The National Film Awards are India’s most prestigious government honours for cinema. They were first presented in 1954.
Who runs them
The awards were run by the Directorate of Film Festivals until 2022. According to Wikipedia, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has administered them since 2023.
What the awards look like
The top honours carry the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus), given for categories such as Best Feature Film and Best Direction. Many other categories carry the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus). Winners also receive a cash prize, which differs by category.
Edition
The 72nd edition is the latest one covered in the reference material we checked. Dates and winners are announced officially every year, so please follow the official announcement for current details.
Why they matter
The awards recognise films across many Indian languages, including regional cinema, not only Hindi films. That makes them a useful guide to the range of Indian cinema.
Image: clapperboard, licensed via Wikimedia Commons.
