Festival de Málaga (30)

Festival start: 26 February 2027      Festival end: 07 March 2027

1. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of Festival de Malaga are to disseminate and promote Spanish films and their general cultural sphere. In this sense, the Festival is also a platform for Latin American film productions. Its functions include hosting an event for the different professional sectors of films in Spanish (construed as films produced in Spain and all of Latin America, including Brazil) to boost their development and promote international sales.

Festival de Málaga is recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers' Associations (FIAPF) (www.fiapf.org).

In compliance with these objectives, the 29th Edition of Festival de Málaga will be held from 6th to 15 th March 2026.

Cash Prizes: 28,000€

OFFICIAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

Golden Biznaga for BEST SPANISH FILM (*) endowed with 8,000 euros
Golden Biznaga for BEST IBERO-AMERICAN FILM endowed with 8,000 euros
Silver Biznaga SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Silver Biznaga for BEST DIRECTOR
Silver Biznaga for BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Silver Biznaga for BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Silver Biznaga for BEST FEMALE SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Silver Biznaga for BEST MALE SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Silver Biznaga for BEST SCREENPLAY
Silver Biznaga for BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Silver Biznaga for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Silver Biznaga for BEST EDITING
Silver Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)


OFFICIAL FEATURE FILMS OUT OF COMPETITION

Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST FEATURE FILM OUT OF COMPETITION, except the closing film (**)

OFFICIAL ZONAZINE SECTION
Biznaga for BEST SPANISH FILM (*) endowed with 4,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST IBERO-AMERICAN FILM endowed with 4,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST DIRECTOR
Biznaga for BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Biznaga for BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)


OFFICIAL DOCUMENTARY SECTION

Biznaga for BEST DOCUMENTARY endowed with 4,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST DIRECTOR
Biznaga SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)


OFFICIAL FICTION SHORT FILM SECTION

Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST DIRECTOR
Biznaga for BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Biznaga for BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)


OFFICIAL ANIMAZINE SHORT FILM SECTION

Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)


OFFICIAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM SECTION

Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)


OFFICIAL MÁLAGA SHORT FILM SECTION

Short films not included in the final selection of the previous categories and produced by production companies based in the province of Málaga and/or directed by filmmakers born or currently resident there may be selected and programmed within the “Málaga Short Films” category, thereby being eligible for the following awards:
Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)


OFFICIAL CINEMA COCINA SECTION

Biznaga for BEST FEATURE FILM endowed with 4,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST FEATURE FILM (**)
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST SHORT FILM (**)


MOSAICO SECTION (INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA)

Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**) endowed with 8,000 euros for the Spanish distributor of the feature film receiving the highest number of votes in the section.


AMERICA, AMERICA SECTION

2,000 euros for the respective production companies of each film in this section as a contribution to production costs and to the development of future audiovisual projects of similar characteristics.

(*) The consideration of a film as Spanish will be determined by the Organisation according to the degree of Spanish production participation in the film.

(**) AUDIENCE AWARD: The Audience Award, in all categories in which it is granted, will be determined during the first screenings of each film according to the votes cast by the audience present in the cinema.

This rule will not apply to the Official Feature Film Section, where the result will be an averaged decision (50%) between a popular jury appointed for this purpose by the Organisation and the audience vote; to the Cinema Cocina Section, where it will be awarded by a popular jury; or to the Official Documentary Section, which has its own university jury for this purpose.

30TH EDITION OF FESTIVAL DE MÁLAGA: PARTICIPATION REGULATIONS


OBJECTIVES

Festival de Málaga aims to promote and disseminate Spanish-language audiovisual works, including within this term the cinematographies of Ibero-America. One of its core functions is to serve as a meeting point for the various professional sectors of Spanish-language cinema, understood as audiovisual production from Spain and the entire Ibero-American territory, including Portugal and Brazil, while fostering both its development and its international market presence.

Festival de Málaga is recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, FIAPF, www.fiapf.org

In pursuit of these objectives, Festival de Málaga will hold its 30th Edition from 26 February to 7 March 2027.


SECTIONS


OFFICIAL FEATURE FILM SECTION, ZONAZINE AND DOCUMENTARIES
Fiction, animation or documentary feature films of Spanish nationality or from Ibero-American countries, produced after 1 January 2026, which have not been commercially released in Spain in cinemas, on television, at an audiovisual event or on VOD platforms.

