Best Web Series Award: New award category included to International Film Festival of India

The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Anurag Thakur, recently announced an exciting addition to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). A new award category will be introduced to recognize outstanding achievements in the world of web series. The "Best Web Series Award" will be presented to a show that demonstrates artistic merit, storytelling excellence, technical prowess, and overall impact. Thakur shared this news on Twitter, emphasizing that the award will be bestowed upon an original web series available on an Indian OTT platform, filmed in an Indian language. This new award aims to achieve several important objectives. Firstly, it seeks to incentivize and attract investment opportunities within India's flourishing OTT sector. Additionally, it aims to encourage the creation of content in Indian languages, acknowledging the rich linguistic diversity of the country.

The Best Web Series Award will be given to an original web series on an OTT platform, originally shot and available in an Indian language, Thakur said on Twitter on Tuesday evening.

"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.

"India is filled with exceptional talent; I encourage you to tell the story of a rising and aspirational New India - ready to lead the world, with a billion dreams and a billion untold stories," the Union minister tweeted.

Thakur also said the award aims to "incentivise and create investment opportunities in India's OTT sector, encourage content in Indian languages, recognise exceptional talent and foster growth and innovation of the OTT industry".

The Best Web Series Award will be incorporated in the festival, starting from this year's 54th edition set to be held in Goa from November 20 to November 28.

The festival previously awarded talents across seven major categories -- Golden Peacock for Best Film, Silver Peacock for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Debut Feature Film of a Director, Special Jury Award and Special Mention by the Jury.