Submissions deadline
15 Aug 25
0€
The best LGBTIAQ+ Themed Films, screened in Madrid for the first time, competing for Audience and Jury Awards
LesGaiCineMad Madrid International LGBTI+ Film Festival
31 Mar 2025
Call for entries
31 May 2025
Early deadline
30 Jun 2025
Standard deadline
20 Jul 2025
Late deadline
15 Aug 2025
Extended deadline
4
mths
12 Nov 2025
Notification date
11 Nov 2025
23 Nov 2025
Festival start: 11 November 2025 Festival end: 23 November 2025
LesGaiCineMad Madrid International LGBTIAQ+ Film Festival is a LGTBI+ Film Festival in seen in Spanish Speaking countries. The inaugural edition was held in 1996. With an estimated audience of more than 10,000 spectators, it is a well attended festival by members of the Community of Madrid and is covered by the Spanish Press.
Cash Prizes: 2,000€
Audience Awards:
Best Feature Film (Official Section and Panorama International)
Best Documentary
Best Short Film
Jury Awards:
A professional Jury will award around 15 prizes in the different categories with an Official Diploma certifying it. Among them, some including
Cash Prizes to support the Short Industry:
SECCIÓN OFICIAL LARGOMETRAJE:
Best Feature Film
Best Director
Best Acting
Best Screenplay
SECCIÓN OFICIAL CORTOMETRAJE FICCIÓN:
Best International Short Film: 500€
Best Spanish Short Film: 500€
Best Experimental Film or Videoart Piece
SECCIÓN OFICIAL DOCUMENTAL:
Best Documentary
Best Documentary Short: 500€
Best Spanish Documentary
Best Direction
Sección Experimental y Vanguardias:
Best Film
Best Direction
The films may be eligible for other upcoming awards (Awards in our extensions or from our sponsors).
The Cash Awards are considered as screening fees for further extensions of LesGaiCineMad in Spain, Africa or Latin America
INTRODUCTION
The International LGBTIAQ+ Madrid Film Festival accepts films of all nationalities with LGBTIAQ+ themes, which may be eligible for the various sections of the festival: Feature Films (Official Section and Panorama International), Short Films, Documentaries and Dissident Cinema (Experimental and non-conforming in substance and/or form) The works must not have previously premiered in Spanish cinemas, been broadcast on Spanish television or made available to the public on the Internet or any other media in Spanish territory prior to the festival, and must have been copyrighted no earlier than 1/1/2024. All feature films must be yet unreleased in the Community of Madrid (in case of screenings at Muestra de Cine Lésbico de Madrid and Cinema Pride, those will be considered LesGaiCineMad Premieres); in the case of the shorts films, this will not be considered a prerequisite, but will be considered positively. The organization reserves the right to include films that do not meet these conditions in the program, albeit not a part of the Festival’s official contest.
Jury awards:
A professional Jury will award around 15 prizes in the different categories with an Official Diploma certifying it. Among them, some including Cash prizes to support the Short Industry:
SECCIÓN OFICIAL LARGOMETRAJE:
– Best Feature Film
– Best Director
– Best Acting
– Best Screenplay
SECCIÓN OFICIAL CORTOMETRAJE FICCIÓN:
– Best International Short Film: 500€
– Best Spanish Short Film: 500€
– Best Latin American Short Film: Cinergias Special Award
SECCIÓN OFICIAL DOCUMENTAL:
– Best Documentary
– Best Documentary Short Film: 500€
– Best Direction
SECCIÓN OFICIAL CINE DISIDENTE:
– Best Dissident Film 300€
awards
Audience awards:
– Best Feature Film (Official Section and Panorama International)
– Best Documentary
– Best National Short Film
– Best International Short Film
– Best Dissident Film
The films may be eligible for other upcoming awards (awards in our extensions or from our sponsors).
The Cash awards are considered as screening fees for further extensions of LesGaiCineMad in Spain (América Latina, Africa or Asia with Triángulo Cooperación Internacional Foundation)
APPLICATION
Films may be submitted before August 15th through the Festhome platform (these platforms can have a cost for the festival).
Work In Progress will be accepted, provided the finalized copy of the film is made available before September 1th 2025. If online viewing is not possible, contact us for further instructions. The films will be registered as Feature Film or Short Film and as Fiction or Documentary, from there the programming committee will decide in which section they will participate.
FORMATS
Acceptable formats for screening (in order of preference) are: digital formats (ProRes HD, AVI HD, MP4 HD) and physical formats (Blu Ray). No DVDs are accepted for screening. The DCP format will only be accepted if audio or subtitles are available in Spanish. The festival will not return any physical materials used for display unless prepaid postage is provided.
NOTIFICATION
Notification will be sent before October 20th 2025 by email or through the platform to the address indicated on the application form. If you have any questions you may write us to confirm the status of your work.
In case of submitting any material and not having response from the submitter if the film is selected, the festival will proceed to its screening understanding the submission as a will of participance.
PROMOTION
Promotional extracts (up to 4 minutes) of the programmed titles may be made and used for theaters, Internet, television or other promotional formats. The material provided by the director may be used for promotional purposes or for the festival catalogue. LesGaiCineMad Organization must be informed in writing of any restrictions in regard to materials.
The Festival will incorporate their work into our private and protected film library. Depending on its quality and message, the materials in this film library could be used for educational and awareness-raising or research purposes, without prejudice to copyright and with prior request and permission.
RESPONSIBILITIES
LesGaiCineMad assumes no liability for damage or loss of material during transportation. If damages occur during the festival, the organization will be limited to bear the costs of repair or replacement of the copy. The festival is not responsible for any offenses related to copyright, these being the sole responsibility of those submitting the work.
OTHER TRIÁNGULO FESTIVALS
Films submitted to LesGaiCineMad may be screened for consideration by other festivals organized by the Triángulo Foundation (Madrid Lesbian Film Festival, Cinema Pride, Fancinequeer, CinHomo, and Cinema Pride Madrid). If these festivals shortlist the films, they will contact the film creators to determine the next steps and obtain the creators' approval for the process.
PRESENTATION OF A FILM IN ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED FORMATS IMPLIES ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES OF LESGAICINEMAD (SUPRA), AND DECISIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION IN CONTINGENCY WITH THIS ACTIVITY.
Submissions deadline
15 Aug 25
The best LGBTIAQ+ Themed Films, screened in Madrid for the first time, competing for Audience and Jury Awards
Submissions deadline
15 Aug 25
The best LGBTIAQ+ Themed Short Films from Spain, screened in Madrid for the first time, competing for Audience and Jury Awards
Submissions deadline
15 Aug 25
LGBTIAQ+ Themed Documentaries Films, screened in Madrid for the first time, competing for Audience and Jury Awards
Submissions deadline
15 Aug 25
Fiction and Documentaries Feature Films (more than 60 minutes)and any nationality produced after 1/1/2024 with a LGBTI subject are elegible.
Submissions deadline
15 Aug 25
Short Films (up to 30 minutes) of any nationality produced after 1/1/2024 with a LGBTI subject are elegible. Documentary, experimental, essay and animation films are welcome.
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.