The Selection Committee reserves the exclusive right to determine whether a work will be included in the Official Feature Film Competition or in the Official ZONAZINE Section, the latter being aimed at more avant-garde and auteur-driven proposals with a clear artistic ambition.


OFFICIAL SHORT FILM SECTION
The running time of short films may not exceed 30 minutes.


SPANISH FICTION OR ANIMATION SHORT FILMS
Fiction or animation short films of Spanish nationality, or co-productions provided that they are certified as Spanish, produced after 1 January 2026, and which have not been commercially released in Spain in cinemas, on free-to-air television or on free websites/VOD platforms, either prior to or during the Festival.

The Selection Committee will decide in which of the following sections the selected short films will participate: OFFICIAL FICTION OR ANIMATION SHORT FILM SECTION or OFFICIAL MÁLAGA SHORT FILM SECTION, the latter for works directed or produced by persons born or resident in the province of Málaga, or whose production company is based in the province of Málaga.


DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS
Documentary short films with Spanish or Ibero-American production and/or subject matter, produced after 1 January 2026, which have not been commercially released in Spain in cinemas, on television or on VOD platforms.


OFFICIAL CINEMA COCINA SECTION
Documentary feature films and short films linked to gastronomy, including productions addressing sectors directly or indirectly related to it.
Both feature films and short films must be of Spanish nationality or from Ibero-American countries, produced after 1 January 2026, and must not have been commercially released in Spain in cinemas, on television, at an audiovisual event or on VOD platforms. The running time of short films may not exceed 30 minutes.


MOSAICO SECTION (INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA)
Films selected by the Festival and not included in the general submission process.
A selection of international feature films produced after 1 January 2026, unreleased in Spain, and acclaimed by critics and/or awarded at other international festivals.


AMERICA, AMERICA SECTION
A selection of feature films of any genre that highlight the richness and cultural diversity of Indigenous and rural communities of the American continent. See the America, America Section Call for Entries.


SERIES SECTION
Series selected by the Festival and not included in the general submission process.
A selection of Spanish-produced television series produced after 1 January 2026 and unreleased in Spain.


SUBMISSION AND SELECTION PROCESS

SUBMISSIONS

Submissions for participation in the 30th edition of Festival de Málaga may be made through FESTHOME (www.festhome.com), by registering and completing the corresponding submission form before the following deadlines:

The deadline of 8 November 2026 applies to documentary feature films; fiction, animation and documentary short films; and feature films and short films submitted to the Cinema Cocina section.

The deadline of 2 December 2026 applies to feature films submitted to the Official Section and ZonaZine, and to feature films submitted to the America, America section.

For work to be validly submitted, all steps in the process must be completed. Applicants must register on the FESTHOME platform or log in if they already have an account; register the film on that platform, including all required information and the viewing link; and complete the submission by selecting Festival de Málaga within FESTHOME.

To do so, applicants must use the festival search tool on the platform and locate Festival de Málaga, choose the category in which they wish to participate, pay the corresponding entry fee for the selected section and click “Send” to complete the process effectively.

Failure to complete the above will result in the audiovisual works being excluded from the selection process.

Important: simply uploading the film to FESTHOME does not constitute a submission to Festival de Málaga. Participation will only be valid if all the requirements stated above have been fulfilled.


ENTRY FEES

Submissions to Festival de Málaga are subject to payment of the corresponding entry fees, according to the section or category of submission, in the amounts and within the deadlines detailed below.

The Early Fee is 15 euros for fiction short films until 8 October 2026 inclusive; 15 euros for documentary short films until 8 October 2026 inclusive; 20 euros for documentary feature films until 8 October 2026 inclusive; and 40 euros for fiction feature films until 2 November 2026 inclusive.

The Regular/Late Fee is 30 euros for fiction short films until 8 November 2026 inclusive; 30 euros for documentary short films until 8 November 2026 inclusive; 40 euros for documentary feature films until 8 November 2026 inclusive; and 80 euros for fiction feature films until 2 December 2026 inclusive.

The amount paid as an entry fee, intended to cover the management and evaluation costs of the submitted works, will not be refunded under any circumstances.

The America, America and Cinema Cocina sections are exempt from payment of entry fees. Fiction or documentary short films that, during the submission process, duly prove that they are directed or produced by persons born or resident in the province of Málaga, or whose production company is based in the province of Málaga, will also be exempt from payment of these fees.

For any queries, please consult the FAQ section at www.festivaldemalaga.com.

