Entries have been opened for the inaugural best web series OTT award at the 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), according to a press release issued yesterday by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The winner will be announced and honoured at the film gala, to be held in Goa from November 20 to 28.

The best web series award is aimed at acknowledging, encouraging and honouring the flourishing OTT content and its creators, the release stated, according to a PTI report from New Delhi.

“It seeks to foster growth and innovation in the Indian OTT industry by encouraging and celebrating web series content produced for and screened on digital platforms.

“The award also aims to encourage OTT content in Indian languages by promoting regional diversity and creativity in the web content industry, including content produced in regional languages,” it said.

“In keeping with India’s growing creative economy, the award will also aim to incentivise and create investment opportunities in India’s OTT sector by providing avenues to content creators and OTT platforms to showcase their work, exchange knowledge, and foster international relationships through the IFFI,” the release added.

The winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, which will be shared equally among the director(s), creator(s) and producer(s)/production house(s)/OTT platform (in case of an original production or co-production).

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.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur had announced the addition of the new category to IFFI last month.