Pantalla Bajío Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente (1)

Festival start: 15 March 2027      Festival end: 19 March 2027

Pantalla Bajío is a platform dedicated to the exhibition, promotion, networking, and advancement of independent national and international cinema. The festival aims to discover new voices, foster the circulation of emerging works, and create opportunities for meaningful connections among filmmakers, audiences, industry professionals, and the wider community.

The 2027 edition will take place in March 2027 in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. Final dates, the main venue, partner locations, and the official program will be announced in due course through the festival’s official communication channels.

Prior to and during the festival, Pantalla Bajío may organize industry meetings, educational activities, conferences, workshops, presentations, and cultural events related to its programming, further encouraging dialogue, professional development, and audience engagement.

Feature Films

Best International Feature Film
Best National Feature Film
Best Bajío Regional Feature Film – Fiction
Best Bajío Regional Feature Film – Documentary

Short Films

Best International Short Film
Best National Short Film
Best Bajío Regional Short Film

Special Awards

Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Cinematography
Special Jury Award
Honorable Mention

1. FESTIVAL ORGANIZATION

The Pantalla Bajío International Independent Film Festival is a cultural initiative produced and organized by ANCESFILMS LLC, a company dedicated to the development, production, promotion, exhibition, and distribution of audiovisual content.

The official host city of the festival will be Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico.

The official website, www.ancesfilms.com, will serve as the festival’s primary institutional communication channel. Calls for entries, rules and regulations, updates, programming, activities, results, and any other information related to the festival and its various components will be published through this website.

In the event of any discrepancy between information published through different channels, the information published on the official website shall prevail.

2. ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Pantalla Bajío is an international platform dedicated to the exhibition, promotion, education, and circulation of independent cinema.

Its mission is to support emerging cinematic voices, strengthen the independent audiovisual ecosystem, and create opportunities for filmmakers, industry professionals, cultural institutions, students, and audiences to connect.

Pantalla Bajío seeks to provide visibility to films developed through creative independence, self-management, and an auteur-driven vision, serving as a platform for projects seeking new audiences and exhibition opportunities.

The 2027 edition of the festival will take place from March 15 to 19, 2027.

Prior to the official festival dates, educational activities, industry events, networking sessions, conferences, meetings, special screenings, and cultural engagement programs may be held.

3. FESTIVAL COMPONENTS

Pantalla Bajío consists of various exhibition, educational, promotional, and professional networking spaces designed to strengthen independent cinema.

The festival components include:

Official Competitions.
Educational Program.
Film Market Bajío.
Pantalla Bajío Digital Magazine.
Industry and Networking Activities.
PlumbShorts.
Complementary Cultural Activities.

Each component may have its own guidelines, calls for participation, schedules, logistics, and conditions of participation.

4. CALL FOR ENTRIES AND SUBMISSIONS

The official call for entries will remain open from:

September 15, 2026, through November 15, 2026.

Films must be submitted through the official platforms authorized by the festival:

Festhome

The person submitting the film will be considered its official representative before the festival and must provide truthful, current, and complete information.

Submission of a film constitutes full acceptance of these Rules and Regulations.

5. DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENT CINEMA

Pantalla Bajío recognizes as independent cinema any film that meets the majority of the following criteria:

Produced without the involvement of major film studios, television networks, or global commercial streaming platforms.
Financed through small or medium-sized production companies, cultural funds, limited private investment, or the filmmakers’ own resources.
Creative control retained by the author or filmmaker over narrative, aesthetics, editing, and fundamental artistic decisions.
Non-industrial budget and an autonomous production structure.
Alternative circulation through festivals, showcases, cinematheques, or independent distribution models.
Narratives and themes with a clearly defined authorial vision.
Productions developed primarily through self-managed processes.

The receipt of public funding, cultural grants, co-production support, or institutional assistance shall not, in itself, constitute grounds for exclusion.

