The State Institution of Educational Technology (SIET) will organise a short film festival for high school, higher secondary, and vocational higher secondary students to create awareness of the Keralam Home department’s anti-drug drive Operation Toofan.

Being held in association with the Home department, the short film festival will see schools take part in district-level competitions initially. Those who bag the first three positions at the district-level will head for the State-level competition, Minister for General Education N. Samsudheen said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

Teams that bag the first spot at the district-level competitions will get a cash prize of ₹10,000, trophy, and a certificate. The first prize winner at the State-level will get a purse of ₹1 lakh, second prize winner ₹75,000, and third prize winner ₹50,000. They will also be presented with trophies and certificates.

Prizes will also be given in categories such as best actors, best director, and best screenplay.

The Minister said the festival was one of many initiatives in the fight against drug abuse. Students were already sending him short films. The short film fete initiative would promote such efforts.

The SIET will organise a screening of the best films at the State and district levels.

SIET director T. Sibi Mohammed was present at the press meet.