During the submission and/or selection process, and in view of Festival de Málaga’s commitment to parity and to supporting the presence of women in film production, applicants will be asked to indicate the gender of the people participating in the projects. The purpose is to compile reliable, accurate data on women’s participation in the audiovisual sector.


REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTED AUDIOVISUAL WORKS

The invitation to each film selected by Festival de Málaga’s Selection Committee will remain strictly confidential between the Festival Direction and the producers or representatives of the invited film until the Festival decides to announce it officially.

Once the selection of an audiovisual work has been communicated by the Festival and its participation has been confirmed by the production/distribution company that submitted it, the work may not be withdrawn. From that moment, the audiovisual work may not compete, be screened or be presented at any other Spanish festival or similar event before its screening in Málaga.

This latter prohibition will not apply to any short film category.

Likewise, the production/distribution company undertakes to ensure that representatives of the technical and/or artistic team of the audiovisual work attend its official screening at Festival de Málaga. Should this obligation not be fulfilled, the Festival may remove the work from the corresponding Official Section.

All films selected for the 30th edition will receive a certificate of participation from the Direction of Festival de Málaga.

Submission of an audiovisual work to competition in the 30th edition of Festival de Málaga implies full acceptance of, and compliance with, these Participation Regulations and any annexes thereto.


PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITION RIGHTS

During the Festival, no film submitted to any of the sections may be screened more than five times in total, including screenings reserved for the press. In this regard, producers grant the rights for public exhibition during the Festival free of charge, and the Festival will be exempt from payment of exhibition fees. For any additional screening, the Festival must obtain prior written authorisation from the producer or, failing that, from the designated representative.

The signatory of the submission form for the audiovisual work declares that they hold the reproduction, public communication, dissemination and exhibition rights required for its commercial exploitation and lawful participation in Festival de Málaga, holding Málaga Procultura harmless from any liability arising from the falsity, inaccuracy or breach of this obligation, and being liable to it for any damages that any such situation may cause.

The signatory also expressly declares that they hold all licences, authorisations and administrative permits required for the lawful participation of the audiovisual work in the Festival, and undertakes to observe all administrative formalities required under the applicable regulations.

Málaga Procultura will recognise the signatory of the submission form as the sole interlocutor for negotiating all matters related to the participation of the audiovisual work in the Festival, and as the sole party responsible before any other companies or persons that may have participated in the production of the film.


VERSIONS

All screening copies of audiovisual works selected in the different sections of the Festival must be submitted in their original version.

If the original version of the film is not in Spanish, either wholly or partially, the copy must include Spanish subtitles. If the original version is entirely in Spanish, the copy must include English subtitles.

If the original version of the film is in any of the co-official languages of Spain or in other languages, it must be subtitled in Spanish and an SRT file with English subtitles must be provided, as well as an online and downloadable screener for strictly internal and confidential use. This latter requirement will be requested by the Copy Management Department depending on the section in which the film has been selected.

Where required, the Festival will provide, at its own expense, additional electronic subtitling through the subtitling company that provides services to the Festival.

Failure to comply with this condition may lead to disqualification of the selected work.


SCREENING FORMATS

Audiovisual works selected in all sections must deliver the screening copy in DCP format before 13 January 2027. In addition to the DCP, a digital backup file in H264 must also be hosted; it must not exceed 50 GB, must include SRT subtitles in English and Spanish, and must have a minimum Full HD resolution.

Screening copies in Digital Cinema Package (DCP) must comply with DCI standards and will remain in the possession of Festival de Málaga until the conclusion of the last screening scheduled within the Festival. The company that submitted the selected film must certify the proper technical functioning of the copy, including audio/video synchronisation, colour and other technical aspects, by testing it in a cinema before sending it to Málaga. This company must also provide the Technical Department with the necessary KDMs. These must remain open from the beginning until the end of the Festival. The company will bear the costs arising from their generation, as well as the management of new KDMs, or DKDMs, if necessary.

The Festival reserves the right not to accept copies that, following the necessary technical checks, are not suitable for screening.

Changes to screening copies due to the incorporation of logos, title cards, credits, editing changes, subtitles or any other modifications after delivery of the final DCP will not be accepted, unless such changes are due to a proven technical incident and are expressly authorised by the Festival and approved by the Festival Direction.


COPY DELIVERY AND RETURN

Selected works must send their film copies to the Festival before 13 January 2027, choosing either physical delivery or digital delivery.