The organization reserves the right to determine whether a film aligns with the festival’s curatorial identity.

6. OFFICIAL CATEGORIES
Feature Films

International Competition
Independent fiction or documentary feature films produced outside Mexico.

National Competition
Independent fiction or documentary feature films produced in Mexico.

Bajío Regional Competition – Fiction

Bajío Regional Competition – Documentary

Short Films

International Competition

National Competition

Bajío Regional Competition

Special Competition

PlumbShorts

A special competition governed by its own rules and specific guidelines, which will be published separately.

7. BAJÍO REGIONAL PRODUCTIONS

A film will be considered a regional production if it meets at least two of the following criteria:

Most of the filming took place within the region.
The main production company is established in the region.
The director or lead producer resides in the region.
A significant portion of the artistic or technical crew is based in the region.
The film has a demonstrable narrative, social, or cultural connection to the territory.

For festival purposes, the region comprises:

Querétaro
Guanajuato
San Luis Potosí
Aguascalientes
Michoacán
Zacatecas

The organization may request supporting documentation.

8. ELIGIBLE WORKS

Films completed between January 1, 2023, and the closing date of the 2026 call for entries are eligible.

The following will be accepted:

Fiction
Documentary
Hybrid works (docufiction)

The following will not be accepted:

Fully animated works
Web series
Television series
Television programs
Reality shows
Music videos
Commercials
Corporate content
Institutional content
Promotional content
9. RUNNING TIME

Feature Films
Running time of 80 minutes or longer, including end credits.

Short Films
Running time between 3 and 12 minutes, including end credits.

Films with a running time between 13 and 79 minutes are not eligible.

10. PREVIOUS EXHIBITION AND AVAILABILITY

Premiere status is not required.

Films previously exhibited at festivals, showcases, cinematheques, cultural venues, or academic events are eligible.

Films that, as of the submission deadline, are publicly available in their entirety on any of the following platforms will not be eligible:

YouTube
Vimeo
Netflix
Prime Video
Disney+
HBO Max
FilminLatino
Equivalent platforms

Private password-protected links will not be considered public exhibition.

11. SUBMISSION FEE AND PARTICIPATION FEE

Submission is completely free of charge.

Selected films must pay a Participation Fee to formalize their participation in the festival.

Short Films: USD $30.00
Feature Films: USD $60.00

The Participation Fee will only be requested from officially selected films.

No full or partial refunds will be issued once payment has been made.

12. SELECTION AND WITHDRAWAL

Films may only be withdrawn before the official selection announcement.

Once the selection has been formally accepted, any withdrawal must be justified in writing and will be subject to review by the festival organization.

The decisions of the Selection Committee are final and cannot be appealed.

The festival is under no obligation to provide individual evaluations or explanations regarding the non-selection of a film.

13. SELECTION NOTIFICATION

The Official Selection will be communicated by email and published through the festival’s official channels.

Selected films must confirm their participation and provide the required materials within the deadlines established by the organization.

Failure to respond may be interpreted as withdrawal from participation.

14. MATERIALS REQUIRED FROM SELECTED FILMS

Selected productions must provide:

Official poster.
Trailer.
Short synopsis.
Long synopsis.
Director’s biography and filmography.
Director’s photograph.
Film stills.
Main credits.
Technical information.
Social media accounts.
Final exhibition copy.
subtitle file.
Any promotional materials requested by the organization.
15. language AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Films spoken in a language other than Spanish must include Spanish subtitles.

Technical exhibition specifications will be communicated to selected films in due course.

The organization may remove from the program any screening copy presenting serious technical issues or failing to comply with the established requirements.

16. PROMOTION AND COMMUNICATION

Submission authorizes the festival to use the following materials for promotional purposes:

Film title.
Poster.
Trailer.
Photographs.
Film stills.
Interviews.
Synopsis.
Technical information.
Promotional videos submitted by participants.

