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Want to Join the Guild?

People are either invited into the Guild, or apply for membership. We expect you to comply with our membership guidelines (see below) and your application must be accompanied by a recommendation from a Guild Member (see our current members)

1. Check if you Qualify

Every application gets vetted by the Film Critics Guild Vetting Committee before they can be added to the Guild. Please read our rules and regulations given below to see if you qualify for application.

2. Find a referer

Membership requires a referral from an existing member recommending your request. You can browse the list of our members and choose to request a person of your choice to recommend you.

3. Send us your info

Please write to this address requesting us for the application form. Kindly read the rules and regulations given below before applying.

To Qualify

  • A reviewer must be an adult, over the age of 21 years.
  • Only critics residing and working in India qualify for membership.
  • A reviewer must have a minimum of four (4) years of experience in current, regular film criticism to be considered eligible for membership.
  • A reviewer must share an attested copy of his/her PAN Card or Aadhar card and Residence proof.
  • Each publication or media outlet will be approved by the vetting committiee.
  • There is no limit on active members from any single publication or media outlet. When an active member loses affiliation at a qualifying publication, his or her successor shall not be automatically granted membership but must apply to the group as a prospective new member.
  • Each member must watch and review at least 25 current short films, feature-length motion pictures, web series, and/or documentaries within a twelve-month period. This includes theatrical releases, OTT releases, new films screened at festivals, and first-run multi-platform releases (such as DVD, streaming video, or other formats not yet developed).
  • Reviews must be distributed via a mass medium to the movie-going public (print, radio, television or the internet). Social media posts will not be accepted as reviews. However, reviewers who only review on YouTube will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Members in good standing whose contribution to film criticism exceeds 20 years will continue to be members of the Film Critics Guild even if they are no longer actively reviewing films and shows. This clause is applicable to existing members only.
  • Only ONE(1) review per film shall be counted. Think pieces, reprinted or syndicated reviews, with minor or no changes, shall not be considered as distinct.
  • Members are expected to keep track of their reviews, including movie titles, date and length.
  • Online outlets must have, at minimum, 5,000 unique visits per month and should have been active for at least a year to qualify for the Guild’s criteria.
  • Members shall not be currently working full-time or part-time for a production company or filmmaker, or be employed by a film production or filmmaking concern.

What We Expect

  • Members shall declare any conflict of interest (e.g., working with members of the film fraternity whose films one is reviewing, consulting on scripts, working as script consultants or script writers, receiving payments for favourable reviews or social media posts, etc.) to the Managing Committee as soon as the commitment occurs. Managing committee will have the right to review and revoke membership status if there are more than two cases of non-disclosure. This may also be implemented retrospectively.
  • Dormant Reviewers: Members are required to write to the FCG and inform of any change in employment status via email. This includes informing the FCG of current employment status, with supporting evidence of active reviewing work, or declare a change in professional circumstances. If after 6 months, a member is still not actively reviewing films, series or short films, they will be excused from the Film Critics Guild until their reviewing status is re-established. Members who fail to respond within this timeframe should be excused from the Guild until their active reviewing status is re-established.
  • Members shall be personally liable for all acts and deeds.
  • Members shall not plagiarise material, defined as deliberately copying the work of others and claiming it as your own, with no attribution.
  • Members shall not steal goods or services from studio representatives, theatres or other Guild (FCG) members.
  • The objectives of the Film Critics Guild (FCG) are of prime importance. Members must bear in mind these objectives and abide by the FCG Bye-Laws at all times.
  • Members shall not use their Guild (FCG) membership to demand special treatment (this includes demanding promotional items for personal use, demanding extra screening passes or demanding free passes to films that have already opened)
  • Members shall not allow gifts or favours to influence the content of reviews.
  • Members shall not review films they have not seen.
  • Members shall not review films that they have walked out of or turned off without revealing that they did not see them in their entirety.
  • Members shall not review films in which they have a creative or financial interest.
  • Members shall not threaten or harass artists, studio representatives, theatre owners and their employees or other FCG members.
  • Members shall not falsify press credentials or professional associations.
  • Members shall not falsely claim to be an official representative of the FCG.
  • Members shall not engage in unauthorized recording of theatrical releases or post “live-tweet” or any social media reviews during a film screening. Films must be reviewed in their entirety. Strict action will be taken if this is brought to the attention of the managing committee. If a member is required to do this as part of their employment, then the Managing committee must be informed in writing and the member is expected to withdraw themselves from the FCG.
  • All written reviews must be professionally edited and presented. Writers should check factual information for accuracy before printing or posting.
  • Member shall not indulge in unauthorised copying and/or sale of studio screeners, including (but not limited to) internet distribution.
  • Members shall not violate studio-imposed embargo on when reviews may be published, broadcast or posted.
  • If members are not allowed to see a film in time for review, they are not obligated to promote or publicise that film in any way.
  • Members who have been previously employed — financially or as consultants — with a Filmmaking company must declare so in their FCG application.

Guidelines for Reviews on Social Media

General Guidelines For New Applicants
  1. Minimum of 4 individual reviews a month or 36 a year- either all on their own platform or combined with a publication.
  2. 4 years of consistent output on the platform you’re looking to have accredited.
  3. Must be the primary critic on the platform. There can be more than one primary critic per platform.
  4. Quality of the reviews to meet FCG standards, as per the discretion of the vetting committee.
  5. Applicants to have letters of recommendation from 1 active FCG member in good standing.
  6. Cover letter outlining their career, work, and reasons for inclusion.
  7. Plagiarism or AI-generated reviews lead to disqualification.
  8. Additional consideration given to critics who cover festivals (local or international)
  9. The new platform must be news, current affairs or cinema-oriented in essence.
  10. Qualifying review needs to be published within the active review cycle within three-days of release in your city and/or OTT platform.
Additional Guidelines for YouTube
  1. 30,000 individual subscribers on the channel.
  2. Reaction videos, listicles, and interviews do not qualify
  3. Only short from/vertical videos do not count toward review.
Additional Guidelines for Written Posts
  1. At least 10,000 readers on the page you’re looking to get accredited
Additional Guidelines for Audio Podcasts
  1. At least 10,000 subscribers on the podcast broadcast platform
  2. Each qualifying episode must include structured film criticism, not just general discussion
Guidelines for existing members moving onto new media.
  1. If existing members start a new venture within their 6-month cool off period, they get another 6 months to build the new platform.
  2. A mix of formats/media is okay as long as the total number of output is 18 reviews in 6 months, to be posted within the review cycle of each film.
  3. Only for existing members - 36 qualifying reviews in one calendar year (and not reach).