For physical delivery, the DCP must be sent together with a digital file that may be used as a backup copy. Payment of the shipping costs, including transport and insurance, arising from the delivery of the copy of each audiovisual work selected to participate in any Festival section from the place of dispatch to the Festival copy warehouse will be borne by the production companies.

Participating films must deliver their screening copies to the Festival, on a mandatory basis, before 13 January 2027, and must inform the Organisation of the dispatch date and the means of transport used.

All copies of participating audiovisual works must indicate the return details. Returns will be made within a maximum period of fifteen days from the end date of the Festival. Transport costs arising from this return will be borne by the Festival.

The insurance taken out by the Festival covers the risks of fire, loss, theft, damage and destruction of the copy for the period between its arrival at the Festival and its return to the indicated return address. The maximum period for making any claim regarding a copy will be three months from the date of return.

For digital delivery, the DCP must be uploaded through a platform enabled for this purpose by the Festival. In this case, the DCP must be hosted uncompressed; ZIP or RAR files will not be accepted. Companies will have seven (7) days to upload the film from the first day on which they receive access to this platform. The Organisation will delete these files once the edition has ended.

Once this delivery method has been communicated to the Copy Management Department, always before 13 January, the platform access details and all information relating to the download will be provided.

If a technical screening in a cinema during the Festival is required, it may be requested before 22 January 2027 at gestiondecopias@malagaprocultura.com. After this date, technical screenings may not be requested.


JURIES AND AWARDS

JURIES

The Festival Direction will appoint the juries for the different competitive sections. Their decisions will be final and will not be subject to justification. Persons with interests in the production, distribution or any other form of exploitation of, or participation in, the audiovisual works selected for competition may not serve on the juries of the different competitive sections.

The juries of the different categories may grant a maximum of three awards per film and may grant special mentions in addition to the official awards, up to a maximum of two in each category. Awards in all categories may not be declared void and, where they carry a cash prize, may not be awarded ex aequo. For awards without a cash prize, the juries of the different categories may grant a maximum of two ex aequo awards.

The juries of the different competitive sections undertake not to express publicly their views on the selection of audiovisual works on which they are to deliberate.

The Direction of Festival de Málaga may be present, with voice but without vote, in the deliberations and communications of the different juries.

AWARDS

OFFICIAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
Golden Biznaga for BEST SPANISH FILM (*) endowed with 8,000 euros
Golden Biznaga for BEST IBERO-AMERICAN FILM endowed with 8,000 euros
Silver Biznaga SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Silver Biznaga for BEST DIRECTOR
Silver Biznaga for BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Silver Biznaga for BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Silver Biznaga for BEST FEMALE SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Silver Biznaga for BEST MALE SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Silver Biznaga for BEST SCREENPLAY
Silver Biznaga for BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Silver Biznaga for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Silver Biznaga for BEST EDITING
Silver Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)

OFFICIAL FEATURE FILMS OUT OF COMPETITION
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST FEATURE FILM OUT OF COMPETITION, except the closing film (**)

OFFICIAL ZONAZINE SECTION
Biznaga for BEST SPANISH FILM (*) endowed with 4,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST IBERO-AMERICAN FILM endowed with 4,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST DIRECTOR
Biznaga for BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Biznaga for BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTARY SECTION
Biznaga for BEST DOCUMENTARY endowed with 4,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST DIRECTOR
Biznaga SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)

OFFICIAL FICTION SHORT FILM SECTION
Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST DIRECTOR
Biznaga for BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Biznaga for BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)

OFFICIAL ANIMAZINE SHORT FILM SECTION
Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM SECTION
Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)

OFFICIAL MÁLAGA SHORT FILM SECTION
Short films not included in the final selection of the previous categories and produced by production companies based in the province of Málaga and/or directed by filmmakers born or currently resident there may be selected and programmed within the “Málaga Short Films” category, thereby being eligible for the following awards:
Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**)

OFFICIAL CINEMA COCINA SECTION
Biznaga for BEST FEATURE FILM endowed with 4,000 euros
Biznaga for BEST SHORT FILM endowed with 2,000 euros
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST FEATURE FILM (**)
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST SHORT FILM (**)

MOSAICO SECTION (INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA)
Biznaga AUDIENCE AWARD (**) endowed with 8,000 euros for the Spanish distributor of the feature film receiving the highest number of votes in the section.

AMERICA, AMERICA SECTION
2,000 euros for the respective production companies of each film in this section as a contribution to production costs and to the development of future audiovisual projects of similar characteristics.

