Creative Arts · OFFICIAL RULES

Panel to Life

Bring stories to life one stroke at a time. Turn imagination into action as you sketch, create and watch a comic unfold live before your eyes.

21–22 November 2026 · Report 30 minutes before your scheduled competition. Exact timings and venues will be shared with registered schools.

Panel to Life — Live comic drawing. Official NCLF event poster.

Eligibility: Senior Category · Grades 9–12
Participation: Team of 2 students from the same school
Format: Live comic drawing
Registration deadline: Preliminary entry due 5 days before the event at 11:59 PM
Prize: Cash prize
Awards: Certificate for winners

COMPETITION 02

Everything you need to know.

Read the competition-specific format and requirements carefully. The festival-wide rules below apply as well.

The challenge

Teams turn a given theme into a four-panel comic strip that tells a complete story.
Both members must contribute to the artwork. Teams may divide pencils and inks, colour and lettering; judges may ask each member about their contribution.
Dialogue and sound effects are permitted. All text must be in English, brief and legible.
A maximum of 2 teams per school will be allowed.

Preliminary round

The topic or theme will be revealed 10 days before the event.
Teams create a four-panel comic strip on one A3 sheet based on the given topic.
The completed entry must be scanned or photographed at 300 dpi and submitted as a JPEG or PDF by 11:59 PM, 5 days before the event. The submission email will be confirmed.
The top 8 teams will be announced as finalists 3 days before the event.

Final round

Finalists receive a new surprise topic on the event day and have 2 hours to create an original four-panel comic strip.
The organisers provide stamped A3 sheets. Teams must bring their own pencils, pens, inks, markers and colours.
Traditional media only: tablets, styluses, laptops and other digital devices are not permitted.
Printed reference material is permitted. Mobile phones, internet access and AI tools are not.

Originality and judging

Artwork must be original and created by the participating team. Pre-made or traced artwork, templates and external assistance are prohibited.
Interpretation of theme: 25 marks · Creativity and originality: 25 marks · Composition and panel flow: 20 marks · Execution and finish: 20 marks · Visual impact: 10 marks.
By entering, teams grant Kloudnine Magazine the right to publish the artwork with artist credit. The best artwork will be featured in the next edition.

APPLIES TO ALL SIX COMPETITIONS

General competition rules.

All participants must be bona fide students of the school they represent and must carry their school ID card.
The festival will be held on 21 and 22 November 2026. Competition-wise timings and venues will be shared with registered schools.
Participants must report at the venue 30 minutes before their scheduled competition.
Registration closes on a date to be confirmed. Entries received after the announced deadline will not be accepted.
Unless stated otherwise in a competition’s rules, a maximum of 2 entries or teams per school per competition will be allowed.
Mobile phones, smart watches, dictionaries, the internet and AI tools of any kind are prohibited during all on-site rounds, except where a competition’s rules expressly permit them.
Plagiarism, unfair means or misconduct towards volunteers, judges, organisers or other participants will lead to immediate disqualification.
The judges’ decision is final and binding in all competitions. No appeals will be entertained.
The organisers reserve the right to amend, reschedule or cancel any competition, and to photograph and publish the event and submitted entries, with credit to the participants.
The competition help-desk contact will be announced. For urgent assistance, call +91 77498 34857.

READY TO TAKE PART?

Claim your place.

Registration is live through the official NCLF form. Fields marked “To be confirmed” will be published by the organising team when finalised.

General competition rules.

All participants must be bona fide students of the school they represent and must carry their school ID card.

The festival will be held on 21 and 22 November 2026. Competition-wise timings and venues will be shared with registered schools.

Participants must report at the venue 30 minutes before their scheduled competition.

Registration closes on a date to be confirmed. Entries received after the announced deadline will not be accepted.

Unless stated otherwise in a competition’s rules, a maximum of 2 entries or teams per school per competition will be allowed.

Mobile phones, smart watches, dictionaries, the internet and AI tools of any kind are prohibited during all on-site rounds, except where a competition’s rules expressly permit them.

Plagiarism, unfair means or misconduct towards volunteers, judges, organisers or other participants will lead to immediate disqualification.

The judges’ decision is final and binding in all competitions. No appeals will be entertained.

The organisers reserve the right to amend, reschedule or cancel any competition, and to photograph and publish the event and submitted entries, with credit to the participants.

The competition help-desk contact will be announced. For urgent assistance, call +91 77498 34857.

Panel to Life

Everything you need to know.

The challenge

Preliminary round

Final round

Originality and judging

General competition rules.

Claim your place.

SEE YOUAT NCLF.

Panel to Life

Everything you need to know.

The challenge

Preliminary round

Final round

Originality and judging

General competition rules.

Claim your place.

SEE YOU
AT NCLF.