These materials may be used on:

The festival website.
Social media.
The official YouTube channel.
Pantalla Bajío Digital Magazine.
Printed materials.
Promotional materials.

This authorization does not include the publication of the complete film online.

17. FILM MARKET BAJÍO

Selected films may be included in Film Market Bajío.

The specific characteristics, scope, and guidelines of this component will be established and communicated by the organization through future calls for participation or supplementary documents.

18. PANTALLA BAJÍO DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Selected productions may be featured in the Pantalla Bajío Digital Magazine.

The magazine may include interviews, articles, promotional materials, editorial information, and content related to the festival, its films, and its participants.

19. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Pantalla Bajío will offer in-person and digital educational activities aimed at students, emerging filmmakers, and audiovisual industry professionals.

These activities may include:

Masterclasses.
Conferences.
Panel discussions.
Workshops.
Sessions with special guests.
Educational and industry activities.
20. EXHIBITION

Acceptance of the Official Selection authorizes the festival to screen the film in person as part of the official program of the corresponding edition.

The organization may use private digital copies exclusively for:

Selection processes.
Jury deliberations.
Technical verification.

Complete films will not be publicly screened online.

21. JURY

The Festival Directorate will appoint national and international juries for the Official Competitions.

Jury members shall act independently and impartially.

No jury member may evaluate a film with which they have a personal, professional, or commercial relationship that could compromise their objectivity.

Jury deliberations shall remain confidential.

All jury decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

22. OFFICIAL awards
Feature Films
Best International Feature Film
Best National Feature Film
Best Bajío Regional Feature Film – Fiction
Best Bajío Regional Feature Film – Documentary
Short Films
Best International Short Film
Best National Short Film
Best Bajío Regional Short Film
Special awards
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Cinematography
Special Jury Award
Honorable Mention
PlumbShorts
Best PlumbShorts

The jury may choose not to grant any award in a given category.

23. RECOGNITION

Films included in the Official Selection will receive:

Official Selection Certificate.
Official festival laurels.
Participation in the festival’s promotional activities.

Award-winning films will receive:

Official Award Certificate.
Official Pantalla Bajío Trophy.
24. TRAVEL AND ATTENDANCE

Selection of a film does not imply that the festival will cover transportation, accommodation, or meals.

The organization may provide information regarding agreements, discounts, or benefits made available through partners and sponsors.

25. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY

The person responsible for submitting the film guarantees that they hold all necessary rights and authorizations relating to:

Screenplay.
Music.
Images.
Performances.
Incorporated audiovisual material.
Applicable exploitation rights.

Any claim concerning ownership or rights shall be the sole responsibility of the person who submitted the film.

26. DATA PROTECTION

The information provided will be used exclusively for purposes related to the operation, evaluation, selection, accreditation, promotion, and communication of the festival.

The organization undertakes not to disclose contact information without express authorization.

27. CONTACT AND DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES

ANCESFILMS LLC reserves the right to contact the directors, producers, legal representatives, or rights holders of any submitted film, regardless of whether or not the film has been selected.

Such contact may be made for purposes related to promotion, representation, exhibition, circulation, negotiation, film distribution, or the exploration of professional opportunities.

Submission of a film does not create any obligation for ANCESFILMS LLC to offer a distribution or representation agreement.

28. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS

ANCESFILMS LLC reserves the right to modify, expand, clarify, or update these Rules and Regulations whenever required for operational, technical, legal, or institutional reasons.

Any amendments will be communicated in a timely manner through the festival’s official channels and the ANCESFILMS official website.

29. FORCE MAJEURE

The organization may modify festival dates, venues, schedules, activities, or formats due to force majeure, government regulations, security circumstances, or other circumstances beyond its control.

30. ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS

Submission of a film constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these Rules and Regulations.

Any matter not covered herein shall be resolved by the Directorate of the Pantalla Bajío International Independent Film Festival and ANCESFILMS LLC, whose decision shall be final and cannot be appealed.