(*) The consideration of a film as Spanish will be determined by the Organisation according to the degree of Spanish production participation in the film.

(**) AUDIENCE AWARD: The Audience Award, in all categories in which it is granted, will be determined during the first screenings of each film according to the votes cast by the audience present in the cinema.

This rule will not apply to the Official Feature Film Section, where the result will be an averaged decision (50%) between a popular jury appointed for this purpose by the Organisation and the audience vote; to the Cinema Cocina Section, where it will be awarded by a popular jury; or to the Official Documentary Section, which has its own university jury for this purpose.


PAYMENT OF AWARDS AND OBLIGATIONS OF AWARD-WINNING AUDIOVISUAL WORKS

The cash endowment of the awards will be paid to the production company once a certificate has been provided proving the film’s screening in commercial cinemas or accrediting its exhibition at another festival or audiovisual event held during 2027, always after its screening at Festival de Málaga, and, where applicable, on television or platforms. This document must state that the Festival’s corporate image, consisting of logo and name, together with an express reference to the award received, appears at the beginning of the work.

This exhibition requirement will not apply to the Cortometrajes Málaga, Cinema Cocina, Mosaico (International Panorama) and America, America sections.

If several production companies have participated in the financing of the audiovisual works, the awards will be paid to the production company with the highest financial participation, which will act as representative of the entire production, upon presentation of authorisation in its favour from the other production companies.

The cash amount of the awards will be subject to the withholdings determined by the legislation in force at the time of payment by the Festival Organisation and will in any case be understood to be included in the economic allocation of such awards.

Production companies must send Festival de Málaga a copy, in digital file format through a download link, of the award-winning audiovisual works including the written reference to the award received, as a prerequisite for payment of the awards covered by these Regulations.

The production and/or distribution companies of award-winning feature films, series, short films and documentaries must include a written reference to the award at the beginning of each and every copy distributed for exhibition in cinemas, other film festivals, television or VOD platforms, as well as in all printed information and promotional material, including press books and posters. This reference will consist of text indicating the award granted, together with Festival de Málaga’s corporate image, logo and name, which will be provided by the Organisation together with the rules of use.

The Festival Organisation reserves the right to include in its archives a copy of award-winning films for cultural, non-profit screenings. In order to carry out such screenings, the Festival must obtain prior written authorisation from the producers of the films.


IMAGE CONSIDERATION

Mere participation in Festival de Málaga in any of its sections allows production/distribution companies to include the Festival logo with the indication “30th Edition” in the opening credits of the audiovisual works. This logo and caption may also be included in all press advertisements, and this participation may be expressly mentioned in the different audiovisual media in which advertising for the film is included before or during the Festival. For the correct insertion of the logo, which may under no circumstances be altered or adapted, the Festival’s corporate identity manual may be consulted at www.festivaldemalaga.com or, in case of doubt, the Organisation may be contacted.

Likewise, cash awards granted to audiovisual works will entail proper compliance with the public image obligations set out in the “Obligations of award-winning audiovisual works” section, which must be fulfilled for Festival de Málaga to validate such payments.


CATALOGUE, MATERIALS AND DOCUMENTATION

Once an audiovisual work has been confirmed to participate in the Festival, an exclusive online form for each film will be sent and must be completed with the content required for its programming.

The documentation requested by the Festival for the official catalogue, programme guide and website, including synopsis, biofilmography, cast and technical credits, photographs of the director and of the film, trailers and other audiovisual materials, will be taken from this form, which must be completed no later than 23 January.


PRESS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL

The Festival Press Department will contact the respective production and/or distribution companies of the selected audiovisual works in order to supervise and coordinate the materials included in the selection form, to which the media and accredited guests will have access through the “Press Room” on the website.

By accepting their participation, the production and/or distribution companies of selected feature films, series, short films and documentaries authorise the use of one or more excerpts from their title for dissemination as informational material in any media outlet.


ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

These Participation Regulations may be supplemented or amended by the Festival Direction with any other annexes it deems appropriate prior to the start date of the 30th edition of Festival de Málaga.

Interpretation of these Regulations will fall within the exclusive competence of the Festival Direction.

CONTACT
FESTIVAL DE MÁLAGA
REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT
Teatro Cervantes
C/ Ramos Marín S/N. 29012 Málaga (Spain)
T. (+34) 952 224 109
inscripciones@malagaprocultura.com
www.festivaldemalaga.com
www.malagaprocultura.com