial platform. Every submission is reviewed, but submission does not guarantee selection, publication, promotion or monetization.
For an accepted Distribution title, 80% of eligible net YouTube revenue received from the applicable distribution is allocated to the creator and 20% to Indie Birds, subject to the Distribution Agreement, YouTube policies, applicable deductions and payment terms.
YouTube’s own monetization is separate from this arrangement. YouTube determines whether a channel and its content are eligible for monetization and what revenue is generated. There is no guaranteed amount of YouTube revenue.
No. There is currently no upfront production fee for participating in the Monthly Challenge.
The challenge is an opportunity to have your work considered for publication, creator recognition and promotion through Indie Birds.
Any future prizes, sponsorships or commercial opportunities will be announced separately with their applicable terms.
Yes.
You can participate in each month’s challenge as long as your submission meets that month’s requirements.
For Distribution, this depends on the rights you control and the terms of the applicable Distribution Agreement.
The agreement will clearly state whether the distribution arrangement is exclusive or non-exclusive.
For the Monthly Challenge, follow the rules published for that particular challenge.
Your submission goes to the Indie Birds editorial team for review.
If your work is shortlisted, we may contact you for additional information, rights confirmation, credits or other materials required before publication.
If selected, we will confirm the applicable terms with you before distributing the work.
We look for originality, storytelling, creative voice, craft and work that has something meaningful or interesting to offer an audience.
There is no single formula. A technically simple film can stand out because of its idea, while a highly polished film may not be selected if the story or creative voice does not connect with us.
No.
Selection may lead to publication and promotional opportunities through Indie Birds, but the extent and format of promotion may vary by project.
Nothing happens to your copyright simply because you submitted.
Your work remains yours. You are welcome to continue submitting eligible work to future Indie Birds opportunities.
You may request withdrawal before your work enters into an applicable distribution agreement or is published, subject to the relevant programme terms.
Once a separate distribution agreement has been accepted, withdrawal will be governed by that agreement.
Yes. You must have the necessary rights or permissions for material you do not own, including music, footage, photographs, artwork, performances and other copyrighted material.
Copyright generally belongs to the creator of an original work, and permission may be required before someone else can legally use it.
Only where you have the appropriate authority and rights to make the submission and enter into the applicable distribution arrangement.
Where the work belongs to another creator, we may require confirmation directly from the copyright owner.
Indie Birds may make reasonable editorial or technical changes required for presentation, formatting, promotion, thumbnails, trailers, clips or platform requirements, as permitted by the applicable terms.
We will not claim ownership of your underlying work.
Selected Distribution titles may be monetized where the Indie Birds channel, the video and the applicable content meet YouTube’s monetization requirements.
Monetization is not guaranteed. YouTube continuously reviews channels and content for compliance with its monetization policies.
Because owning your film is not necessarily the same as owning every element inside it.
For example, a filmmaker may own the film but still need separate rights for music, stock footage, artwork, performances or other third-party material.
Indie Birds needs to know that the work can legally be distributed.
Yes.
Copyright clearance is necessary, but it is not the only selection criterion. Indie Birds is an editorial platform, so selection also depends on creative quality, originality, suitability and other editorial considerations.
Monthly Challenge winners receive an Indie Birds Creator Winner badge on their featured video and creator recognition according to the applicable challenge rules.
Additional recognition, features or promotional opportunities may be offered at Indie Birds’ discretion.
A new creative theme is announced every month.
The current challenge, deadline and submission requirements are always shown on this page.
Follow Indie Birds on YouTube and social media so you don’t miss the next theme.
HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW? WE'RE WATCHING.
Discover independent stories. Discover independent voices. INDIE BIRDS CREATOR A creator programme by
